March 14, 2024

Peter J. Shields Library showcases ‘Third World Forum’ exhibition

The exhibit highlights the UC Davis student newspaper, Third World Forum, which marginalized students of color created to bring attention to social justice issues

BY MADISON PETERS campus@theaggie.org

From Jan. 12 through April 22, Shields Library is showcasing the “By Any Means Necessary: Marginalized Students Give Voice in the ‘Third World Forum’” exhibit. Located in the library lobby in front of the Archives and Special Collections, this exhibit displays archives from the Third World Forum, a student newspaper run from 1970 to 2013 that was dedicated to giving students of color a voice.

According to Christine Cheng, instruction and outreach librarian for archives and special collections, the newspaper was created in response to marginalized students not feeling represented by the official school newspaper, The California Aggie. The Third World Forum covered topics ranging from protests on campus to global social justice issues. One excerpt from the Third World Forum explains the goals of the publication.

“[The ‘Third World Forum’ serves as] a bridge between the communities that have been historically oppressed and the students of color, [and] providing those students who are far away from their communities with information on what is happening within those communities,” the excerpt read.

The exhibit took around two months to put together, and Cheng said that she created it so that undergraduate students would find something meaningful when they came into the library.

“I wanted to find something that would interest [undergraduate students];

something that they could see themselves in [and] that they cared about,” Cheng said. “I can feature all the Shakespeare and literary figures that are important, but when they come into the library, do they feel welcome? While Shakespeare is still important, there are certain social justice issues that were important then and continue to be significant today.”

The exhibit is composed of six cases, which all display excerpts of news articles, front pages and centerspreads from the Third World Forum. According to Cheng, the first case introduces the newspaper and contains words from the editors of the publication describing the publication itself and its significance. The subsequent cases contain articles that celebrate important cultural events and occurrences dedicated to the groups of Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Latinxs and

Chicanxs and Black Americans.

Many of the articles feature photographs taken by Francisco Dominguez, who worked first as the cultural desk editor of the Third World Forum and later transitioned into the role of photographer for the publication.

According to Dominguez, the publication got its name from the Third World Liberation Front strikes that occurred in 1968 at San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley which called for many demands, including the inclusion of ethnic studies as a part of the curriculum.

“Student empowerment is what I was documenting,” Dominguez said. “It was students of color empowering themselves on campus, and making their own events and protesting if there was something racist that happened.

Residents at Orchard Park experiencing hot water outages since Dec. 2023

Student Housing and Dining Services are in the process of creating temporary solutions leading up to a permanent fix

BY SYDNEY AMESTOY campus@theaggie.org

Residents in the Orchard Park Apartments have been experiencing issues regarding a lack of hot water for the past few months. The problem has been going on since at least Dec. 2023, according to Max Badal, a resident in one of the affected buildings.

“There were issues at the beginning of the school year when the building first opened, and those lasted for just a few days, at least in my apartment,” Badal said. “The rest of that quarter was fine for me, although apparently around mid-December, there were problems for other people in my building since I got an email [on Dec. 20] from student housing offering me a $200 Amazon gift card to ‘express our appreciation for your patience as the matter is resolved.’”

The earliest email from Student Housing and Dining Services about hot water issues was sent to residents on Nov. 27, 2023.

According to Braden Petitt, the executive director for the Office of Student Development for Student Housing and Dining Services, the buildings, completed in Aug. 2023,

use a complex interconnected system to meet current energy-efficient policies and code requirements. These systems often have programming issues in their first year of operation, according to Petitt. “There were intermittent issues over the winter break,” Petitt said. “As temperatures outside were colder and more hot water demand was needed, the tanks would empty. Due to this programming issue, the system did not respond quickly enough.” In an email sent to residents on Feb. 8, the issue had been identified and a temporary solution was to be implemented.

“The cause of the problem has been identified and it is multi-faceted,” the email from Student Housing and Dining Services read. “Professionals in the field have identified a path forward and measures have been implemented to provide an immediate solution.

As part of the long-term solution, some replacement equipment is being expedited to the site and will be installed immediately. Additional system modifications are being developed which may require short-term shutdowns during their implementation, but since those will be under our control,

our goal is to schedule them for the least impact possible to the residents.”

This temporary solution will stop these hot water shortages until there is a permanent solution installed for each of the Orchard Park buildings, according to Petitt.

“The hope is that the temporary fix will work to the point where students will not be impacted any further,” Petitt said. “I just confirmed [on Feb. 29] that since the temporary fix has been put in place, there have been no outages the last few weeks.”

Two buildings have faced the brunt of the issues: the 5003 building and the 5013 building, according to Petitt. Still, all 11 Orchard Park buildings will undergo permanent repairs to their programming systems.

Residents were given access to hot water in other buildings during outages, according to Student Housing as reported by CBS13.

According to Badal, the hot water was on and off for a few weeks leading up to the implementation of the temporary fix, with a day or two of each week having no hot water.

“I have a bunch of emails from the Orchard Park office about the work they’re doing,” Badal said. “They haven’t said it’s totally fixed yet, so I’m assuming it’ll still crop up sometimes. There have been scheduled outages for maintenance, but most of the time [residents have to] tell them about it instead of the other way around.”

READ MORE

UC

They would speak up. It was all about building a community for the students of color to have a voice and it worked.”

During his time at the Third World Forum, Dominguez interviewed and worked with many prominent figures such as John Trudel, Martin Luther King Jr’s son, Jack Forbes and Caesar Chavez.

According to Dominguez, the publication faced great backlash from many groups on campus, and was constantly threatened by funding. Dominguez said there was even an anonymous newspaper, the Davis Republic, being released with the sole purpose of ending the “Third World Forum.”

“We were always under attack from funding or political attack from conservative forces on campus because some people didn’t like what we had to

say,” Dominguez said. The newspaper eventually got defunded after it was put to a student vote by ASUCD in 2013.

Anyone can visit the exhibition that is displayed in glass cases on the first floor of the library during normal Shields Library hours found on their website, according to Cheng. If anyone wishes to explore more hard copies of the publication they can stop by the Archives and Special Collections department which is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

If people are unable to visit the exhibit in person, Cheng said they can see the digitized archives of the Third World Forum on the California Digital Newspaper Collection website.

Cheng hopes students will not only come see the exhibit, but also explore the other resources that are found in the Archives and Special Collections. Additionally, Cheng indicated her plans to eventually create a “Third World Forum” digital exhibit, so that everyone can continue to explore meaningful topics the paper addressed.

Dominguez shared these sentiments and commented on the overall impact that the paper had.

“It was all about student empowerment, reclaiming our history and telling our own story,” Dominguez said. “That’s a part of what happened in the 60s and 70s when people of color took control of their own destiny, which was then called self determination. That’s what we were doing.”

Preliminary hearing for Carlos Reales Dominguez completed

Dominguez’s arraignment was scheduled following the hearing

BY MADELEINE YOUNG city@theaggie.org

Carlos Reales Dominguez was arraigned on March 13 following the preliminary hearing that began on Feb. 26. Last year, prosecutors deemed Dominguez mentally unfit to face charges based on testimony made by Dr. Dale Watson on the fifth day of Dominguez’s competency trial in July.

“My opinion is that he is most likely schizophrenic, that this is a ‘first break’ of schizophrenia and that he’s suffering both of the psychiatric illness and the neurocognitive deficits that are often associated with an illness like schizophrenia,” Dr. Watson said to the court.

However, Dominguez was recently restored to mental competency following examinations by state hospital officials at Atascadero. Once deemed fit for trial, the preliminary hearing began at the end of February.

The Yolo County District Attorney announced on Feb. 26 that they would not be seeking the death penalty. During the preliminary hearing, the court

heard multiple testimonies regarding the attacks. One of those testimonies came from Davis Police Corporal Pheng Ly who attempted to revive UC Davis student Karim Abou Najm on April 29.

“He was lifeless,” Ly told prosecutors at the preliminary hearing as he recalled attempting CPR on Najm, according to coverage by ABC10.

Ly testified that he and his fellow officers on the scene heard a male voice yelling for help before seeing two individuals at the park — one hunched over and the other attacking the former.

Sergent Matthew Muscardini, who conducted the interview with Dominguez after his detainment, testified about the third victim, Kimberlee Guillory, who survived her wounds from an attack on May 1.

“She was sitting on her bed inside her tent, on her phone, and she said she felt like she got punched through the tent,” Muscardini said in his testimony, according to KCRA3. “She did not realize she had been stabbed twice until later on.”

Ultimately, Judge Samuel McAdam ordered a trial for two homicides and one attempted homicide.

Orchard Park, the newest on campus apartments, find themselves in hot water over complaints about hot water, or the lack thereof. (Cruz Martinez / Aggie)

Yolo carbon farming plan hosts second part of educational initiative

Woodland’s Maples Farm held a field day for farmers to explore carbon farming practices and share agricultural knowledge

BY EMMA CONDIT city@theaggie.org

On March 7, farmers from all across Yolo County and surrounding areas gathered on a sunny Thursday morning to learn about carbon farming — the use of agricultural practices that sequester carbon. Hosted at the Center for Land-Based Learning (CLBL) at the Maples Farm in Woodland, attendees watched an informative lecture and toured the CLBL’s incubator farms.

The day attracted farmers of all ages, each of whom arrived with their own set of agricultural knowledge. Participants listened and asked questions during a talk about cover crops, soil health, crop diversity and much more.

Carbon farming is the use of agricultural practices that take carbon from the atmosphere and store it in plants and soil. These specific practices can be applied to many types of farming and the sequestered carbon can benefit soil and plant growth.

Lynette Niebrugge, the director of Education and Training at the Carbon Cycle Institute, shared information about important carbon farming practices.

“Not only are we thinking about below-ground carbon in organic matter, [...] we also want to think about practices that are above-ground, so above-ground biomass carbon,” Niebrugge said. “When people talk to you about agroforestry practices, they’re talking about silvopasture, windbreaks, hedgerows, alley cropping [and] riparian areas, like Cache Creek.”

Groups walked around the picturesque incubator farm, surrounded by one mile of hedgerows and full of California native species.

These hedgerows provide important ecological habitats and were designed to support the monarch butterfly population with rotating bloom cycles — they are dotted with purple and orange flowers even in the middle of winter.

When the group began discussing cover crops and how to implement them, Yolo Land Institute Manager Ric Murphy joked about their sandy soil, showing how every farm is different.

“You can’t put in two years of a great cover crop and reverse 200 years of mother nature,” Murphy said. “If you dig five feet down here, it’s white sand. All it’s missing is an umbrella and a daiquiri.”

Each attendee works in a different agricultural field and hopes to integrate sustainable farming practices into their work. President and founder of the California Agave Council and agave farmer Craig Reynolds spoke about his interest in carbon farming.

“A number of our farmers [and] growers are interested in regenerative agriculture and climate resilient farming practices,” Reynolds said. “Agave presents a great opportunity for California farmers as a climateresilient, low-water-use crop. I’m just here to hear about carbon farming and how agave could fit in the picture.”

Reynolds shared his journey towards farming agave.

“14 years ago I grew agave in Mexico and imported a Mexican agave spirit,” Reynolds said. “I began harvesting mature agaves in Yolo [County] to sell to craft distillers in California, basically to prove the concept that, indeed, California can grow agave and produce spectacular agave spirits, even though we can’t call it ‘tequila’ or ‘mezcal’ because we’re doing something unique to

California.”

Greg Giguiere, winemaker and head of operations at Yolo’s Matchbook Winery, spoke about his winemaking journey. He noted that he grew up in Yolo County, studied at UC Davis and eventually returned

Friends of the Davis Public Library holds monthly book sale at Mary L. Stephens Library

The non-profit organization offers a wide range of donated novels and all proceeds help finance the services they offer to the public library

BY MATTHEW MCELDOWNEY city@theaggie.org

Friends of the Davis Public Library, a non-profit founded under the core message of providing additional financial support to its library, held their book sale during the first weekend of this month from March 1 to 3. With a selection of books on subjects ranging from history, science, world languages, poetry and more, the book sale was able to price their collection for as low as $1.

Eli Bejarano, a fourth-year biochemistry major, was able to add Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” to his reading list thanks to the sale.

“Usually book sales give away books that they are sick of keeping around [but] they [had] a really big sci-fi collection and a lot of classics, which was really nice,” Bejarano said. Bejarano found out about the book sale from Logos Books, a volunteer-run bookstore owned and operated by the Friends of the Library since 2018.

The book sale represents only a small part of the work that the nonprofit and its volunteers dedicate to the community of Davis. Donations pass through the hands of pricing experts from Logos Books to the book sale and sometimes directly to the library.

Stacks of boxes towering up to the ceiling are sorted through and circulated within this system to ensure that these books fall into new hands. Even books unable to find homes in Davis are eventually donated to an organization called Better World Books to be given as charity to developing countries around the world.

Mabel Correa Reynolds, a volunteer with the group for seven

years, manages publicity while sorting and pricing books for Logos’ world languages and literature section.

“It’s not a matter of saying I want to sort, you’ve got to be well-read and have the initiative to know what will sell and what won’t,” Reynolds said. “And then there’s the physical effort it takes to move these boxes of books. But, it’s well worth it. It’s very rewarding.”

Reynolds was able to see Logos Books transform from its dilapidated state into one of the organization’s largest financial contributors. The impassioned efforts of volunteers have allowed Friends of the Library to not only last but expand in spite of the pandemic.

“During the pandemic, we never stopped working,” Reynolds said. “We used to go out and sell books outside, rain or shine.”

Reynolds demonstrated a deep appreciation for the Friends of the Library President Rory Osborne and Volunteer Gino Greene for helping the organization thrive during these turbulent times.

The community of Davis and their love for reading is much larger than a heap of used books changing hands. The money raised by the Friends of the Library aids the Mary L. Stephens Library in creating various programs and resources for the community. With Friends of the Library donating over $100,000 this year, Library Regional Supervisor Crista Cannariato had no shortage of ways to describe the impact they have made.

“They provide money for book club bags, nature explorer backpacks so that kids can go out with their families to explore the outdoors, and discovery kit collections with things like telescopes that people can borrow to learn about astronomy,” Cannariato

said. Friends of the Library is able to provide support to the library so that they can not only supplement state funding but also provide resources exclusive to Mary L. Stephens Library.

“They are helping to provide funding for the maker space,” Cannariato said. “There will be a variety of soldering equipment, 3-D printers and laser cutters. They also provide funding for a lucky day collection, which is for books that are not reservable but are really popular titles.” With the amount of resources Friends of the Library raises for their respective branches in Yolo county, these libraries are able to coordinate county-wide events for their communities.

“They help provide money and donated books for system-wide events in Yolo County such as El día de los niños,” Cannariato said. “They help fund the annual Juneteenth program. Friends of the Library helps fund our annual summer reading program, the program’s prizes and weekly presenters to encourage people to become lifelong readers as well as to help students from falling behind.”

With no indication of slowing down, Friends of the Library has continued to expand its financial efforts. There was uncertainty as to whether the non-profit organization would be able to stay afloat after acquiring Logos, after all the trouble caused by the pandemic but after everything, Friends of the Library have held firm in their mission.

“And to think that there were naysayers that were skeptical about whether we would be able to support the book sale and the bookstore, [...] it has been quite the contrary,” Reynolds said. “From their love for reading and their continued generosity to donate, it speaks volumes about the people of Davis.”

home to work on his family’s winery. Giguiere works with his family in what is now a designated American Viticultural Area, ideal for growing grapes and producing wine.

“I’ve always been really interested in biodiversity,” he said. “We started

down this path [of regenerative agriculture] to deal with some of the wine quality and wine chemistry issues [such as] retaining acids, mouthfeel, production [and] sustainability, regenerating the soil.”

Dream for All Downpayment Assistance Program applications opening soon

The city of Davis announced that the California Finance Agency will be accepting applications to their downpayment assistance program starting in April

BY HANNAH SCHRADER city@theaggie.org

On Feb. 21, the city of Davis announced the state will open applications for the Dream For All Down Payment Assistance Program in April. The Dream program is run by the California Finance Agency with the intention to assist first-time and firstgeneration homebuyers making below 120% of the area median income — in Yolo County for a family it is $180,000 — in purchasing a home. Other requirements for eligibility include that the borrower must be a current California resident and United States citizen, other National of the United States or a “Qualified Alien” as defined at 8 U.S.C § 1641. The initial phase of the program, completed in 2023, has already assisted over 2,100 low-income, newhome buyers, according to the city of Davis’ announcement. “Homeownership is a factor in helping low-income families develop generational wealth, invest in themselves and their families, and find a path out of poverty,” the announcement reads. Eric Johnson, the spokesperson for the California Finance Agency, spoke briefly about the history behind downpayment assistance programs in California. “We’ve been doing downpayment assistance programs for over 40 years,” Johnson said. “This is the first shared-appreciation program that we have done for a real large-scale shareappreciation program in the United States.” Johnson went on to talk more about the broader accomplishments of the California Finance Agency when asked about the role the Finance Agency has played in alleviating the state-wide housing crisis. “I can’t really speak to what the

state has done,” Johnson said. “I can only speak to what our agency has done, which is essentially we provide downpayment assistance, downpayment and closing-cost assistance to people who are trying to buy their first homes. We’ve also administered a $100 million program to help people build accessory dwelling units on their existing properties to help build additional affordable units. We also work in the multifamily apartment space working with developers and localities to provide financing to build housing for low and moderate-income Californians.”

Johnson then talked about his favorite part of working with the Dream for All downpayment assistance program.

“My favorite part is when I’m at a booth at a housing fair or something like that and somebody comes up and [...] says, you know, ‘I bought my first home with CalFHA and it’s been awesome,’” Johnson said.

Ken Fleck, a marketing employee at American Pacific Mortgage, talked about how he originally started working with the downpayment assistance program.

“We work with CalFHA through all of their downpayment assistance programs,” Fleck said. “So they have a few different first-time buyer programs that are available, including programs such as the MyHome and the Visit program, which are available all of the time, they’re not limited funding programs like the Dream for All, which also helped first-time homebuyers throughout the state. And then the Dream for All is just a new program they released in the past couple of years.”

Fleck then spoke about his favorite aspect of working with this program.

“That’s a very rewarding thing to be able to do,” Fleck said. “To be able to help people that probably didn’t think they’d be able to purchase anytime soon.”

Farmers celebrate Field Day at the Maples Farm in Woodland. (Jersain Medina / Aggie)

Davis City Hall announces ‘Dream for All’ program, aids first-time homebuyers with up to 20% support, launching April 2024. (Jersain Medina / Aggie)

Davis library, conveniently located downtown

The Spokes to hold 20th annual HellaCappella showcase at Mondavi Center on April 12

In celebration of their anniversary, the showcase will highlight The Spokes and other local groups

BY RAGAVI GOYAL campus@theaggie.org

On April 12 at 7:30 p.m., The Spokes will be holding their 20th annual showcase, HellaCappella, at the Mondavi Center. The Spokes is an all female-identifying acapella group on campus, currently with 17 members. This year’s show will see performances from groups all around the West Coast to celebrate the event’s 20-year anniversary.

Acapella is a genre of music that does not involve any instruments in the background — it is purely produced through vocals.

“We mimic all of that with our mouths,” Maia Thiel, a fourth-year

psychology major and vice president of The Spokes, said. “We have to imitate [elements like] the bass line or the drums, [and] we have a beatboxer.”

The Spokes often work with songs written by female artists in an effort to promote women’s empowerment.

HellaCapella has been an organized event ever since their group was founded, and is the group’s most popular event of the whole year.

“This year is especially exciting because it’s [the] 20th anniversary of The Spokes in general,” Nishi Nair, a fourth-year sociology and economics double major and president of The Spokes, said.

The group plans to hold activities in the lobby at the Mondavi Center to commemorate this 20-year journey as

Senate addresses aftermath of SB #52, hears quarterly reports

The table also heard a presentation from the Elections Committee on current efforts to increase engagement in the ASUCD spring 2024 elections

BY AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS campus@theaggie.org

Vice President Aarushi Raghunathan called the March 7 meeting to order at 6:18 p.m. After roll call, she read the UC Davis Land Acknowledgement.

First, the Senate read the Aggie Mentor Committee (AMC) quarterly report. The committee reported that they are looking for more mentors for next year in hopes that their participation continues to grow. Furthermore, they look to increase their publicity in both social media presence and booths at various UC Davis events.

Next, the Senate heard the Innovation and Research Lab (IRL) quarterly report. Due to an increase in information technology (IT) control, IRL has faced many roadblocks to their projects started in fall quarter, such as issues with creating a KDVS app and ordering Coffee House (CoHo) gift cards to increase membership within the committee. However, this quarter, IRL was successfully able to begin building a website for Lawntopia and send out a housing survey for students in collaboration with Housing Advising for Undergraduate Students (HAUS). Looking towards spring quarter, IRL hopes to launch a software product and have a spring survey sent out. In regards to Senate involvement, they hope to get more support working with IT and an increase in budget for hiring more volunteers.

Senator Curtis Chen said that he believes it is important that the Senate take into consideration the work IRL is doing when examining its budget for the spring.

Following this, the Senate heard the Undocuscholars Advocacy and Aid (UAA) quarterly report. The unit hopes to increase its number of volunteers and is in search of a new chairperson.

In recent developments, UAA is slated to host a study jam event in collaboration with El Centro and

an “UndocuProm” in collaboration with AB540 and the Undocumented Student Center. Additionally, they were able to provide 10 students with $50 CoHo gift cards after sending an intake survey to students. Looking to next quarter, they hope to continue to receive funding to keep providing gift cards for students and maintaining their free cap and gown program. Next, the Senate heard the Elections Committee presentation.

The committee hopes to increase voting amongst first-years and athletes in the upcoming ASUCD spring 2024 elections. With this in mind, they have updated their website with the election timeline and are working to create more promotional materials. This includes voter guides, posters, lawn signs and an increased social media presence. Reflecting on last year’s fall quarter elections, the committee hopes to do better with their distribution of CoHo coupons as an incentive for voters and more prizes for their raffles. In regards to Senate support, they ask that senators volunteer to table and offer any ideas they may have for other promotional activities.

An idea proposed by Senator Chasa Monica involves having someone dress in a cow costume and riding on a golf cart to encourage students to vote.

After a break at 7:55 p.m., the Senate continued reviewing the written quarterly reports.

The Bike Barn reported being on track with their budget numbers. Furthermore, they have since onboarded six new staff and two new bike brands for the community. This includes folding bikes and highquality discounted electric bikes. Moreover, they are preparing to adapt to the construction slated in their break room and warehouse, minimizing their shop layout by 275 square feet.

Looking to spring quarter, they hope to increase outreach to make students and the Davis community aware of the resources that the Bike Barn offers with continued support from the Senate.

well as for The Spokes’ recent win in the 2024 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), where the group has made it to the West Semifinal point in the competition so far. This semi-final will take place on March 23, 2024, at 7 p.m. in Redwood City. “We haven’t been to the semis in at least a decade,” Nair said. “We’ve only been there twice in the past, so that’s really exciting too.”

HellaCappella is entirely studentrun, from hiring the necessary technical staff to raising funds to make the show possible. They typically cover the cost of the show through the selling of tickets, with around 1,800 seats available in the Mondavi Center. In previous years, The Spokes have

Ryan

completely sold out for the show, and they hope to do so again this year.

This year’s show is also unique in that the showcase will also highlight groups other than The Spokes.

“This is actually really exciting, because we usually only have one other Davis acapella group at our show,” Nair said. “ Because it’s our 20th anniversary, we want to celebrate not just The Spokes, but acapella at Davis in general. This year, we’re having our group, Liquid Hot Plates and the Lounge Lizards [perform] at our showcase.”

The group meets twice a week practicing for five hours in total. Putting up Hellacappella and showcasing their talent is their end goal.

“We all find our escapes with each other [and] with music,” Nandini Rai, a third-year economics major and treasurer of The Spokes, said. “Just being able to put that all together and show it to other people is really exciting. We want many people to be able to see that.”

Tickets for HellaCappella can be purchased at the Mondavi Center Ticket Office or on the Mondavi Center Website. Presale tickets are $16 for students and children, $35 for UC Davis affiliates and $43 for the general public. At the door, tickets are $21 for students and children, $40 for UC Davis affiliates and $43 for the general public.

DeGuzman returns to CoHo

to serve as first-ever executive chef

DeGuzman hopes to create menus that remind students of home and introduce them to new foods

BY RODRIGO VILLEGAS campus@theaggie.org

As Ryan DeGuzman walked out to the backdock of the Coffee House (CoHo), exchanging goodbyes with his coworkers, he turned around and spotted the production manager wielding a hose. She proceeded to spray him down — Deguzman laughed, realizing that he had fallen victim to their prank.

He turned around once more and spotted another individual holding “five gallons of flour.” Subsequently, they tossed the flour onto him.

“I was immediately flour’d by some of the supervisors,” DeGuzman said. “I became one big dough ball.”

Despite being covered in flour, he reluctantly trudged on to his animal science class. He only managed to stay for half the class before deciding to leave.

“Everyone was like, ‘What happened to your hair?’” DeGuzman said. “It took me days to get that out [of my hair].”

That day in the late 90s marked the end of his chapter as a student worker at the CoHo.

DeGuzman has recently circled back to UC Davis, and the CoHo in particular, and will assume the position of executive chef during this 2023 to 2024 academic year. This is the first-ever executive chef that the CoHo has seen, and his role includes developing new menus and managing student workers in this facility.

Before returning to UC Davis, DeGuzman acquired over a decade of experience in the culinary arts. He served as a sous-chef at Soka University of America and as a restaurant chef at Cache Creek Casino Resort.

He returned to UC Davis in 2022, originally as a sous-chef at the Segundo Dining Commons. There, he heard about the new opportunity at the CoHo.

“I heard through the grapevine that they were looking to open up the first chef position,” DeGuzman said. “My executive chef at the Segundo [Dining Commons] urged me to [apply] because I have the background, and I wanted to do it.”

So far, DeGuzman has helped to reopen two restaurants, “Cooks” and “Croutons,” at the CoHo, and tailors

menus quarterly to appeal to students. Notably, “Cooks” has served as a dynamic platform providing a diverse range of foods and featuring a menu that alternates daily between different cultural foods. He developed this idea with the diverse student population on campus and his daughters in mind.

As the father of two university students, DeGuzman noticed that his daughters, along with other UC Davis students, often experience homesickness. As he puts it, the easiest method to combat homesickness is to “eat food that reminds you of home.”

“Food really warms the heart, so when I make the menus, that’s what I want to encapsulate,” DeGuzman said. He also emphasized the significance of catering to students’ varying dietary needs, committing to developing menus that offer a wide range of options, including vegan, vegetarian, halal and more.

In addition to menu development, DeGuzman has enjoyed the teaching aspect that came with the role.

“To fully understand the recipe or the things that you’re doing, you have to be able to teach someone else how to do it,” DeGuzman said. “Back in my culinary school, the main tenet was to see one, do one and then teach

one. That’s the philosophy I’ve come back to.”

Unlike his previous work experiences, most student workers lack a culinary background because the CoHo does not require cooking experience. Consequently, the managerial side of his role has required teaching students culinary skills, such as instilling confidence in handling a knife and learning to understand recipes.

“[I hope] to give them the confidence to be able to look at a recipe and know, ‘This is what you’re supposed to do. This is what sauté means,’” DeGuzman said. “I’m teaching them a new language: the culinary language.”

Despite its challenges, he has discovered joy in teaching students culinary skills. He mentioned that he hopes to devise and implement a training program in the future to make the onboarding process at the CoHo easier.

“I really enjoyed my time when I worked here, and I’m enjoying my time here now,” DeGuzman said. “This is scary fun. I’m not 100% confident, but I’m confident enough that I can move forward and wrap myself around the challenges here.”

UC Davis LGBTQIA+ Resource Center hosts vigil for Nex Benedict on Feb. 29

The center aimed to create a safe space for queer individuals grieving

BY BENJAMIN CARRILLO campus@theaggie.org

was

“Nex

community coordinator, spoke on their experience as an attendee at the event in support of Nex Benedict and the non-binary

“For a lot of people in that moment, it was a get-together for those in the queer community,” Inzunza said. “There was also a line where we could write affirmations and thoughts about the trans experience, and for mine, I wrote that I wish we would just stop being killed. In that moment, though, it was more of a joyful gettogether with staff coming to show support. We all felt comfortable being in community with everyone.”

Inzunza also spoke on the tragedy of Benedict and the future of the LGBTQIA+ community if this lack of protection for transgender lives continues.

“Dealing with the cards that you’re dealt with, and just wanting to use the restroom [that ended] in [Benedict’s] demise, is tragic,” Inzunza said. “I think that Nex is someone that we all saw ourselves in: a queer individual [being] bullied. What UC Davis can learn from this situation is to add more gender-neutral bathrooms on campus

for

SENATE18 on 8

Ryan DeGuzman is the first executive chef that the CoHo has ever seen. (Courtesy / UC Davis Magazine)

LGBTQIA+ Resource Center holds vigil for Nex Benedict on Feb. 29. (Courtesy / Ben Carrillo)

Growth hurts

Homesickness is part of the process

BY MOLLY THOMPSON mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu

It’s the Saturday night before winter quarter starts. It’s been raining all day, and I just got dropped off back at my dorm after winter break. My roommates don’t get back until tomorrow — I’m all alone.

There’s an inevitable moment that every college freshman must encounter when an unshakable, hollow ache starts to really set in. The novelty of being in college has worn off, it’s cold and dark all the time, classes get overwhelming and the idea of being at home — wrapped up in your favorite blanket, surrounded by your family, eating mom’s home cooking — starts to sound nice. Really nice. Like maybe I wouldn’t ever leave. Maybe I’d rather be anywhere but here. Mom, can you come pick me up? I’m not having fun anymore.

It hurts to rip off a scab — the skin underneath is tender. It’s no longer being protected, and it still needs time to finish healing and toughen a little. When you move away from home, you’re leaving — if you’re lucky — the safety net you’ve had for your whole life. Of course, it’s exciting, the whole world just opened up in front of you! But at the same time, the whole world just opened up in front of you. Oh god.

College is like adulthood with training wheels. We have to feed ourselves and tuck ourselves into bed and put ourselves by the window so we make sure we get enough sunlight, but we might still call Dad when our bike locks rust shut or we need money for groceries or to read through the lease before we sign it. Yes, we have help, but we’re still learning how to ride this metaphorical bike; we’re not in the backseat of our parents’ car anymore.

It’s inevitable: spreading your own set of wings. Learning to fly solo comes with marvels but it also comes with growing pains. Homesickness is a symptom of growth. It’s a sign of detachment from childhood, no wonder it’s going to hurt a little sometimes. Though, in the moments when it feels particularly sore, it’s difficult to see the

silver lining. It feels like the world is so vast and dark and I’m merely an iota in one tiny cell of the honeycomb that is my dorm building. I won’t even try to conceptualize myself in a scope of the whole world — it’s far too overwhelming. I’m a teeny little fish in a massive, expansive pond and I can’t shake the feeling. And yet, the sun comes up and my roommates come back and I’m pretty sure everything’s gonna be okay. It ebbs and it flows — there are nights when it’s all-consuming, and there are days when it doesn’t even exist. People say to call home, to keep familiar and comforting objects around you, to find people that you love who will keep you company, as if those things are more than an ice pack that’ll numb the injury without actually healing it.

The truth is that homesickness is a part of life that we all have to face. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t call my sister on a Sunday afternoon, keep the quilt my grandmother made on my bed or knock on my next-dorm neighbor’s door just for a Spindrift and a little camaraderie — an ice pack might not heal an injury but it sure can take away the sting.

The first quarter of freshman year is so bright and shiny, that it’s almost too exciting for the dauntingness to set in. Going back to school for winter quarter doesn’t have the same allure that your first quarter did. So when you get back to your dorm, you start to miss eating waffles at your kitchen table and realize you took sleeping in your childhood bed for granted. Instead of driving your own car to go see your high school friends, you have to walk through the wind and rain to your geology lecture. Yeah, home sounds pretty good right about now.

But time heals all wounds. Growing pains subside, soreness fades and the new skin under the scab is soon indistinguishable. A fever sucks but it heals an infection; homesickness is tough but it means you’re growing up. You’re coming into yourself, and it’s hard — you should be proud. Sometimes you pull a muscle trying to get your sea legs, it’s a part of learning and growth.

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ two years later

Two years after the film won big at the Oscars, it’s still a modern classic

BY JOAQUIN WATERS jwat@ucdavis.edu

Some movies capture the spirit of an age so well that they effectively become time capsules: “The Breakfast Club” did so for the disaffected youth of the 1980s, “The Matrix” for the dawn of the internet age, “The Dark Knight” for post-9/11 America. Two years on, I think it’s safe to say “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is one of these films. No other major film of the last decade has so succinctly visualized the ideals, obsessions and fears of the postmodern world; few have taken over the cultural zeitgeist so completely. The language of the film — googly eyes, hot-dog fingers, “laundry and taxes” — became instantly iconic. Why was this? What is it that “Everything Everywhere All At Once” conveyed so well?

As most moviegoers now know, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” follows a middle-aged, ChineseAmerican woman named Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) who is frustrated with her life. She’s stuck working a dead-end job at a dumpy laundromat, annoyed by the relentless optimism of her husband, Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), and the dour cynicism of her daughter, Joy (Stephanie Hsu) on the eve of a potentially disastrous audit. As her life crumbles around her, Evelyn is visited by a version of her husband from another universe. He tells her that the multiverse is under attack by a world-destroyer called Jobu Tupaki and that only Evelyn can save them. What follows is a bizarre hero’s journey through a multiverse steeped in absurdity, existentialism, raccoons and hot-dog hands. Things are further complicated when Evelyn learns that the multiversal conqueror Jobu Tupaki is none other than a version of Joy.

To call “Everything Everywhere All At Once” a complicated film would be an understatement; even its biggest fans would confess that it takes several viewings to fully grasp everything that happens. As complicated as the film’s structure is, it avoids debilitating confusion by grounding its insane premise in a deceptively simple story. We are able to follow all the madness because it’s really just window-dressing.

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” is not strictly about the multiverse. It’s about the reconciliation of a family — a mother, a father and a daughter — and healing generational divides in favor of embracing empathy. Evelyn’s story is familiar to many audience members. She is a Chinese immigrant who came to the United States with love in her heart and hope in her soul, only for the inanity of her

The live-action series ‘Avatar The Last Airbender’ proves not every animated show needs an edgy reboot Aang can fly now… I guess?

BY MAYA KORNYEYEVA mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

The day the live-action remake of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (ATLA) aired on Netflix, I bounced straight from my work table to the couch, aiming my remote at the television and mentally preparing myself for what lay ahead. Piles of assignments remained willfully forgotten on my desk, and my computer was left opened — merely ornamentally — to the draft of my next article for The Aggie. “But it can all wait,” I told myself as I pressed play, hopefully, albeit anxiously, waiting for the show to start. Before I provide my review of the live-action remake, I must preface that I have watched the original animated series twice, as well as dabbled in some of the comics. I got into the show with my family during the pandemic, a time when we all needed both the humor and the escapism of ALTA’s incredible world-building. When the plans for the live-action remake were announced, I hoped the new adaptation would preserve the light-hearted interactions between the characters and the cohesive story. The first episode was truly “live-

action;” filled with a chase sequence, fighting, sacrifice, betrayal and ultimately a dude being burned alive. Ten minutes in I found myself wondering if this new remake was even rated PG… the violence was a bit dramatic and borderline inappropriate for the age range of the audience that the animated show was originally aimed toward. Doing a little research revealed that the series was actually meant to cater toward Game of Thrones fans: an older audience who perhaps watched the animated “Avatar: The Last Airbender” as children and who would find appeal in a more mature portrayal of the show. I actually quite liked this more mature take, as the premise of the series deals with very serious story elements like war, destruction and violent spirits, which are better presented through darker cinematography. The first episode also brought forth a recreation of the iconic “Water, Earth, Fire, Air” intro; I was expecting something crisp and clean, which followed the original introduction perfectly. Lo and behold, with these high expectations I was doubly disappointed. The computer-generated imagery (CGI) was poor, especially when it came to the human figures. The benders clearly looked fake, and the script featured an exposition dump that would be better

new existence to crush both. She lives in constant regret of what she could have been, and it keeps her from valuing what she actually is. Joy/Jobu, on the other hand, is the quintessential zoomer: a young queer woman who copes with her debilitating anxiety by projecting an image of colorful nihilism. It is the push and pull between these two characters that drives the narrative, and it is once again to the script’s credit that despite the familiarity of their character types, they never once feel like stereotypes.

In the “normal” universe of the film, neither Evelyn nor Joy are super-beings battling for the fate of reality, but simply a mother and daughter on the verge of a potentially permanent falling-out. Even as the fantastical aspects of the film grow, we continuously cut back to the equivalent events in the normal universe, emphasizing that these events are what the film is really about. Evelyn and Joy love each other, but love isn’t enough to save their relationship. Evelyn is simultaneously distant from and controlling of her daughter. She demands Joy hide her homosexuality from her grandfather lest she offend his old-world values, calls her fat and derides her lifestyle rather than help her overcome her challenges. The film makes it clear that this behavior comes not from malice, but from genuine confusion on Evelyn’s part about how she could possibly raise someone who grew up in a world so different from her own. Rather than Joy’s ordinary self, it is her villainous doppelganger Jobu Tupaki that provides the most insight into her character: her quest to eradicate all universes stems not from genocidal tendencies, but suicidal ones. Jobu likens the multiverse to a cacophony of sounds that she is never able to escape from. Her awareness of everything that is always happening is so overwhelming that the only solution she sees is to silence it forever. I don’t think it is a coincidence that Jobu discovers the multiverse before her mother: the exhausting nature of its endless stream of information is not dissimilar to

the effect that growing up with the internet has had on Gen Z children. Awareness of everything from such a young age cultivates a view of the world as an overwhelming and meaningless nightmare.

Evelyn herself is also depressed, but — as is common of her generation — buries it under a mountain of mundane tasks so that she never has time to think about it. Joy/Jobu, on the other hand, lets her mental illness erupt from her, unleashing it on everyone and everything in her path. Neither is a healthy solution, but both are understandable — and familiar, given their respective standings as the archetypal boomer parent and zoomer child. Though Evelyn understands her daughter by the end of the film and partially agrees with her philosophy that nothing matters, she has come to the inverse conclusion: just because nothing matters inherently doesn’t mean nothing matters at all.

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” postulates that the nihilism of today’s youth is warranted. However, nothing in the film suggests an embrace of cynicism. On the contrary, the film is joyous, empathetic and genuinely hopeful. Note that Evelyn’s final shift is triggered by Waymond reminding her that “we have to be kind…even when we don’t know what’s going on.” Empowered by both her daughter’s nihilism and her husband’s optimism, without their respective cynicism and weakness, Evelyn has the strength to tell both herself and her daughter the words that end their battle and allow them to embrace each other: “It’s okay. Nothing matters.” It is that philosophy — the refutation of both modern cynicism and antiquated emotional neglect — that makes “Everything Everywhere All At Once” a bona fide modern classic.

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.

The Moss Live in Sacramento

Wednesday nights are best spent seeing alternative bands

told by another character in the show (for example, Katara’s grandmother, who goes on to repeat the entire original intro monologue a few scenes later).

The CGI for Aang’s newfound flying ability was also quite painful to watch, and definitely dampened my general attitude toward the remake. The very fact that he could fly — one of the hardest bending techniques to ever achieve, as established in the sequel Legend of Korra — also creates an overwhelming amount of plot holes. For instance, if Aang can fly, why does he need a glider? Why can’t he fly away from his captors and why couldn’t other Air Nomads use this strategy to escape from the fire-benders? I just couldn’t stop myself from asking these critical questions.

Yet another negative of the show was the pacing. The first few episodes stuck relatively closely to the established storyline set by the animated series, but everything fell apart in the later episodes. The third episode combined three separate story arcs into one — Omashu became the setting for the Bumi conflict, as well as Jet’s “freedom fighters” narrative and Haru and Tyro’s storyline. The following episode managed to mix in the “Secret Tunnel” plotline, and thus four pieces of the Avatar’s journey were mashed into one.

While this combination of events was executed creatively, it was a stark contrast to the original plotline and added some unnecessary complexity. Given that the runtime of both the original and the live-action remake is roughly 8 hours, the new series felt much more rushed than the animated one.

Adding to this dilemma was the dramatically inflated amount of screen time that Azula and her two friends Mai and Ty Lee received. While Azula is introduced much later in the original animated series, she is spotlit immediately in the remake. I found this problematic not only because of the discontinuity with the animated series, but also because the personalities of Azula’s friends are erased to make way for her own character development. Mai and Ty Lee serve as mere plot pieces, standing next to each other, watching Azula train for 99% of the time.

BY ANDIE TARABZONI rmtarabzooni@ucdavis.edu

I think back quite often to the idea that concerts create a hive mind. The crowds cheering for a song to be played, or just playing along to a cheeky joke even if they weren’t prepared for it. So when I was asked to do press for a concert at an alternative indie group called “The Moss,” I was pretty ecstatic. Before going into this, I had literally zero emotional tie to or knowledge about this band. All I knew was I was going to be in Sacramento on a Wednesday night. Before the band came on, their opener Spooky Mansion came on. I wasn’t sure if that was The Moss or not, but I realized after they got off stage at 7:30 P.M, they probably were the opener. They definitely knew how to interact with a crowd and get people excited. I believe when venues are smaller (like the one this one was at) it allows for more crowd control, but also more connection to the audience. I definitely felt that way at The Moss’s concert.

I think The Moss surpassed my expectations in every way. I want to first talk about the stage presence. In the midst of filming a video of my phone, the lead singer had stopped to tell us that now he called Sacramento his hometown. It was kind of silly how much the band talked about Sacramento as a city, making it feel as if there was really a personal tie between the crowd

and the group. It was also really fun to yell “Ramento” back at them as they yelled “Sac.” The Moss definitely knew how to make a crowd feel enthusiastic and excited to be there, even if you have no idea what their vibe is. Most people there were in their late 20s to early 30s, but I was able to have fun in the crowd.

Now onto the music aspect that we’ve all been waiting for. I honestly very much expected a feel similar to The Lumineers going in, but I was slightly mistaken by it. Instead, I would compare The Moss to the yearning vocals and passion of The Backseat Lovers, mixed with storytelling similar to Current Joys. It seems really euphoric to fall in love with a song at first sight, but I definitely had that experience with a couple of tracks performed that night. The Moss feels like a band that would help you realize the solution to something that’s been right in front of you, helping you find a way out of something that looks so easy in retrospect. The show was, simply, so cool. The music had catchy and fun lyrics you could get the hanf of and sing along to midway through. The Moss definitely has a sentiment of desperation and sadness in a lot of the music, but you’ll still be clapping to the amplified beat. Sad music usually isn’t super engaging for me, but some songs had me having full-on revelations in midtown Sacramento. I’m kind of surprised they don’t have a bigger audience.

A cozy home in North Davis with Mexican style architecture. (Andrew Huang / Aggie)

The Moss rocks Sacramento’s Goldfield Trader Center with an unforgettable performance. (Jersain Medina / Aggie)

NOVA MAI / AGGIE

OPINION

The Editorial Board meets with UC Regent to discuss decision to delay undocumented student employment

Regent Keith Ellis explains his reaction to the decision and what’s next

BY

WRITTEN

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

READ MORE

Scan to read the rest of our interview with the regent online

Below is a transcript of the meeting that has been edited for length and clarity.

The California Aggie’s Editorial Board met with UC Regent Keith Ellis to discuss his reaction and involvement with the UC Board of Regents decision to defer action regarding undocumented student on-campus employment. Ellis reached out to The Aggie after the Regents’ decision was announced with a request to speak to our editorial board and share his perspective with students. We also wrote an editorial about the situation when the decision was announced, which you can read online.

Ellis: [I wanted to share] my perspective and how I felt things unfolded because [this decision on undocumented student workers] has kind of consumed my entire time on the board. And it’s taken up a lot of oxygen, I would say, and rightfully so. So I joined the board in July of 2022 and I want to say it was the September Regents meeting of 2022, [when] we were presented with the Opportunity for All campaign’s proposal to allow students with undocumented status to hold student employment positions on campus.

My understanding of the legal theory is, not to get super technical, there’s two types of law: there’s statutory

law — that’s like the Schoolhouse Rock on the bill law — and then there’s case law that courts create, based on precedent. And so their legal theory is that there’s case law that says unless Congress explicitly states that a law applies to the states, it does not. And then, of course, the University of California is semi-autonomous under the California Constitution. So, there’s case law that says Regents policy has the same force and effect as statutory law. So that’s kind of the basis of their legal theory.

Note: Ellis explains this concept of UC semi-autonomy more later in our conversation.

And so part of my frustration was, we were presented this in September and it really didn’t get on our agenda until May. Several of us were pushing the board leadership to put it on the agenda. It finally did [make the agenda] but wasn’t quite in the form that I think many of us were hoping. Typically, when Regents create policy, it goes into effect immediately. But in this case, we delayed implementation until November at the earliest. And then no real action was taken at that point, until January when we voted to kick it down the road another year. And part of the issue was that there were some, shall I say, back channel communications. Essentially, the Department of Homeland Security told the Office of the President that if we move forward with implementing Regents policy for 4407, they would be forced to do an I-9 audit on the university, which would potentially jeopardize any and all federal funding. Pell Grant, any research dollars we get from the federal government, all would be in jeopardy, basically.

In addition to that, under the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, individual hiring managers could be civilly or criminally liable for signing off on knowingly hiring employees who are undocumented. While we didn’t necessarily think the Biden administration would lock up our hiring managers for doing that, it’s still a risk to the university and to those individuals.

Also, there’s the deportation risk for the individual students in question, which, I think they know that risk better than anybody else. So at least

my position on it was that that risk to me, the individual risk, to the student in question is a personal choice. Whether they choose to do this or not, they fullwell know all of what’s associated with that, so far be it for me or far be it for the Regents to dictate an individual choice risk like that.

But there were larger risks to the University of California that I think really drove some of the discussion and decision making. Also for me, you know, not to say the University of California isn’t special, because it is very special in a lot of ways, but I really kind of took issue with the fact we were going this alone. Why just us, you know, why not CSU community colleges? Also, the state itself? You know, there are student employment positions throughout state government and other departments and agencies have student employment positions that students who are undocumented can’t apply for. Why are we just doing this alone? Why aren’t we taking a more [statewide] approach to it, which now, thanks to Assembly Member [David] Alvarez, there’s a bill [AB 2586] to essentially do that, for the most part.

That was kind of my frustration in January. I proposed, essentially, if we were going to delay it by a year, we should just delete the policy. I don’t think in a year the federal landscape is going to change very much. I mean, not for the better, for sure. You know, the key choices are four more years of Biden or President Trump comes back. And I don’t think either of those yields the change we’re looking for on the federal level in terms of the immigration reform. So if that’s what we’re waiting for, then that’s not going to change by January 2025. Call me a pessimist or a realist, but if that’s what we’re waiting for, it’s not going to happen. Why bother having a policy we have no intention of implementing.

So that’s why I motioned to just remove it because the Regents could always come back later, and put it back and actually implement it. That’s my big issue: we have a policy on the books and we have no intention of implementing [it] anytime soon.

Editorial Board: You’re talking about collaboration with other schools. Do you have any idea if they were reached out to when this process began?

Or if they reached out? Was there any communication about working together on it?

Ellis : My understanding is that some of the candidate colleges are an interesting beast because the districts hold most of the power in that regard. The 72 districts would have to be the entities that actually implement this kind of a thing at the community colleges, so the Board of Governors doesn’t have authority in the space. They may have been aware but there’s no action they could take.

Is the new FAFSA actually better?

READ MORE

Scan to read our ed about the fourth anniversary of the pandemic

The numerous problems and glitches are providing additional barriers to education

BY CLAIRE SCHAD cfschad@ucdavis.edu

of the application was pushed back from the original Oct. 1 date to Jan. 2024. Once the application finally went live in early January, there were many reports of issues such as students being kicked off the site, changes not being saved and even the inability to access the application altogether for students with immigrant parents without a social security number. Luckily, most of these initial technical glitches have been resolved, however, there are still many big problems with the new, “Better FAFSA.”

The delay in the rollout of this year’s FAFSA has consequently resulted in a delay in colleges and universities receiving the data needed to compile financial aid award offers. In previous years, the online FAFSA has taken

three to five days to be processed by the Department of Education. Once processed, the FAFSAgenerated student aid report (SAR) was sent to the selected college or university the following day. However, this year, the Department of Education announced that colleges and universities won’t receive student aid information until mid-March. This delay in information-sharing will make it very difficult for colleges and universities to complete and send financial aid award packages to accepted students before the decision deadline, which for many schools, including UC Davis, falls on May 1st.

This could potentially force incoming students to commit to a school before knowing how much financial aid they will be offered. Because financial aid is a determining factor in many student’s college decisions, many universities, including all University of California campuses, have delayed the commitment deadline for incoming first-year students until May 15. While this is helpful, it is surely frustrating for many incoming students and families who have been anxiously awaiting the finalization of college decisions.

While the FAFSA’s delays are irritating, an even bigger problem is that the formula the “Better FAFSA” was originally using to determine how much aid a student will receive, was flat-out wrong.

In 2020, Congress passed bipartisan legislation that directed the Department of Education to increase the amount of income that is protected. This means income not used when calculating the expected contribution towards tuition, by 20% for parents, 35% for dependent students and 60% for student-parents.

This legislation was aimed at ensuring the Department of Education calculates a student’s financial aid eligibility with the understanding that some income must be reserved for non-educational expenses, such as the living expenses of family members not enrolled in college. In addition, the Department of Education was directed to adjust the FAFSA for inflation, using the consumer price index from April 2020 to April 2024.

However, the Department of Education failed to make these critical adjustments, which is especially

detrimental to students and their families given the record-high inflation that has occurred since April 2020. If not caught, this mistake would’ve caused some students and families to appear to have higher incomes than they actually do, reducing the financial aid for which a student is eligible. This negligence on the part of the Department of Education could’ve caused students across the country to miss out on much-needed financial aid. When the issue was first brought to the attention of the Department of Education, they responded by saying that the correct inflation adjustment wouldn’t be implemented until the 2025 to 2026 financial aid cycle, due to time constraints.

After much public scrutiny, the Department of Education finally agreed that this year’s FAFSA would

be revised to meet the requirements set in Congress’ bipartisan legislation, but there is no clear timeline for when this issue will be resolved.

While the Department of Education’s agreement to fix their mistake comes as a relief for many students and families, we must not forget that they were quick to accept the fact that millions of students might miss out on financial aid for the 2024 to 2025 school year. Without public pushback, the Department of Education would have likely kept $1.8 billion out of the hands of millions of college students.

All of these frustrating issues with the new FAFSA are just adding additional barriers to education for students across the country. Whether it’s the glitch that forces students with immigrant parents without social

security numbers to search for possible workarounds that allow them access to the form, or the delay of financial aid decisions. Each additional step required to obtain financial aid is likely deterring students from applying altogether. While all these issues might make it sound daunting, I’m by no means trying to discourage you from filling out the FAFSA. Most students who fill out the application will find that they are being asked fewer questions than they have in years past, making the process faster. Even though there has been progress surrounding the actual application, we as students must continue to advocate for a federal financial aid process that is both simple and equitable, ensuring all students receive the necessary aid that makes education attainable.

Finals week study setup

BY LANHUI ZHEN lazhen@ucdavis.edu

ARTS & CULTURE

BY CHRIS PONCE arts@theaggie.org

Album: “Gradients” by Archer Oh (2022)

“Gradients” is the sophomore album of Chicano indie band Archer Oh. This rock album is about several feelings — growing up, lost love and being your own worst enemy. Many of the songs incorporate traditional Mexican sounds — such as the trumpet — and other Western surf-rock style compositions. Archer Oh currently has 26.9k monthly listeners on Spotify, so go give them a listen so you can say, “I knew them before they blew up.”

Book: “The Book of Overthinking: How to Stop the Cycle of Worry” by Gwendoline Smith (2020)

Look, it’s nearly the end of the quarter, finals are coming up and papers are due. There’s plenty to feel anxious about right now — trust me, I’m in the same boat. This is why I’ve decided to pick the less conventional book recommendation, “The Book of Overthinking.” This short “self-help” style book gives advice on how to manage anxiety and overthinking in a healthy, non-judgemental way. It’s intentionally a short and digestible read to make the reader more comfortable, there are even some graphics and random cartoons throughout. “The Book of Overthinking’’ isn’t a one-size-fits-all all approach to anxiety, however, it does provide helpful exercises and tips to help manage overthinking. This is a book I certainly reread around this time of the quarter and I hope it can be a helpful resource for you too.

TV Show: “The Rehearsal” by Nathan Fielder (2022)

Comedian Nathan Fielder’s most recent docu-series begins as funny as his 2013 show “Nathan for You” but slowly evolves into something more meta and thought-provoking. This isn’t to diss Fielder’s comedy, which is at its best in this series, but clearly, Fielder intended this show to have a stronger message with its satirical approach. In the show, Fielder helps guests on the show prepare for stressful situations in an artificially controlled setting (i.e. a rehearsal). What Fielder creates is a satire about the nature of anxiety and the overplanning we put into our lives. This show’s stunts quickly become shocking and leave the audience with something more profound than what would have been expected.

Movie: “American Fiction” dir. by Cord Jefferson (2023)

I got the chance to watch “American Fiction” at the Davis Varsity Theatre last week and this was the most packed I remember seeing the theater in some time. As the crowd watched the drama/comedy satire people laughed and vividly expressed their reactions to the film. “American Fiction” is as hilarious as it is important — the film follows a Black writer (played by Jeffrey Wright) who is working for a publishing company who feels his work will only be appreciated if he capitalized off his ethnicity. Out of frustration, Wright’s character ends up writing a novel — that he believes plays into Black stereotypes — which lands him a movie deal and skyrocketing sales. The movie opens up a conversation on race, exploitation, tokenism and white performative activism. “American Fiction” notably doesn’t provide any hard answers to these nuanced questions, allowing the audience to be a part of the conversation.

What the songs trending during quarantine taught us

Popular tunes as insight into the emotions many experienced during the pandemic

BY LORENA ALVAREZ arts@theaggie.org

As we approach the four-year anniversary of the global pandemic that shaped many of our lives, it seems like a good time to reflect on the popular tunes and music videos that were composed in response to COVID-19. Glenn McDonald’s “The Sound of the Virus,” a playlist in which the data alchemist organized COVID-19-inspired songs by popularity in 2020, portraying the fear and unity many experienced. In revealing the vulnerable emotions that consumed society, the top four songs on Spotify provide a sense of reassurance as communities came together to help each other in times of need.

“Stuck with You” by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber (May 8, 2020)

This ballad reflects a time centered around love and kindness. The official music video is a collage of clips taken by the singers in their homes and fans spending time with their loved ones or dancing along to the song. In showing people making the best out of the situation, Grande and Bieber relieved their fans’ anxiety and distress by showing viewers that the lockdowns didn’t have to be isolating. The singers’ music video raised over 3.5 million as of 2021 for the First Responders Children’s Foundation, a foundation that provided financial relief to families who lost their loved ones while on duty. While this song may not convey the fear or loneliness that many may have experienced, it portrays a time when people prioritized what truly matters: community and spending time with loved ones.

“Level of Concern” by Twenty

One Pilots (April 9, 2020)

“Level of Concern” is a single amplifying the uncertainty and fear that Tyler Joseph, the band’s lead vocalist, experienced in response to

the global pandemic. The music video shows Joseph and Josh Dun, the band’s drummer, composing “Level of Concern” via a shared hard drive which they mailed to each other back and forth. This emphasizes the loneliness and isolation that everyday life looked like during lockdown. The lyrics, “Panic on the brain/ World has gone insane/things are starting to get heavy” and “Just need you to tell me we’re alright/ Tell me we’re okay,” allude to the anxiety people felt as their world became centered around the pandemic. While Grande’s track depicts a time for unity and spending time with loved ones, “Level of Concern’’ emphasizes the fear that consumed society as people wondered if the virus would “the way it captures the felt, it also the of taking care of

Five popular book recommendations that are worth your time

If you’re looking to read a popular book series but aren’t sure where to start, here are some suggestions

Books like Sarah J. Maas’s “Throne of Glass” fantasy series and Leigh Bardugo’s “Six of Crows” is gaining popularity due to Book-tok, generating thousands of fans. Books like “Six of Crows” are starting to see increased film and tv adapatations as well. (Maia Zhu / Aggie)

BY NATALIE SALTER arts@theaggie.org

If you’ve engaged with any online reading communities — whether on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok or any other social media site — you’ve likely heard certain books cycle into discussions very often. It can be hard to decipher which books are worth checking out and deserve the praise they receive — so here is a list of five popular books that are just as amazing as their fans claim they are.

“The Cruel Prince” by Holly Black (2018)

Holly Black’s “The Folk of the Air” trilogy, starting with “The Cruel Prince,” is set in a lush and dark faerie realm filled with peril and intrigue. Jude Duarte is a mortal girl swept away by her foster father, one of the dangerous Folk, and made to live in the land of Faerie. Surrounded by bloodthirsty and cunning fae, Jude must fight to fit in, and her strong will puts her at odds with the youngest prince of the land, Cardan. When Jude becomes entangled in a complex political scheme involving Cardan and his siblings, each vying for their father’s throne, she discovers a new side of the Folk, as well as an opportunity to rise in power herself.

Black has crafted a brilliantly woven story that combines a complex succession crisis, fascinating worldbuilding and heart-wrenching romance into one novel. Every character is deeply compelling, and their relationships with one another are handled with precision and attention, each interaction feeling fleshed out and unique. It’s no wonder that “The Cruel Prince” has become a classic of the dark fantasy genre and is worth every praise it receives in literary communities.

“Once Upon A Broken Heart”

by Stephanie Garber (2021)

have the strength to recover from any obstacle,” stressing that love will help you overcome any and all hardships. In conveying unconditional love, the lyrics provided an escape from the hopelessness and fear society felt, reassuring listeners that everything will be okay because they are not alone. The upbeat sound centered the conversation around love, rather than fear, providing a possibility for escape and hope during a time of uncertainty.

emergencies; Twenty One Pilots donated a portion of the profits from the song to Crew Nation, a charity that provided financial relief to crew members who were affected by the pandemic. “Si tú la Quieres” by David Bisbal and Aitana (April 2, 2020) “If you love her,” the title’s English translation, features at-home recordings of people spending time with loved ones in person or over Zoom. The production and the lyrics, “Si ella te quiere [...] tendrás la fuerza de reponerte de cualquier roto,” remind listeners of a strength that can surpass any natural disaster. The lyrics roughly translate to, “If she loves you, you will

“Six Feet Apart” by Luke Combs (June 9, 2020) Combs’ country song is reminiscent of a life before the global crisis. The verse, “I miss my mom, I miss my dad/ I miss the road, I miss my band/ Giving hugs and shaking hands,” articulates the public’s longing for normality. In listing everything Combs misses, the singer nodes to the public’s pain and desire to be around people, something that was often taken for granted. “Six Feet Apart” alludes to the frustration and sadness that consumed many people as they wondered when they would no longer have to keep a distance between each other. While the lyrics may have produced sorrow at the time, today they act as a reminder to take a step away from the hectic world and surround yourself with the people and things that matter to you.

While some songs may be more optimistic and upbeat than others, recalling this range of music reveals the mixed emotions society experienced during such a difficult and novel time. Although many wish to push the pandemic to the back of their minds now that it is no longer as severe as it once was, recalling these popular songs is important. Remembering past experiences and emotions can create a sense of appreciation and a united front cultivated by shared experience and understanding. front cultivated shared experience and understanding.

How far are you willing to go for love? When hopeless romantic Evangeline Fox has her heart broken by her first love, she turns to drastic measures — making a deal with the immortal Prince of Hearts to stop her lover’s wedding to another. However, magical deals come with steep costs, and when Evangeline finds herself thrust into the center of a powerful prophecy, she comes to find that the Prince of Hearts may be her unlikely ally. Though her trip to the Magnificent North initially feels like one of her childhood tales of magic and adventure, Evangeline discovers that happily ever after is not always what it seems.

“Once Upon A Broken Heart” is the first of a magnificent trilogy for which Stephanie Garber has received high praise. The novel’s enchanting universe, full of fantasy that feels like a fairytale brought to life, makes the perfect backdrop for a story of twisted curses, destined quests and true love. Once you fall into the world that Garber has crafted, you will never want to leave, and this bewitching trilogy provides unforgettable magical adventures that you’ll truly fall in love with.

“Six Of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo (2015)

If you love a good heist, then Leigh Bardugo’s “Six Of Crows” is the book for you. The novel follows six distinct characters: Kaz, a talented criminal harboring a dangerous grudge; Inej, an acrobatic thief; Jesper, a witty sharpshooter with a penchant for gambling; Nina, a powerful magic user; Matthias, a highly trained soldier forced to question his own country; and Wylan, a demolitions expert and runaway. These six unlikely companions find themselves at the head of a near-impossible mission to break into the world’s most highly guarded fortress, and the complex relationships they develop may save their lives. Bardugo’s universe is incredibly compelling, and the characters she

writes are genuinely unforgettable. Once the action in “Six Of Crows” starts, it is impossible to put the book down. The secrets, needs, desires and fears carried by each character make them deeply nuanced and enjoyable to read about. This book is the first of a duology, and its follow-up, “Crooked Kingdom,” is just as incredible, making it a worthy choice for your next literary adventure.

“The Poppy War” by R.F. Kuang (2018) R.F. Kuang’s popular book, “The Poppy War,” is a great choice if you’re interested in an East Asian-inspired fantasy universe that draws influences from real-world history. “The Poppy War,” as the name suggests, is a wartime novel. Rin is a war orphan raised by a criminal family hoping to sell her into marriage. Seeking to avoid this fate, she studies relentlessly and aces the Keju, a test that ensures her a spot in her nation’s most prestigious military academy. Finding herself an outcast, Rin must fight relentlessly to succeed, all whilst a war brews that could change the course of history forever.

Kuang’s novel navigates difficult topics that directly reflect real history with care and mindfulness. Though certainly a darker read than the other entries on this list, “The Poppy War” is compelling and engaging. You might have to take your time reading this novel, as the subject material can be hard to swallow, but what makes Kuang’s book a worthwhile read is the insight it will give you into the real world. It is the sort of book that sticks with you long after reading, and if you want more of Kuang’s universe, it is the first of a stunningly well-written trilogy.

“The Priory Of The Orange Tree” by Samantha Shannon (2019)

Once you open Samantha Shannon’s “The Priory Of The Orange Tree,” you’ll discover a fascinating and carefully crafted universe that makes it a worthy entry into the halls of literary fantasy fame. In the nation of Inys, lady of the court Ead has a secret quest — to protect the country’s Queen Sabran from the assassins who seek to end her bloodline. Ead hides her magical abilities and affiliation to the enigmatic Priory in order to stay close to Sabran’s side. Across the sea, orphan Tané is given a life-changing opportunity to become a dragon rider, but she hides a secret that could cost her entire future. When a great evil thought long dead begins to rise once more, these three women find their lives entwined in the quest to banish the darkness for good. Given its massive size, Shannon’s novel can be a daunting read. Still, even new readers of fantasy will find themselves engrossed in the interweaving story threads that make up Priory’s many pages of memorable and diverse world building, taking influences from across the real world. Likewise, Shannon presents heroes that are easy to love and villains that are easy to hate whilst also providing them with the complexity necessary to create compelling stories and relationships. If you have lots of time on your hands and want to take on a bigger read, pick up Priory — you certainly won’t regret it.

UC Davis’ Studio 301: a social gateway to theatre and production

The student-run theatre group open to all majors

BY SAVANNAH BURGER arts@theaggie.org

Do you love theatre but don’t want to major in it, or have it totally consume your free time? Here is a group that will fix all of your woes and satiate your desire to perform. Studio 301 is a 501(c3) registered, non-profit theatre organization that is run by and for UC Davis students.

The group usually presents three to four shows a year, with at least one per quarter. These shows include plays, musicals and musical revues. Alexandra Lanham, a fourth-year biological science major, is the organization’s marketing director.

“One of the many reasons I love Studio 301 is that you can take on so many roles within the club,” Lanham said. “I have been the marketing director for two years, performed in seven productions and I am choreographing my seventh show, ‘Footloose,’ next quarter.”

Lanham emphasized that Studio 301 is welcoming of all students, including those not majoring in the arts. “When I heard about Studio 301, I was so excited since it was a very accessible way to be involved in theatre on campus. It provides me a way to keep theatre in my life without taking over my life, and I can still achieve my goals in getting a biology degree,” Lanham said. Anya Nygaard, a second-year environmental science and management major, has been a part of the Studio 301 community since her first year and is now the head of their social media. Nygaard loves Studio 301 because of its unique approach to productions and the opportunity it gives to explore the performing arts.

“Studio 301 is different because we tend to do more musicals, which involve acting, singing and dancing. Most of our club members are STEM majors, and we all share our love of theatre,” Nygaard said.

Also a STEM major, Nygaard shares Lanham’s sentiment that the group does not dominate their schedule to the point that it intervenes with completing her degree.

The club offers opportunities for

members to take on different positions of leadership. Nygaard themself has cochoreographed a show where she was only allowed 24 hours of rehearsal over one weekend to prepare.

The collaborative aspect of the club is imperative to many of its members, such as fourth-year political science and anthropology double major Emilie Betke.

“There are a lot of theatre [or] performance groups on campus, but what I think makes Studio 301 different is collaborative equality,” Betke said. “I have been with a lot of different theatre departments and [Studio 301] is a space that puts different facets of theatre production on equal levels, allowing us to intermingle and really put together shows that represent all of the cast, crew and director’s visions.”

Betke joined the organization at a time when COVID restrictions were strong and has remained a member since.

“Studio 301 [is] an outlet for expression through theatre, but it’s also so much more than that. It brings possibilities for new friendships and relationships to be formed, a medium for collaboration and a place where students’ ideas and inspirations can come to the stage,” Betke said.

If you want to be a part of this amazing student theatre community, you’re in luck. Studio 301 is putting on another musical for next quarter:

“Footloose: The Musical.” The show will be presented at the Wyatt Pavilion between May 31 and June 2. Auditions for the production are open to all students and will occur on Friday, March 15 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 16 from 2:30 to 9:30 p.m. There are no prerequisite qualifications for being a part of a production.

Since Studio 301 is a registered nonprofit and student organization, they are grateful for donations. Putting on productions with technology, costumes, show rights, room reservations and other elements can be quite expensive, so if you are interested in supporting this group, consider attending their shows, purchasing merchandise or donating.

Those interested can find out more information about auditions, their social media and the group in general at their website.

MENASA and CCC host Shaam E Ghaza — an evening dedicated to poetry

The evening included performances and poetry readings for the community to celebrate their culture

BY ELIZABETH WOODHALL arts@theaggie.org

On Feb. 27, the Hindi Urdu Club — a part of the Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian Student Resources at UC Davis (MENASA) — collaborated with the Cross-Cultural Center to bring students Shaam E Ghaza, an evening of performances from Ghazal artists. Other collaborators included the Punjabi Club, the Society for Enrichment of Asians and the Global Film and Musical Festival.

Performers included: Entisham Khan, an award-winning, international singer-songwriter, director and member of the Organizing and Judging Panel at the Global Film and Music Festival and Dr. Rakhstashanda Jalil, a multiple award-winning translator, writer and historian who is devoted to popularizing Hindi-Urdu literature and culture. Additional performers included Dr. Najme Minhaj, Dr. Seema Minahj, Asid Haque and Dr. Syed Khasimuddin.

Asif Haque is a learning and outreach director of Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM) Islamic Center and was a performer at the event.

“I think it was an excellent event,” Haque said. “It was as well-organized as it possibly could be; every detail was identified and taken care of ahead of time [...] I’ve been involved in a lot of events in town for the last 15 to 20 years, [...] some similar to what was done here and otherwise, and I have never seen anything so well-planned [...] Some of the well-known Ghazal singers have come to town and some of them are internationally known, so obviously that has a different flavor to it.”

Haque continued to rehash the details of the event, going into specific detail about the spoken word poetry performed.

“Poems written by poets within the last 200 years and Urdu [were]are sung in melody [...] with the accompaniment of a harmonium and a tabla,” Haque said. “Dr. Syed Khasimuddin and myself and others would recite or sing something in melody, and this has now established a formal program.”

Performer Dr. Syed Khasimuddin from UC Riverside has been a part of the United Nations for the past 10 years and currently serves as a research scientist with the State Department of Food and Agriculture. Additionally,

he is the founder and chairman of the Islamic school at Davis.

“This is a historic moment for UC Davis,” Khasimuddin said. “I am only aware of the Urdu department at UC Berkeley and nowhere else, and this would be the second campus of UC to have this department [...] When [Fatema] called, I right away offered my help in performing and reciting some poetry [...] The entire team was very well-organized, thought out and very well-performed, and [I] especially [give] my thanks for the time management that was done by the team.”

Shagufta Fatema, Ph.D. in Indian English literature, teaches Hindi and Urdu at the UC Davis Middle East South Asia program and has recently been involved with language teaching with the use of artificial intelligence. She is part of the UC Davis Hindi Urdu club and helped put on Shaam E Ghaza.

“Students and the community can come together for [an] event,” Fatema said. “Having these kinds of events, especially poetry in the evening, It’s to combine and bring the Davis community together. You’d be there with food, you socialize and then you’re not going to forget these people who perform. You might like to see them somewhere and start having a relationship that builds on throughout the years. So, an evening is just like taking one step [toward] a bigger step.”

Khasimuddin elaborated on how he got involved with the event.

“When [Fatema] called, I right away offered my help in performing and reciting some poetry,” Khasimuddin said. “The entire team was very wellorganized, thought out and very wellperformed, and [I] especially [give] my thanks for the time management that was done by the team.”

Noor Ali, a fourth-year sociology major and board member of the Hindi Urdu Club, was deeply involved in bringing the diverse community in Davis together.

“One thing I have to praise for Davis — it’s the most diverse community I’ve ever been,” Ali said. “I was brought up in a very non-diverse community in Central California, where I had never seen someone like me. I was essentially the only Muslim, and I was the only Pakistani in my high school, and my siblings were the other Pakistani Muslims. Keeping the language is important, because with language comes culture. It was nice to have that kind of support and to see people on campus and see [that] we have supporters in the community. That means a lot as a club, which has just started.”

This event provided students with the opportunity to network and connect with their language and culture, creating a space on campus to foster a community of professionals, students and faculty. For more information on how to get involved, visit @ucd_ mesastudies on Instagram. Who

‘GUTS’ tour?

Meet Chappell Roan — the rise of a queer pop hero for the midwest and beyond

BY SAVANNAH ANNO arts@theaggie.org

On Feb. 23, Olivia Rodrigo kicked off her highly anticipated “GUTS” tour in Palm Springs. Decked out in her signature purple, glitter and fishnet tights, Rodrigo’s high-energy, rockstar performance exceeded all expectations.

What may have also come as a welcome surprise to most fans was an opening performance by Chappell Roan, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Missouri.

Roan toured with Rodrigo prior to “GUTS,” joining other artists like Gracie Abrams and Baby Queen as openers for the “SOUR” tour in 2022. Sharing the same producer, Dan Nigro, Roan has also helped Rodrigo by providing background vocals for some of her hit songs like “Lacy” and “Can’t Catch Me Now.”

In an interview with People Magazine, Rodrigo shared why it was so important to her to have Roan open for both tours.

“Honestly, selfishly, I’m just like, ‘She has to come on tour with me because I just want to watch her every night,’” Rodrigo said. “I get a free concert every night. I’m so stoked.”

Roan has become known for her live performances, in which she consistently gives each show her all. In true pop star fashion, Roan has a distinct persona and style on stage: heeled boots, bright

colors, sequin bodysuits and a subtle combination of cowboy and alien elements. Actually a drag persona, “Chappell Roan” is a character named after the singer’s grandfather, whose last name was Chappell and whose favorite song was “Strawberry Roan” by Curley Fletcher. The pop star grew up as Kayleigh Rose and chose to use drag as a tool to feel more confident in her queer identity when she decided to pursue music. Her recent studio album, released this past September, follows Roan’s journey to stardom: moving to Los Angeles in 2018, living as openly queer, being dropped from a major record label and eventually returning home to Missouri. “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” quickly amassed a community of largely queer listeners who feel represented by Roan’s lyrics and background. Growing up in a small town in the Midwest, Roan didn’t feel comfortable being openly queer until moving to Los Angeles in her later life. Roan often struggled with feeling like her sexuality was a phase as a result of her religious upbringing, according to an interview with The Washington Post. In a sit-down interview with ABC News, Roan discussed how growing up in Missouri shaped her newest album, queer identity and her relationship with her fans. “I love where I came from because

Olivia Rodrigo and Elton John, there’s no doubt that Roan’s newfound success is here to stay.

In an interview with Elton John on his podcast “Rocket Hour,” John noted Roan’s potential as the next pop sensation.

Roan’s

and

If

a delicate

of

and

into a catchy, shameless

with “Papa John” while still providing commentary on her frustration with online love. With her infectious confidence and energy, Chappell Roan is able to lift up each and every one of her listeners. A favorite of international superstars like

“You’ve been called by the LA Times, ‘a queer pop superstar in the making,’” John said. “I think they called me that too, as well. There you go.”

Opening for Rodrigo until April and then continuing another leg of “The Midwest Princess Tour” to finish off the year, Roan is working hard to live up to the expectations.

Whether it’s her style, musical talent or the way she represents the queer community, there is something undoubtedly captivating about Roan’s presence in the music industry. A new icon for queer joy and resilience, be sure to keep an eye out for Chappell Roan.

I have an incredible perspective on the Midwest,” Roan said. “There are massive queer communities that are just kind of hidden away in these teeny tiny towns.

I feel like that’s who my real community is and that’s what the community feels like at [my] shows.”

music ranges from songs you can scream-sing with your friends on a night out to songs you can cry to alone in your bedroom. Her list of influences includes Lady Gaga and Lana Del Rey, so Roan has at least one song for every type of listener. Tracks like “Red Wine Supernova,” “HOT TO GO!” and “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” lean into Roan’s campy, theatrical side; they are fun and undoubtedly catchy. “HOT TO GO!” even has its own dance, introduced by Roan herself, which fans now perform at each of her shows.

you’re looking for more emotional ballads, Roan has you covered with

Chappell Roan is an American singer songwritter whose music is remiscent of 80s synth and early 2000’s pop. She is currently the opener for Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour—both having worked with Dan Nigro.

(Courtesy of Jason Martin / Creative Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Studio 301 at UC Davis during one of their productions.

(Courtesy / Studio 301)

Shaam E Ghaza, a night presented by the UC Davis Hindi Urdu Club.

(Courtesy / Hindi Urdu Club)

“California,” “Kaleidoscope” and the popular “Casual” which has become viral on TikTok for its relatable depiction of an intense situationship. “California” details the Midwest Princess’s nostalgia and desire to return home at the album’s end, as Roan sings, “Come get me out of California/ No leaves are brown/ I miss the seasons in Missouri/ My dying town.”

The distinct sound of Roan’s album can be summed up within its very first track: “Femininomenon.” The song begins with

set

strings

Roan’s soft singing

quickly transitions

pop anthem. Roan seamlessly rhymes “Femininomenon”

SCIENCE AND TECH

A deep dive into the detrimental effects of nitrogen deposition in the Santa Monica Mountains

UC Davis professor Justin Valliere discusses the impact of urbanized nitrogen deposition on Santa Monica Mountain Airshed

BY EVELYN KUEI science@theaggie.org

After a large wildfire, such as the 2013 Springs Fire in the Santa Monica Mountains, many native species are expected to blossom. However, with recent uprooting from alien and invasive species, our native wildlife cannot sprout.

Since 2011, Justin Valliere, an assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, has been working with the National Park Service in the Los Angeles region to investigate the adverse effects of vehicle and urban pollution in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

“The park knew that nitrogen deposition was likely something they were facing,” Valliere said. “However, evaluating it as a risk to native species and for invasions hadn’t been studied yet, so that’s how the project started.”

Valliere and his team used observational studies to study nitrogen deposition naturally without manipulating the environment, along with a controlled experiment in which the researchers deposited known quantities of nitrogen onto different plots of land.

SENATE18

FROM PAGE 3

They also are

program for students, providing students with free rechargeable bike lights if they complete a bike safety education program.

Then, the Senate reviewed the CoHo quarterly report. The CoHo re-opened two previously closed platforms, “Cooks” and “Croutons,” offering healthier and scratch-made options. They also hosted several ASUCD events including the Entertainment Council’s “Battle of the Bands,” Planet Her 2 and Study Jam events. Their goals for next quarter include, transitioning away from single-use plastic beverage bottles, reducing their registers that hold cash and getting approval for the CoHo patio and employee area expansion.

Next, the Senate reviewed the Disability Justice Committee (DJC) quarterly report. They reported that they have been coordinating accessibility for future events such as Picnic Day and Lawntopia, and submitted a request for more Access Trax. Access Trax is a special portable access mat that allows wheelchair users to have more accessibility in the outdoors. Furthermore, they are set to host a Disability Graduation event, but talks are still underway.

The Senate then read the Environmental Policy and Planning Commission’s (EPPC) quarterly report. As of right now, the commission is advocating to fight against UC Davis’s 10-year contract with PepsiCo, which violates UC Davis’s singleuse plastic policy. Moreover, they are continuing to work on environmental education in various booths at student events.

Lastly, the Senate read the HAUS quarterly report. The unit recently hosted a Housing Day event, which HAUS felt lacked support from career staff but had an estimated 500-plus student attendance. Additionally, they launched a housing survey alongside IRL and hope to provide more

“The physiology of native species has evolved in the context of low nitrogen availability, so in some ways, they don’t know how to behave with added nitrogen,” Valliere said.

Although nitrogen is one of the most essential nutrients for plant growth, too much nitrogen threatens native wildflowers. When exposed to far more significant portions of nitrogen than needed, native plants are overrun by invasive species that benefit from the nitrogen and use it to grow faster.

This added nitrogen can also exacerbate the negative effects of drought on native species. In addition to the nitrogen deposition already caused by vehicle and industry emissions, the dry drought season has also brought many challenges –– including the increased chance of more significant and damaging wildfires.

“In 2013, there was a massive wildfire called the Springs Fire,” Valliere said. “When that happened, it was unexpected, but we realized it would be a cool opportunity to understand how nitrogen deposition does not just impact natives in the park and invasive [species] but how it impacts post-fire recovery.”

Valliere’s recently published research highlights weed damage to coastal sage

resources for students next quarter.

Following the review of quarterly reports, the Senate moved into public comments. One comment discussed the lack of budget given to basic need resources at UC Davis, such as the Pantry or Aggie Reuse Store in favor of bigger events, such as Lawntopia. The commenter also cited increasing wages for student workers on-campus and jobs for students.

Afterward, Senator Yara Kadaan made a comment in regards to the passing of SB #52 and the subsequent racist targeting Palestinian students have faced.

“Since SB #52 passed, Palestinian students and their allies have been targeted on multiple occasions,” Kadaan said. “The severity of racism and disrespect that I have faced and witnessed on this campus, particularly in the past few weeks, has shaken me.”

After this comment, the Senate passed SB #65 13-0-1 (Yes-NoAbstain), which will allocate $391.34 to the Office of Senator Dani Antonio for Galentine’s Day on Feb. 20 and ASUCD Planet Her: The InterGALactic Adventure.

The Senate then revisited SB #50 for reconsideration. SB #50 would allocate $751.54 to the Office of Senator Nur Ambaw for athletic equipment to be given to the Memorial Union for recreational use. After backand-forth discourse about the bill for nearly an hour, it was subsequently tabled for the next Senate meeting. The bill has been tabled twice prior to this.

Finally, Senator Gabriel Gaysinsky addressed the indirect negative impact of his articles that have been published in regards to the Israel-Hamas war in the open forum.

“I must emphasize that I cannot control the actions of individuals who may respond negatively to these articles, especially when the comments on platforms are beyond my moderation,” Gaysinsky said. “If I could stop any and all hateful comments targeting Palestinians or any other group, I would, but that is unfortunately something I cannot do.”

Following this, Senators Kadaan, Ambaw and Katia Bouali all made comments in response to Senator

Spring has Sprung

BY EMMA LAPIDUS eblapidus@ucdavis.edu

shrubs and fire-following species in the Santa Monica Mountains. With native species needing more time to bounce back after a drought and fire season, weeds can displace the native flora due to their ability to grow more rapidly.

“This work provides strong evidence that [nitrogen] deposition can exacerbate the negative impacts of other drivers of global environmental change, including extreme drought and nonnative plant invasion,” Valliere’s website reads. “Together, these drivers may contribute to converting native coastal sage scrub to invasive-dominated annual grasslands. Loss of native habitat will further impact native biodiversity and ecosystem services.”

Many fire-following species are only seen after a wildfire, requiring intense heat to sprout. However, with weeds taking over the available space, these flowers can not grow from their seeds and blossom. Valliere is currently focusing on the relationship between dry drought seasons, high nitrogen deposition and the impacts of wildfires.

A study on fire and invasive species in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems of California discusses the factors that contribute to the success of invasive species.

“Alien grasses that invade woody

Gaysinsky’s comments.

“When you post articles using certain language, these marginalized groups are being targeted,” Senator Bouali said. “The language in the article can create an environment where people try to get their anger out; it’s malicious intent.”

The meeting was adjourned at 11:18 p.m.

LIVEATLA

FROM PAGE 4

I would have loved to see their friendship dynamic come forth, and for the remake to spend more time on bringing out their individuality. Despite all the issues in Netflix’s adaptation of the ATLA series, there were a few notable positives. For one, the dynamic between Zuko (one of the main antagonists of the first season) and his uncle Iroh was done with obvious care; the two characters shared a heartfelt backstory, and both the verbal and nonverbal interactions enforce their adopted “father and son” relationship.

I also enjoyed the beautiful visuals sprinkled in through the episodes, as well as the choreography for several of the fight scenes — they felt fresh in a dynamic way that reminded me of Jackie Chan’s fighting style in his older films. In particular, the fight between Aang and Zuko in the streets of Omashu demonstrated this stylistic ingenuity: the characters used their environments to truly let their abilities shine. The ATLA live-action remake was an interesting watch, even if the adaptation was not super satisfying to current fans of the show. There is a certain appeal to the design and visuals in the live-action, even though the negatives either match or outweigh the positives. In the end, it is not the worst live-action remake, but definitely not the best one.

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.

associations often have characteristics that alter the fire regime in ways that favor aliens over the indigenous vegetation,” the study reads. “In their new setting, these alien annuals succeed partly because of their propensity to shift the fire regime away from one that favors shrub reestablishment to one that favors further annual establishment.”

Although the weeds take up the available space, they are more flammable and thus more dangerous. If a fire were

THEMOSS FROM PAGE 4

Overall, the experience of seeing

The Moss was a really fun one. They definitely feel like a coming-of-age band, but with attributes of folk music. The Moss is definitely a band to check out — their discography could be enjoyed while going out on a rainy day, doing work at a cafe or living out the most intense and vivid dates with someone who might randomly disappear from your life.

If you need a recommendation to start your listening journey, “Heartbreaker” off their “Kentucky Derby” album was an immediate banger for me. I really do feel like the band has a lot of potential to grow their fanbase, so maybe they’ll be your new “secret, underground” obsession.

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.

KDVSACTIVISM

FROM PAGE 11

Using platforms like KDVS to reach more people than those who seek out activist material is valuable to all of society because these issues affect all of us.

“None of these issues are not affiliated to us,” Bagmanian said. “Like we say all the time, no one’s free until we’re all free. So, our liberation is tied to the liberation of all groups — all oppressed groups — and it’s important to have access to things that ask you to think critically.”

After years of experience with radio activism and other activist movements, Dominguez has hope for what we can accomplish through platforms such as public radio.

“We’re human beings, and we want to make things better,” Dominquez said. “And we have the ability as human beings to do great things.”

to occur under these conditions, it would start faster, become more robust and ultimately cause more damage to our climate and environment.

The threat of larger, more exacerbated wildfires looms over our lives. These wildfires, paired with the takeover of more flammable weedy species, threaten the livelihood of our households and communities and are an ever-growing threat to our planet.

If you would like to tune into these radio shows, you can listen to them online at kdvs.org or 90.3 FM. You can find “No Police Radio” on air from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on alternating Mondays, “Concrete! Concrete! Concrete!” from 8 to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and “Radio Informar” from 5 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

SWINGDANCING

FROM PAGE 11

“It’s like this in other places [I’ve danced at]. The way I found it [at Davis], it’s not at all gendered. You [can just] go up to someone, and be like ‘Hey, do you wanna dance?’ And if they say ‘Okay,” you respond, ‘Cool, do you lead or follow?’”

While the club is pushing the boundaries of traditional swing dancing, they are still intimately connected to and empowered by its cultural history. This aspect of the dance form is especially impactful to De Leon Rodas.

“You see old footage of people [swing dancing] and doing the same things that you are now, and it’s interesting because it’s like you’re living a part of history,” De Leon Rodas said.

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.

BY NIMRA FARHAN nfarhan@ucdavis.edu

BY ALLISON KELEHER adkeleher@ucdavis.edu

On an early winter morning, not too long ago,

One

before spinning around to confront the pecker. By that point, it was too late because half of the turkeys had her surrounded and their conjoined pecking brought her down. This tragic event was caught on camera and immediately posted by an anonymous account on TikTok. The video went viral overnight and the victim of the attack was not amused. Apparently, she’s an established lifestyle influencer because she’s super rich and lives in a Malibu Beach mansion on her breaks from school. Now she’s being criticized by PETA for provoking the turkeys.

The student took this opportunity to post videos of herself healing through IV hydration and skincare. Her skincare products test on animals so PETA also had a problem with that.

Thus, the cancellation of a UCD student began, and she noticed it right away. So immediately, she called her father who filed a lawsuit against the university in order to collect compensation to cover the damage this attack has caused on his daughter’s online reputation.

I did a little more digging and I scored a very high-profile source: the turkey. According to her, the student “had it coming.” Every Tuesday and Thursday, this student breaks up their flock of turkeys on the grass. Apparently, the resentment has been building for quite some time. But that’s not it. According to the turkey, what prompted this attack wasn’t resentment — it was because she was “looking at my man.” After studying the video of the attack for a couple hours, I noticed that the attacker turkeys were all the females of the flock.

Overall, I’m not sure what kind of case this student actually has against the university if she was trying to steal that turkey’s man. That’s for the courts to decide.

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

UC Davis’ Historical Fencing Club celebrates community, shared love for sword fighting

An exploration of one of Davis’ unique clubs

BY ZOEY MORTAZAVI features@theaggie.org

When it comes to clubs taking a hands-on approach, it does not get more interactive than students using actual weaponry. Meet the UC Davis’ Historical Fencing Club, where members utilize traditional European fencing methods and discuss the cultural background of fencing.

The club, which has existed for around eight years, encourages members to participate in two weekly meetings in which they spar, complete various drills and celebrate the history of one of the world’s oldest sports. These two-hour meetings occur Mondays and Fridays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the ARC Pavilion. Members of the club shared their reasons for joining, as well as some of their favorite things about being a part of the club’s community.

“When I first showed up at this club, it was three dudes with swords in the yard of Young Hall,” Elias Kai Yepishin, a third-year geology major and the president of the Historical Fencing Club, said. “Of course, I, a starry-eyed freshman, immediately fought the instructor with steel and lost. It was love from there. I have a HEMA background, so for the record, I don’t recommend that. I started in high school because I loved history

and because The Princess Bride is an awesome film.”

As Yepishin mentioned, HEMA stands for Historical European Martial Arts. This is a larger fencing tradition that the club aims to study through specific techniques and drills.

Yepishin has worked with Carter Wenner, the previous club president and alum, to create a cohesive group based on a shared interest in fencing.

“My dad was a performer for the Medieval Times Dinner and Jousting Show in LA for a long time, and he inspired a deep fascination with history in me,” Wenner said. “I joined this club, and was quickly convinced to take up the mantle of provisional vice president as the club rebuilt itself in a post-lockdown environment.”

Wenner’s interest in fencing was sparked by researching and studying the sport at UC Davis. This interest has turned into more than just a school project, with fencing becoming a part of their life outside of the classroom.

“I’ve since served as president, graduated and continued my martial arts journey as an assistant coach for the club, and as a student at the Sacramento Historical Fencing Academy,” Wenner said. “I’ve stayed in this sport of swordcraft ultimately because this is a welcoming community of people across all walks of life who accept each other — and for a neurodivergent genderqueer

UC Davis’ studentrun radio station: a platform for activism

KDVS radio show hosts speak on using public radio to highlight voices of underrepresented groups

BY GRETA FOEHR features@theaggie.org

Social movements have a long history of using public airwaves to spread their message, and UC Davis’ radio station, KDVS, is continuing this legacy.

KDVS is a fully student-run, freeform radio station operating out of the UC Davis campus. Its airwaves reach the greater Sacramento Area, so listeners from Yolo County, Northern Solano County and Sacramento County are able to tune in through their radios. In addition, listeners all over the world can stream KDVS’ live broadcasts through the website or app.

Radio is a powerful tool in activism because it is widely accessible and does not require audience literacy. It is also broadcast in real-time, making it a highly effective form of communication.

Radio broadcasting has been vital in the efforts of various movements and revolutions: Pancho Villa led rebel forces through public radio in the Mexican Revolution; John Trudell’s broadcastings of the indigenous protest of federal laws violating land treaties and the occupation of Alcatraz through Radio Free Alcatraz reached people all over the world; the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front — a political party in El Salvador — used their “Radio Venceremos” to publicize the government’s atrocities and communicate with civilians during their civil war.

KDVS has a variety of public affairs shows that utilize public airwaves and the freeform nature of the station to highlight underrepresented voices, call attention to important issues and educate their listeners.

Francisco Dominguez, a Sacramento resident and public affairs show host at KDVS, commented on the benefits of activism through public radio.

“[It’s] a little bit different than print media because you’re actually listening to a person’s voice, and there’s something very human about listening to another person’s voice that print and digital media can’t do,”

Dominguez said.

Dominguez has been hosting his KDVS show, “Radio Informar,” for six years. His show focuses on highlighting the voices of underrepresented groups, especially Chicano and Native people, through on-air interviews. He also talks about political events, culture, poetry and the environment. His show is intended to educate a variety of people, which is made possible through KDVS’ widereaching audience. Dominguez elaborated on why he prefers to speak about current issues and highlight voices on public radio as opposed to other platforms.

“[With] podcasts, you’re just preaching to the choir, right?”

Dominguez said. “These are people that want to listen to you. Well, if you do public radio, you get a lot of people listening [while] driving their cars. And in my show, what I’m trying to do is educate. So my audience is whoever is listening.”

Ani Bagmanian, a fifth-year international relations major, hosts a show called “No Police Radio.” On their show, they discuss their views about the importance of abolishing

person like me, that’s all I really want.”

The Davis Historical Fencing Club prioritizes the study of historically accurate fencing in various traditions. These traditions include longsword, rapier, saber, dussack, arming sword and buckler. The club is currently learning a primarily longswordbased technique from a 17th century manual titled “The Art of Combat” by German master Joachim Meyer. Aside from this German technique, the club has also studied Spanish and Italian rapier and saber techniques, among other traditions.

Club members are instructed to practice specific drill sequences and then apply those techniques in sparring matches. Cameron Lusk, a fourth-year environmental science and management major, expressed his interest in the sport and what he has learned since joining the club.

“I joined because I thought it’d be something to do, plus I thought it would be interesting to get out there and try learning about swords,” Lusk said. “I thought the formality and training would be useful, and I wanted to see what I could do. It’s cool to feel like I’m actually fighting someone based on the knowledge that I’ve been picking up during our meetings.”

Yepishin further discussed how the club has adapted in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic caused members to be

unable to meet in person. “Nowadays, we’re a growing club with proper structuring, and I’m glad to have helped bring about that change. We fundamentally keep a loose ordering since we have such a range of experiences and swords,” Yepishin said. “Some people spar to train for tournaments, and others are just starting out. Fencing has a wonderful feeling of being a physical and mental puzzle. You have to read your opponent from how they move and plan.” Club members explained that

police and oppressive institutions, covering topics from tuition to the prison industrial complex.

Bagmanian shared that their show talks about UC Davis’ surveillance of activist organizations and how the administration specifically keeps tabs on students who are involved with left-leaning organizations.

Bagmanian said they aim to shed light on how institutions reinforce systemic oppression because they have noticed that this topic is not often discussed in most university and public school education systems.

“It’s important to speak up for the people who the university does not protect,” Bagmanian said. “The university protects capital, and they protect the police, and they don’t protect trans students. There’s a lot of things that the university does that inhibit students of color and impoverished students from having a good college experience and from getting their degree.”

“No Police Radio” highlights the voices that the university fails to amplify. Their content encourages listeners to examine their privilege and realize their role in creating a more inclusive and equal society.

“We make an active effort to uplift the voices that have been specifically targeted, rather than our own, because it’s not all about our thoughts,” Bagmanian said. “It’s about us bringing attention to how all of these things are connected.”

DJ Sunday Gravy, a third-year philosophy and cognitive science double major, has been hosting a public affairs show called “Concrete! Concrete! Concrete!” since the fall of 2023. They read and critique political theory from a radical socialist perspective, as well as discuss current events on campus and political happenings all over the world, recently focusing on the Palestine and Israel conflict. Social movements can be supported on all media platforms, with public radio being an effective option for reaching a wide variety of people. This is especially applicable to the Free Palestine Movement, as journalists and other activists are routinely silenced when they advocate for a liberated Palestine.

“Palestinian organizers, people in solidarity with them and [people] organizing alongside them, are facing not only routine, but systemic repression on most media sites,” DJ Sunday Gravy said. “And not only are they facing this sort of repression in mainstream media, but they’re actively brutalized and repressed when they peacefully protest in person.”

DJ Sunday Gravy shared that boosting the voices of a movement is essential to its success.

“I think it’s important to mobilize on all viable fronts and all viable media platforms,” DJ Sunday Gravy said. “So I think there’s a place for public radio, just to amplify the voices [and] the struggles of — especially right now — Palestinian organizers, but in general, people who are standing up for human dignity around the world.”

Talking about social and political issues on public radio is important because it reaches those who may not seek out this information on their own.

no prior experience is required, and anyone interested is welcome to join. They recommended that anyone who wants to join should show up in comfortable clothes for movement and not worry about specific gear or equipment since the club provides it.

Overall, the Davis Historical Fencing Club and its members appear glad to have found community in their shared interest in fencing. Interested participants should visit the group’s Instagram page, @ davishistoricalfencingclub or Discord server for more information.

Swing dancing community at UC Davis integrates both

traditional and modern practices of the art

form

The Davis Swing Dancers club teaches dance moves and the cultural history of the dance style

BY LYNN CHEN features@theaggie.org

If you ever need a space to learn a new hobby, groove to the music or blow off some steam, then the Davis Swing Dancers club might be the place for you.

“Our club is dedicated to celebrating the culture of swing dancing and inviting other people to learn how to do it and enjoy it,” Wesley De Leon Rodas, club member and fourth-year applied physics major, said. Historically, swing dancing is a form of social dance that developed from swing-style jazz music. The dance style originated from Black communities in the 1930s in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, according to Ava Marie Ruggiero, president of the Davis Swing Dancers.

“Swing dancing is an umbrella term,” Ruggiero said. “There are many types of swing dancing that [our club] does, but the main thing that’s done in most places is Lindy Hop.”

Lindy hop is a type of swing dance that requires a substantial amount of physical vigor. It emphasizes the ability to improvise and include various foot movements to different rhythms.

Other forms of swing dancing that the organization practices include Collegiate Shag, Balboa and Charleston.

During weekly meetings, the student organization allocates time to provide free in-person instruction to beginners. The rest of the meeting is then dedicated to “social dancing” — an unstructured period for people to pair up with others and dance creatively to the music.

To further promote the art form, the club hosts events that allow its members to learn more about the cultural history of swing dancing and to interact with other local communities that practice the dance.

For instance, the organization recently held a watch party for a documentary called “The Spirit Moves,” a film that traced the evolution of Black social dance through most of the 20th century.

Furthermore, earlier this year, the organization hosted an intercollegiate event called the “Lindy Exchange,”

where swing dancing clubs from other University of California campuses came to Davis to celebrate the art form.

“[The clubs] danced together for a whole weekend. We rented out a dancing venue in Sacramento, we booked a couple [of] rooms in the [Teaching and Learning Complex] and just did a bunch of classes with local instructors,” Ruggiero said.

Other than educating others about the art form, the Davis Swing Dancers club is focused on creating its own dancing community built on consent, freedom and self-improvement.

“A big thing we prioritize in swing dancing is consent and asking others [for permission] to dance,” De Leon Rodas said. “It’s a good idea to have throughout life, and we hope people can take [that way of thinking] into real life.”

In addition, the organization constructs a space that encourages self-improvement in its members.

Elias Higbie, a general member of the club and double-major in linguistics and Spanish, recalled how learning new dance moves helped him to find confidence in himself.

“I [used to] be very timid,” Higbie said. “Now, I can ask people to dance without that voice in the back of my head saying, ‘You’ll humiliate yourself.’”

He added that the club has helped him feel more secure in himself.

“I actually have confidence in my dancing now, and it makes me feel confident elsewhere too.”

Higbie highlighted that the organization also prioritizes gender neutral practices.

“Traditionally in swing dance, it’s very gendered [since] usually the man leads and the woman follows,” Higbie said.

SWINGDANCING on 8

UC Davis’ Historical Fencing Club poses for a group photo at their weekly meeting in the ARC Pavilion. (Courtesy / Zoey Mortazavi)

SPORTS

MEN’S

Davis duo leads Aggies to electric 75-63 victory over Hawaii

UC Davis men’s basketball triumphs on Senior Night

BY EMMÍA J RIVERA sports@theaggie.org

In the last home game of the regular season, the UC Davis men’s basketball team tipped their hats to five seniors as they faced the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Feb. 29 at the University Credit Union Center. Prior to the match, fourth-year Elijah Pepper, third-year Niko Rocak, fifth-year Ade Adebayo, fifth-year Kane Milling and fifth-year Sam Manu were given a standing ovation for their work on the court.

Throughout the game, standout performances from Pepper and third-year Ty Johnson led the Aggies to victory. Together, Johnson and Pepper make up one of the best backcourts in the Big West Conference. Additionally, the pair have led the Aggie offense and proved their skill against Hawaii. With 30 points apiece, the renowned Davis duo continues to conduct with authority.

Following a tough 17-point loss in their first match-up against Hawaii, the Aggies were hungry for redemption. Courtesy of three consecutive steals and back-to-back baskets, Davis set the tone early in the first half with an 8-0 lead. However, the Rainbow Warriors were prepared and responded with four three-pointers and stronger defensive blocks, making the game

intensify. The leading score for the Aggies was cut to an astounding 38- 32 just before halftime. In the final half on the Aggies’ home court, Davis

regained poise and stretched their lead to 75-63. The Rainbow Warriors were unable to summon a comeback, giving the Aggies their 12th win of the season.

On top of the vast recognition Elijah Pepper has earned as an Aggie, this season he joined a new group of athletes as he became the new all-time leading scorer for UC Davis. Elijah Pepper, having previously broken a record held for 44 years, has only a few games left to continue making history on the UC Davis court.

For his fourth year, Pepper holds an

average of 20.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Johnson, another lead guard, has also been a staple to the team’s success with 17.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest. As a stellar player from the midrange, Johnson went 11 for 16 from the field and shot perfectly from the freethrow line, sinking all seven of his attempts. Additionally, he tallied three rebounds and two steals in the game against

Hawaii.

Concurrently, in the match against Hawaii, Pepper scored 10 points from the charity line and 20 beyond it, including a huge 4-point play with five minutes left in the game. Due to being solid on both ends of the court, the Aggies held their lead throughout the entire game. Defense frequently became offense, forcing 16 turnovers and converting them into 22 points.

Hawaii was led by Bernardo Da Silva, who put up 20 points with five rebounds and two assists. The Rainbow Warriors provided an overdue secondhalf push, but it wasn’t enough to surpass the effort of the Aggies. Yet again, the Aggies moved up in the league as they now hold a 12-6 record and third place in Big West Conference play. With the season coming to an end, the Aggies look to finish on a high note before the annual conference tournament set for March 13 at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada. Until then, Davis will face UC San Diego on March 7 at 7 p.m., followed by the regular season finale at CSU Long Beach on March 9 at 3 p.m. Depending on the outcomes, wins or losses could determine how teams will be seeded in the Big West Conference tournament.

Goodbye Pac12, hello Big-12: women’s lacrosse’s big move

UC Davis women’s lacrosse will be joining the Big-12 in the inaugural 2024 to 2025 season

BY CAROLYN (CARI) FENN sports@theaggie.org

Big, exciting changes are coming next year for the UC Davis women’s lacrosse team as they plan to forgo their Pac-12 sponsorship after the 2023 to 2024 season to join the Big-12s inaugural 2024 to 2025 season.

The Big-12 announced their decision to add Women’s Lacrosse and Beach Volleyball to their list of sponsored sports in Nov. 2023. This addition increases the conference’s total number of sponsored sports to 25, with 15 of those being women’s sports. With the increasing popularity and growth of women’s lacrosse across the nation, it comes as no surprise that the Big-12 finally took the leap and expanded the conference’s brand into a new fan base and sport.

UC Davis is one of three new affiliate members joining the league, with Florida State and San Diego State taking the other two spots alongside established Big-12 members Arizona State, University of Cincinnati and Univeristy of Colorado, Boulder for the inaugural season.

As announced by the Big-12, the affiliates will first compete in the regular season before competing in the conference’s postseason championship. The regular season format will consist of teams playing a single round-robin consisting of five games, with the top four teams advancing to the Big-12 Championship. The conference games will begin on March 29, 2025 and end on April 26, 2025. The top four teams following the postseason will go on to compete in the Big-12 Conference Championship, which is already set to take place at

Prentup Field on the University of Colorado campus between May 1 and 3, 2025.

UC Davis’ exit from the Pac-12 might come as a surprise to some as they only just joined as an affiliate member at the start of the 2023 to 24 season. They joined the Pac-12 after the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation dropped lacrosse as a sponsored sport following the 2021 season, leaving UC Davis without a conference in 2022. Despite UC Davis’ one-year stint in the Pac-12, their departure isn’t all that unexpected when you realize that the majority of the teams currently competing are leaving the Conference for others as well.

Although joining the new league is exciting news for the Aggies, the team still has the 2023 to 2024 season to complete.

Coming off an 8-6 record last year, the Aggies currently have a 5-2 record, losing only to Florida and Niagara. Currently, the Aggies are tied for second place in the Pac-12 with USC, while Oregon currently holds the first-place spot with a 5-1 record.

Even though the Aggies have already played seven games this season, the team still has two more games before conference games officially begin. Although it is difficult to predict how the team will perform in the Pac-12, their current record indicates they may just be able to hold their own against new competition and make it far in the championships.

The Aggies begin their Conference season on March 16 against USC. With this being their first and last season in the Pac-12, it’ll be interesting to see how the Aggies will perform against their new competition.

National Women’s Soccer League looks ahead to 2024 season

San Jose-based “Bay FC” to play their inaugural season at PayPal Park

BY LUCIENNE BROOKER sports@theaggie.org

Preseason training has kicked off for the 14 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) teams as they gear up for a historic season with a record number of teams competing. This season — kicking off on Mar. 16 — will keep fans entertained with over 100 matches broadcasted on national television.

For Davis residents, this is a particularly exciting time thanks to the recent expansion of team Bay Football Club (FC). Bay FC will play home matches at PayPal Park in San Jose, finally giving Norcal women’s soccer fans a local team to cheer for. Despite being a new team, Bay FC has signed many star players that will have a powerful impact on the team.

Their frontline is stacked with Deyna Castellanos, a Venezuelan national team veteran, and Asisat Oshoala, coming all the way from Nigeria. Additionally, Bay FC spent nearly a million dollars signing Zambian Racheal Kundananji, making her the most expensive signing in women’s soccer history. Although Kundananji was recently injured in an international game, Bay FC hopes that she will bounce back quickly and be back on the field soon. With a frontline like this, Bay FC promises to be an exciting attack-oriented team that should excel in scoring.

The team also made it a priority to sign hometown players, specifically Santa Clara University and Stanford alums. While the team struggled in preseason friendlies, if they’re able to build some chemistry together, this is a roster that could make it to the playoffs and possibly even further. However, there are still 13 other teams vying for that final trophy as well and none will make it an easy win.

After winning last year’s trophy, New Jersey/New York Gotham FC

packed their roster with stars looking for a repeat championship. Their biggest challenge will be figuring out how to allocate all their recently acquired talent and building a well-adapted starting lineup.

Additionally, newer teams are hungry for their first title as well. Recent expansions like Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC both made the playoffs last year and hope to go even further this year.

NWSL originals like the Chicago Red Stars and Portland Thorns FC have struggled considering all the new additions to the league. Both teams look to redeem themselves this season with a playoff win or even a championship title. This is a bright time for the NWSL, which has come a long way since its inception in 2012 with a total of eight

teams. Although there have been some rocky patches, with several teams folding and scandals galore, the NWSL has established itself as a fixture in the American sporting community.

This season, fans can watch games in a variety of ways. Friday night matches will air on Amazon Prime Video, Saturday double-headers on ION TV and the rest on either NWSL+, Paramount+, CBS Sports or ESPN.

Although the league is now secure in its existence and only aims to grow from here, it’s still staying true to its roots. This season promises plenty of chaos and drama, from blockbuster trades to underdog victories and maybe even a couple of fights on the pitch.

The 2024 NWSL season kicks off on Mar. 16 at 10 a.m. with FC Kansas City facing off against the Portland Thorns.

Aggies take home second place at Causeway Invitational

The UC Davis women’s golf team hosted the event

BY MI’ZAUNI REESE sports@theaggie.org

UC Davis hosted their fifth consecutive Causeway Invitational this year on Feb. 27 to 28. As the only home event for the Aggies of the entire spring season, this two-day event at the Del Paso Country Club allowed athletes to showcase their skills and stretch their legs during the off-season.

The 12 schools in attendance included local competitors such as Sacramento State and Fresno State, as well as more distant opponents like the University of Hawai’i, Manoa. With the

UC Davis women’s golf team scoring 11th place in their last tournament, the San Diego Classic at the beginning of February, the Aggies came back for redemption on this 6,143-yard, 70-par course. Third-year Abby Leighton placed the highest in the San Diego Classic and was named one of the “Players To Watch” at the Causeway Invitational. Contrary to their predictions, the frontrunner for the tournament weekend proved to be first-year Lauren Calderon. Calderon shot even par in the first two rounds, earning her a tie at first place and a tie for the lowest individual score on the course for the day. Her

performance additionally helped place her and the Davis team at a solid fourth place, giving the Aggies a shot at winning the entire tournament. Following Calderon’s lead, the rest of the Aggies also contributed to their high team ranking on the first day of the tournament. First-year Vani Karimanal remained in the top 12 players of the tournament as she held onto 11th place. Additionally, third-year Skyler May received four out of five of her birdies, making her the best-scoring Aggie on par fours. The Aggies continued to dominate as first-year Katelyn Parr, Abby Leighton and second-year Keira Wang had a cumulative score of 10 birdies. The first

day of the tournament was deemed a success for the Aggies, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.

On day two, Skyler May prevailed as the strongest athlete of the day, shooting a two-under 70, allowing her to move up significantly on the scoreboard. May’s performance landed her ninth place and the only top-ten finish for Aggies on the individual leaderboard. Just behind May, Vani Karimanal and Lauren Calderon placed 11th and 14th, respectively, giving Calderon another top-15 finish and Karimanal a 19-place jump. The Davis women’s golf team finished in top 25, allowing them to win second place in the tournament. This

second-place finish marks a new record for Davis in the Causeway Invitational, beating out their third-place finish in 2021. The women’s golf team now gets to enjoy a month off before their next major tournament, aside from a small event on Mar. 11 for the Silicon Valley Invitational at Green Hills Country Club. From March 17 to 29, the team will travel to Ka’anapali, Maui to compete at the Anuenue Spring Break Classic. Hopefully, the team’s success at the Causeway Invitational is a positive indication of what’s to come at the next event on the beautiful island.

UC Davis Men’s basketball player, Ty Johnson (#2), jumps and scores a lay up. (Andrew Huang / Aggie)

At 15, Chloe Ricketts signs a three-year contract with the Washington Spirit, becoming the youngest player in the National Women’s Soccer League. (Courtesy of USYS National League / fair use)

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

WOMEN’S GOLF