Issue 23: April 11, 2025

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VOLUME 148, ISSUE 23 | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025

THEAGGIE.ORG

SPECIAL BREAKING NEWS EDITION

12 visas for UC Davis students, recent alumni revoked without explanation The news came as other UC campuses reported similar visa terminations

BY VINCE BASADA campus@theaggie.org UC Davis announced on Saturday, April 5 that the federal government had terminated F-1 visas for seven international students and five recent graduates, revoking their eligibility to stay in the United States.

In a statement, Chancellor Gary May said that no community members were in custody and that federal agents had not entered campus, but also acknowledged that the number of visas terminated may change. May added that the federal government had not provided reasoning behind the terminations.

“We reiterate our strong support for our international students and want all of our students, staff and faculty to know we support your ability to work, learn, teach and thrive here,” May said. “International students are an essential part of this university, and we will continue to advocate for your rights and well-being.”

F-1 visas are non-immigrant

UC Davis sign located near the Memorial Union. (Aggie File) visas that allow international students to stay in the United States to pursue higher education, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

At UC Davis alone, some 9,000 international students are currently enrolled, and the total undergraduate population is around 30,000, according

to UC Davis Global Affairs.

May also asserted in the April 5 communication that campus police officers will not “undertake joint efforts with federal immigration enforcement authorities to investigate, detain or arrest individuals for violation of federal immigration law.”

The news was joined by similar visa terminations across the University of California system, including six at UC Berkeley, five at UC San Diego (along with one border deportation) and several more at UC Los Angeles. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in late March that he has signed some 300

visa terminations, including those of students, as part of a larger Trump administration effort to expel individuals based on political and foreign policy views and criminal records.

ASUCD President Gaius Ilupeju told The California Aggie that the ASUCD is coordinating with university administrators to keep students up to date with federal developments.

“We’re just trying to coordinate with [administrators on] how we can best spread the information so that people don’t spread misinformation,” Ilupeju said.

Ilupjeu said that ASUCD is planning to hold a town hall on the developments; UC Davis’ Services for International Students quarterly town hall is planned for April 16.

UC updates on federal policy, including weekly briefs, can be found on their website.

This is a developing story.

Follow The Aggie for continued updates.

Turning Point USA event results UC Davis Law School in multiple physical altercations suspends Law Student

UC Davis to open independent review into incident between protestors and the conservative group, who were hosting right-wing commentator Brandon Tatum

BY RIVERS STOUT & JORDAN POLTORAK campus@theaggie.org A Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event held on the Quad on Thursday, April 3, resulted in several physical altercations between protestors, members of the conservative group and other members of the UC Davis community, including students. On Friday, April 4, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May said that the university will open a “full independent review” into the incident and threatened disciplinary and legal action to individuals involved in the incident.

The event, hosted by the Davis chapter of TPUSA, a registered student organization dedicated to advocating for conservative politics on college campuses, featured right-wing influencer and TPUSA contributor Brandon Tatum as a guest speaker.

Tatum had also come to film debates and discussions with students for his social media platforms and had set up a booth and tent alongside his production team around 11 a.m. for the event at 12 p.m.

Some 30 protesters, organized several days prior in part by the promotion of student group Cops Off Campus, began to march toward the Quad shortly before noon. On arrival, protestors threw water balloons at the tent and knocked stand-alone banners and flyers to the ground. An attendee of the TPUSA event approached the protestors and attempted to get into the group while another individual from the TPUSA booth walked around protestors with their dog on a leash and reproached them.

After shortly retreating, protestors made their way back to the booth again. As documented in a video of the event posted on Reddit, local Moms For Liberty chapter chair and UC Davis employee Beth Bourne, known for her anti-transgender rights activism, approached the group and was hit on the back of the head by a protester.

Once the group of protesters reached the booth, a protester advanced toward Tatum and after being pointed at, was pushed to the floor by him. UC Davis Chief of Police Joe Farrow, nearby Tatum, attempted to move Tatum away from the protester. Meanwhile, other protestors tore down the canopy and stand-alone

Association over Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions legislation

Students and alumni have denounced the decision to put the financial responsibilities of the student government under King Hall administration

BY RIVERS STOUT campus@theaggie.org

Police in riot gear stand behind Beth Bourne as she shouts at protestors.

(Sacha Chickering / Aggie) posters, which they broke along their second retreat toward Shields Library.

They continued toward Olson Hall, where the initial protestors disbanded.

One student, who wishes to leave her last name anonymous, recounted how she felt watching the events unfold.

“From what I saw, it got a little more rowdy,” Vanessa, a second-year student, said. “Brandon [Tatum] physically pushed — my heart dropped when I saw it — Brandon pushed one of the protesters…their bike fell [on them] and they fell down to the ground.”

The incident was documented in a video released by TPUSA on X. It, and other videos of the event, have since been circulated on several national news channels and by several leading conservative figures, including Elon Musk and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk.

Tatum provided a statement to The California Aggie.

“It ended up well because it was crazy because people attacked us, they assaulted a couple people at our booth,” Tatum said. “They stole our tent, which you see is missing, and they were very evil. [They] made it a dangerous situation, but we finished alright.”

Tatum denied assaulting any demonstrators unprovoked.

“They attacked people, they attacked our thing,” Tatum said. “I pushed them out of the way, and that’s it.”

Additionally, Bourne laid hands on a student after a prolonged verbal

altercation. Bourne attempted to hold the student back after having had one of her demonstration signs taken away, but ultimately was unsuccessful.

Vanessa provided her perspective on the altercation.

“She was kind of instigating the event and went closer to the protestors as she was walking, so they physically clashed and one of the protestors took her sign,” Vanessa said. “Once that happened, she went to physically attack one of the protesters, like swung her hand.”

Bourne provided a comment to The Aggie at the demonstration. “[That sign] is my private property, and we should have free speech on a college campus,” Bourne said. “That person ran away with it so I just went to get it back. I think this person should be arrested for stealing my sign.”

In an interview with The Aggie after the event, Bourne provided further comment on the altercation.

“I don’t remember touching [the student] but if [they] turned [their] body as I’m trying to grab my sign and, you know, [their] body hit my hand,” Bourne said. “I can’t…say that [they] didn’t touch me, but [they] did.”

Bourne continued to describe the situation.

“Clearly I was there to share a message, and that [sign] was my private property, and [the student] had said that [they] wanted to hold it so we could have it in the video [they saw] me recording,” Bourne said.

TURNINGPOINTUSA on 10

UC Davis suspended the Law Student Association (LSA) on March 24 for passing legislation that divested from Israel-connected companies and speakers. The constitutional amendment, passed by the LSA board last month, implemented Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policies in support of Palestine. The funds of the government for King Hall’s approximately 600 students have since been put under the control of UC Davis Law School administrators.

“The March 24 decision follows the vote by LSA, the law school student government, to knowingly violate University of California policy by seeking to implement a discriminatory resolution intended to boycott people or entities with ties to Israel,” a university spokesperson said in a statement to The California Aggie. “UC policy requires student government organizations to support activities on a viewpoint-neutral basis.

UC Davis is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination, harassment, antisemitism and other forms of hate.”

Shasun Sulur, a second-year graduate student in the UC Davis School of Law and the external vice president of the LSA prior to

the suspension, said that they had pushed for administrators to make the suspension more public.

“The UC Davis chancellor and King Hall administration dissolved our student government, and we lost our control to allocate funds, meet and vote,” Sulur said.

Sulur continued to describe the situation.

“A few members of the LSA were on a call with the [King Hall] dean of student affairs and the vice chancellor,” Sulur said. “We demanded that the [School of Law] give notice to the school. The constitutional amendment was supported by 16 student groups and 100 students on campus. [They] casually remarked this would be the only notice students would get.”

Later, law school administration sent an email informing students that the LSA was being suspended and their funds seized.

“King Hall has a long history of student input into administration decision-making,” School of Law Dean Jessica Berg said via email.

“We will continue to work with our students to ensure meaningful representation continues while respecting and upholding the policies of the university and local, state and federal laws.”

LSAPRINT on 10

A group of protestors stand outside of Mrak Hall for the suspension of the Law Student Association. (Sacha Chickering / The Aggie)

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

2 | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025

Davis receives over Frenzy Coffee Co. opens $7.5 million in in Davis The newly opened cafe offers unique drinks, a welcoming grants for citywide atmosphere and a fresh study space for students infrastructure projects

Improvements for Unitrans, pedestrian safety and more

to survey high-traffic or near-collision

BY MATTHEW MCELDOWNEY areas. These improvement projects will city@theaggie.org look to prevent serious injuries and traffic fatalities throughout Davis.

In addition, Archer mentioned On March 24, Davis announced in the statement that Davis will be that the city has received over $7.5 receiving funding for citywide electric million in grants from federal programs grid improvements. The $400,000 grant and the county since June 2024 — the will fund energy-related education complete list of these grant programs and research in addition to funding is accessible through the city’s press the installation of smart thermometer release. technology in over a hundred heating, The city will receive grants to build ventilation and air conditioning systems charging infrastructure for Unitrans’ in Davis. electric buses, according to the press Davis will also be receiving funding release from Public Information Officer to upgrade the city’s transformers and Barbara Archer. Davis anticipates that build additional electric vehicle (EV) Unitrans will be able to utilize 16 more charging stations. This is on top of charging stations by 2026, improving reimbursements for the city’s purchase their ability to service the students and of a total of 25 EVs. residents of Davis moving forward.

Lastly, the city will receive the Archer added that these grants maximum $250,000 from the will also be invaluable for improving California Governor’s Office of road safety for pedestrians, bikers Emergency Services’ State and Local and vehicles. To do so, the city plans Cybersecurity Grant Program. on utilizing affiliate funding from “The purpose of the grant is to assist the Railroad Crossing Elimination agencies in addressing cybersecurity (RCE) Grant Program for a crossing risks and threats to information relocation and grade separation project systems, and improve security of critical (implementing overpasses or tunnels to infrastructure and resilience of the separate rail and road traffic). services these entities provide to their “This project will help to reduce communities,” the press release reads. conflicts between both passenger The city of Davis Mayor Bapu Vaitla and freight trains and roadway users, expressed recognition for the efforts of improve goods movement reliability, the city’s staff in securing the funding ease traffic congestion and reduce necessary for these improvement environmental impacts,” the press projects. release reads.

“We are always looking for ways Other safety projects will to leverage partnerships, funds and implement buffered bike lanes from resources,” Vaitla said. “These grants will Russell Boulevard to Arlington Road help support a broad range of services as well as install rapid flashing beacons that will go a long way into reinforcing and high-visibility pedestrian markings the city’s commitment towards climate in several high-traffic areas. The city is action, fiscal responsibility and public also looking to use grant funding to safety.” install camera recognition technology

The Davis City Council’s Community Chambers. (Christian Cendejas / Aggie)

The city of Davis discusses strategies for addressing homelessness

The plans will be implemented by the police department, the city and local faith-based organizations

BY RORY CONLON city@theaggie.org On March 18, the city of Davis released a staff report with five proposed plans to address homelessness. If the proposals move forward, two of the plans will be implemented by the Davis Police Department, and the city of Davis will implement three in collaboration with local non-profits.

During the city council meeting, Davis Police Chief Todd Henry and Social Services and Housing Director Dana Bailey presented these plans.

Henry believes the first step is to hire a beat officer specifically assigned to Downtown Davis.

“They would be a direct point of contact for businesses and community members,” Henry said. “They would also not be committed to normal calls for service, which would give them uncommitted time to focus on issues more than a patrol officer is able to.

Right now, we’re exploring whether we can outfit a foyer to have a location where business owners could respond during designated business hours and report issues.”

The second part of the plan is to recruit an outside contractor to collect, inventory, store and return items from disassembled unhoused encampments.

Henry said the cost of hiring two employees for eight hours a day, two days a week, would range between $80,000 and $175,000.

“This lessens the workload of the two code enforcement officers that we currently have,” Henry said. “50% of their current workload is committed to clean up, property collection and property return. They obviously have a lot of other responsibilities they have to cover.”

Bailey outlined a proposal being made by the city to launch a volunteerbased community navigator system. In this system, volunteers would be selected

based on their lived experiences and trained to connect unhoused individuals with resources.

Bailey also proposed a sanctioned camping program for individuals who live out of their vehicles. She said the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rehousing Team (HEART) of Davis, in partnership with Davis United Methodist Church, would offer this program.

“They have located a few parking spaces that they would designate for sanctioned camping as a pilot,” Bailey said. “They’ve provided an operations outline and a job description for staff. Staff and the police department have reached out to the Davis United Methodist Church to learn more about this program.”

The city’s final proposal involved extending the hours at the Daytime Homeless Respite Center, a facility run by the Downtown Streets Team that provides basic services to the unhoused.

“They operate from Monday to Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.,” Bailey said.

“Speaking with the Downtown Streets Team, they did mention that they provided a budget to expand the hours from five to seven days. [...] The added cost to move to a seven-day model is $197,981.”

On the same day as the city council meeting, the city of Davis published a press release that included feedback from community members on the Respite Center. The press release noted how community members felt “very impacted” by the Davis Respite Center and suggested several ways to address their concerns.

“Attendees at the meeting offered a number of specific ways to address the impacts, including the importance of police enforcement and patrols to help keep businesses and the public safe; the need for funding for a variety of improvements and resources, such as overnight services, trash removal, security or cleanliness; and the necessity

BY ALMA CULVERWELL city@theaggie.org

Frenzy Coffee Co. recently held its soft opening at 305 1st Street, drawing in a large crowd of students and community members. Although the soft opening was originally planned to run from March 19 to 25, they concluded early to allow the business to focus on reorganization and quality control.

Frenzy officially celebrated its grand opening on March 30 with coffee beans and merchandise, including printed t-shirts, for purchase. They also held a promotional giveaway through their Instagram, where they awarded the first 200 guests a chance to win Smiskis, Sonny Angels, Carter mugs, stickers and Risograph prints or pins.

Alexis Paneda, a fourth-year design major, visited with her friends.

“I heard about the soft launch from one of my friends,” Paneda said. “We were at the farmers market, and he said there was a new coffee place that opened up near the school, so we decided to check it out.”

Paneda was immediately drawn to the café’s aesthetics and welcoming environment.

“My first impression was that it was a beautiful space,” Paneda said. “It has natural light, a nice aesthetic and interior and there’s even a little painted mural of Davis on one of the walls. The aesthetics and ambiance were inviting, and the staff were all really enthusiastic and helpful.”

Frenzy’s menu offers a wide variety of drinks, including creative flavor combinations that set it apart from other coffee shops in town. Paneda explained their drink choices and what they look forward to trying in the future.

“I tried their mango black tea and one of their specialty drinks, the ‘Matcha Pandan,’” Paneda said. “The mango black tea was refreshing. The iced Matcha Pandan was also great, the Pandan flavor is one I usually only see in Filipino desserts and I’m Filipino — it was a nice blend. I think next time I’d like to try their miso caramel latte.”

Eliel Gutierrez, a student in the environmental sciences and sustainability program at Cosumnes River College, shared excitement about the menu. He discovered the café through a flyer he saw while walking around downtown with his boyfriend.

“I tried the miso caramel latte when I was at the soft and grand openings, and it was pretty good,” Gutierrez said. “I’ve never tried miso in a latte before, but I think it’s a good mix. My boyfriend had mango black tea, which he thought was pretty refreshing.”

In the future, Gutierrez looks forward to trying other unique menu items, including the Matcha Pandan.

“I’ve never tried pandan before, so I think next time I will try out their pandan matcha,” Gutierrez said. “It sounds good from what I’ve heard about it.”

Similarly, Gutierrez was drawn to the coffee shop’s overall aesthetics for more information and transparency from the city,” the press release reads.

“We were also urged to look at alternative locations for a Daytime Respite Center.”

Vice Mayor Donna Neville acknowledged this feedback at the city council meeting.

“Whatever decision we do or don’t make tonight about extending or not extending the Respite hours, I want everyone to know we heard you loud and clear,” Neville said. “We are continuing to look at the results from that meeting, and we’ll be coming back to council with a short and long-term plan specifically related to concerns around the Respite Center.”

John O’Neill, a community member who lives a block from the

Baristas making drinks at Frenzy Coffee Co., a new coffee shop in Downtown Davis. (Ojas Mishra / Aggie) and atmosphere, appreciating both its clean design and cozy ambiance. The combination of natural light, greenery and thoughtful layout made a strong impression on him.

“I honestly already really like the vibe of the shop,” Gutierrez said. “It’s very open and inviting with all the big windows pouring light in and all the plants in the shop. Loved how many wall plugs were out there, too.”

A Davis local, Jamie Dacuycuy, explained what drew her to the café.

“I heard about it through my friend who happens to work for Frenzy,” Dacuycuy said. “Plus, I followed them on social media and saw their promotion posts. I was excited to help support my friends at the soft opening and see what they had in store for the café. I was especially excited to try their miso caramel latte.”

Dacuycuy commented on her appreciation for the new store’s interior.

“I love the vibes,” Dacuycuy said.

“The clean aesthetic of the interior design as well as how much care they put into making their drinks really helps bring the whole café alive. It’s really a relaxing place to chill and especially study at.”

Dacuycuy also enjoyed her drink orders from Frenzy and strongly recommends the miso caramel latte.

“I was pleasantly surprised with how good the miso caramel iced latte was, because I have never tried something like that before,” Dacuycuy said. “The bitterness of the espresso was there but the caramel added a subtle sweetness to it that helped balance it out. The matcha latte was also pretty good, and I loved that they used ceremonial matcha to make the drink. I was able to add vanilla syrup to it for extra sweetness, and it was really good.”

Ashlee Vuong, a second-year nutrition science major, discovered Frenzy Coffee through a friend who had interned with them over the summer.

Intrigued by the drink selection and potential for a new study spot, she decided to visit during the soft opening.

“So far my impression of Frenzy is overall positive,” Vuong said.

She sampled several drinks,

including the miso caramel latte, iced americano, vanilla cream top latte and mango black tea. While she enjoyed the selection, she explained that she hopes to see continued improvements.

“Their drinks are good for a soft opening, but I do hope they improve their consistency for drinks,” Vuong said. “Overall, I am excited to see what’s to come from Frenzy in the future.

I hope to see more creative drinks and potentially seasonal items as well.”

The café was enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. Nancy Ly, a UC Los Angeles student who was visiting Davis, heard about Frenzy’s soft opening from friends and decided to stop by.

“I go to school in Los Angeles so I’m so used to a huge café scene, and I feel like the Sacramento and Davis area was missing something with that level of creativity and quality,” Ly said. “Frenzy seemed like it could fill in that gap.”

Ly remarked on the drink choices and menu items she got to try.

“I’ve tried the matcha latte with cream top and I think it’s great,” Ly said.

“Smooth, a little nutty, though I did get almond milk and the cream top is perfectly sweetened. I would love a more deeper matcha flavor, but also a personal taste, I love having extra matcha.”

Ly also appreciated the café’s drinkmaking process and use of more natural ingredients. She looks forward to trying out various other drinks in the future.

“A plus for me was when I saw that they hand whisk the matcha and make their syrups and cream tops in house,” Ly said. “I’m not a fan of the more processed, pre-made and packaged taste of food and drinks — you can taste the difference. Otherwise, I’m excited to try other iterations of the matcha and maybe I’ll try the miso caramel if I desperately need coffee.”

With its innovative menu, inviting atmosphere and student-friendly design, Frenzy Coffee Co. has already made a strong impression on the Davis community. As the café continues to refine its offerings, it’s poised to become a go-to spot for coffee lovers and students looking for a cozy place to study and relax.

Respite Center, spoke at the meeting.

O’Neill said he appreciated Neville’s comment but expressed skepticism that the city would follow through on feedback.

“When the center was first proposed, I was a proponent of it as a one-year program that moved around the city,” O’Neill said. “Clearly, there’s a need, and I was very fine with my community taking the lead and being the first part of Davis to help address [homelessness]. That was five and a half years ago, and it’s time for the rest of Davis to help share that responsibility.”

O’Neill called on the city to follow through with its commitment to relocate the shelter.

“What’s going on is empathy is being turned into anger and frustration,

and at a time when it’s increasingly difficult to believe in our government, I really, really want to believe in the city of Davis government, my local people,” O’Neill said. “Before you invest, I urge you to make that investment in a different part of the Davis community.”

After listening to public comments, the city council members discussed which plans they wanted to move forward and which plans they wanted to receive more information about.

The city council advanced plans to hire a downtown beat officer, contract a company for encampment cleanup and coordinate a sanctioned camping program. They asked to receive more information about the Respite Center and community navigator programs before making further decisions.

The Davis Respite Center, located on L Street, serves unhoused individuals with snacks, showers and laundry.

(Ojas Mishra / Aggie)

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025 | 3

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

‘It resembles a wonderland, our little wonderland’: The 111th Picnic Day is set for April 12

UC Davis’ annual event holds activities, attractions and educational experiences for the campus and city community “Because UC Davis and the city

BY AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS of Davis go hand in hand, Picnic campus@theaggie.org Day displays how welcoming this community is,” Joshi said. “It’s a fun and happy day for everyone in the city UC Davis will hold its 111th to get involved on campus.” annual Picnic Day on April 12. The The annual parade starts with an largest student-run event in the opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at country, Picnic Day festivities are the Grandstands on the North Quad, both campus- and city-wide and are across from Veihmeyer Hall, and set to feature numerous activities for officially kicks off at 10:15 a.m. students, faculty and families.

Other crowd favorite events The 2025 theme “Welcome to include the Doxie Derby in the Wonderland” was chosen to describe University Credit Union Center from the transformation UC Davis takes 12 to 2 p.m. (tickets are sold out, during the event, according to but the event is live streamed by the Sriya Joshi, a third-year managerial university), Battle of the Bands at the economics and psychology double East Quad Stage from 12 to 4 p.m. major and Picnic Day publicity and Cockroach Racing at Briggs Hall director. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Picnic Day becomes this spectacle One new addition is the Picnic on campus,” Joshi said. “So much Day Pitstop on Russell Field. It will is going on [around] campus and it feature an inflatable obstacle course, resembles a wonderland, our little food trucks and different activities wonderland.” and games. A new scavenger hunt Last year’s Picnic Day brought in will also be held in conjunction with close to 75,000 attendees, according the Student Organization Fair in the to Joshi. This year, the event is slated Memorial Union Quad. Attendees to bring in the same crowd, with over can explore the hundreds of campus 200 events across campus to entertain organizations while also looking for guests.

clues, according to Joshi.

A returning event is the Children’s Discovery Fair in the lawn behind Hoagland Hall, whose theme this year is “Blasting Off into Space.” Open to all attendees, the fair will feature craft stations, games, live performances and booths.

“My favorite event is the Children’s Discovery Fair,” Joshi said. “The first year I worked Picnic Day, I was stationed there, and I was so happy seeing all the children running around and having such a good time. It’s great how Picnic Day caters to all ages.”

In the instance where any attendees need medical assistance, first aid will be located at the UC Davis Fire Station. Wheelchairs will also be available, located at the Picnic Day Headquarters in the Garrison Room on the second floor of the Memorial Union.

To find more information on this year’s Picnic Day and a full list of events and attractions, visit their official website and social media.

Staying safe on Picnic Day

‘We’re the frontline workers — we make it happen’: AFSCME 3299 holds solidarity strike with UPTE-CWA on April 1

Students describe how to have a fun and safe time during the annual event STEPHANIE CHAN / AGGIE

COURTESY OF ASUCD PICNIC DAY

About 50 workers gathered at Hutchison Field as part of a systemwide strike, the third of its kind this academic year

BY KHADEEJAH KHAN campus@theaggie.org

BY GRACIELA TIU features@theaggie.org Picnic Day, an annual UC Davis tradition that celebrates community and school spirit, is also known by students to be one of the biggest party days of the year. Despite Picnic Day’s long-standing purpose of being an open house day full of family-friendly activities such as parades or animal events, many students associate the day with partying.

Fraternities, organizations and other groups often throw parties throughout the day, spanning from early morning until night.

“I’ve heard of a lot of students getting up at 6 a.m. and ending their day late at night, which can be a lot,” Serineh Ohanian, a third-year managerial economics major, said.

Ethan Wang, a fourth-year human biology major, described how Picnic Day parties can mean a lot to the UC Davis community.

“Attending a competitive, quarter-system college is stressful and demanding,” Wang said. “Picnic Day gives hardworking, studious students a break from the constant grind and offers everyone a reason to celebrate our school.”

Dylan Gianella, a second-year communications major, discussed how Picnic Day events are particularly enjoyable due to their broad reach.

“The parties on Picnic Day are accessible to everyone, which is what makes this day so much fun,” Gianella said. “Everyone is everywhere.”

With the various functions on Picnic Day bringing in large crowds, prioritizing safety is crucial. Along with UC Davis resources such as Safe Ride, which offers free rides around campus to students, the Safe Party initiative, which provides information about partying safety, and various emergency services such as Health 34 or the UC Davis Police Department, organizations also do their best to maintain a safe environment.

“As the vice president of Theta Chi, I can say that we’ve taken many precautions to safely host Picnic Day,” Wang said. “For one, security will be present throughout the entirety of our event to ensure that students who come to the house remain safe for the duration. We also have a pre-approved

guest list, so we know exactly who is in our house and at what time. These two security measures — along with specialized wristbands for the event — allow us to control crowds, keep banned substances out of our house and ensure that everyone who attends leaves happy and safe.”

Some organizations also go through training to ensure their members are well-versed in safety precautions.

“We’ve taken many steps to promote responsible behavior not only among partygoers, but also among the brothers of Theta Chi,” Wang said. “Under the guidance of the [Interfraternity Council] (IFC) and our national organization, Theta Chi brothers have participated in various training seminars to prepare for different types of emergencies.”

For this fraternity specifically, members participate in “Sacred Purpose” events, discussing crucial training topics to promote safety among students during celebrations.

“Many of these Sacred Purpose events are hosted by our Vice President of Health and Safety, Colin Eilerman,” Wang said. “Topics include alcohol safety, fire prevention, sexual assault awareness and more. This training ensures that each brother knows how to respond in case of an emergency at an event.”

For par tygoers, Gianella recommended staying aware even while having a good time.

“Have fun, but make sure you are being safe and looking out for the people around you,” Gianella said.

Especially when going to multiple parties a day, students recommend taking care of yourself before and throughout the day to have the best time.

“Always make sure to eat consistent meals throughout the day and stay hydrated,” Ohanian said. “Don’t take drinks from anyone, stick with your friends and make sure to watch out for those around you.”

Any big party days like Picnic Day can quickly become dangerous, so proceeding with caution and being careful throughout the events remains critically important. Even though the long day of partying may seem like a lot, Picnic Day student celebrations give students the chance to build school spirit, have a fun time with one another and celebrate the beginning of spring.

Some 50 workers at UC Davis went on a one-day strike on Tuesday, April 1 over the University of California’s alleged unfair labor practices, cost of living issues and staffing shortages.

The demonstration was part of a systemwide strike across the UC system, including 10 campuses and five medical centers. The workers are members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 (AFSCME 3299) and the University Professional and Technical Employees Local 9119 (UPTE-CWA), representing some combined 50,000 service and healthcare workers across the system.

While UPTE-CWA was first to announce their strike, AFSCME-3299 executive board member James Clark believed it was vital for AFSCME-3299 to hold a solidarity strike due to shared struggles with bad-faith bargaining, staffing shortages and rising healthcare co-pays.

“We’re standing in solidarity with UPTE today and anytime they have a need for our assistance,” Clark said.

“We’re the frontline workers — we make it happen.”

In a statement, the UC claimed to have offered “generous wage increases” and other favorable proposals in bargaining with the two unions.

“UPTE and AFSCME are not being forthright in their characterizations, which is upsetting since we’ve made sincere efforts to find mutually beneficial solutions,” the statement reads. “Regardless, we are hopeful AFSCME and UPTE will make meaningful efforts to settle these contracts soon.”

For Gina Hernandez, a cook at UC Davis’ dining halls, this strike’s impact extends beyond the demands of UC staff. She believes that going on strike is an investment into students’

futures, uplifting frontline workers who take care of students on a day-today basis.

“We just want UC Davis to take care of us so that we can take care of them,” Hernandez said. “We want UC Davis to see us as humans, not just a bunch of workers or a bunch of equipment that they own. The workers are raising the next future.”

AFSCME 3299’s picket line in solidarity with UPTE-CWA began at 6 a.m. on Hutchison Field, where strikers shared coffee and bagels in preparation for a demonstration. Cars at the intersection honked to express solidarity with the workers.

Strikers chanted, “UC, UC you’re no good, treat your workers like you should,” and “UC, UC you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side.”

AFSCME and UPTE had previously held joint strikes in February of this year and in November 2024 over similar concerns. Turnout at this most recent UC Davis demonstration was lower, and union members did not hold a march throughout campus as they had done in past strikes.

Clark, who works at UC San Francisco and commutes around 50 miles for his job, criticized UC administrators for not addressing the housing and staffing issues he believes to be at the core of worker’s problems.

“We got people commuting over an hour or an hour and a half, and they are making pennies,” Clark said.

“We’re overworked, understaffed and doing more for the same pay, and we won’t stand for it. It won’t change until the UC invests in things that make them flourish, like enough front line workers to get the job done right.”

In a statement to The California Aggie, a spokesperson for the UC Office of the President denied claims of a staffing shortage.

“Data that we’ve already shared with the union shows that the number of UPTE-represented headcount is increasing, separations are declining,

and turnover is flattening,” the spokesperson said. “For AFSCME, headcount is also increasing, turnover is decreasing, and separations are flattening.”

“Since the last strike on Feb. 26-28, UC has continuously communicated with AFSCME and UPTE to try to close these contracts,” the spokesperson said.

“UPTE and UC are progressing through the impasse process, with fact-finding sessions completed last week and a recommendations report coming soon. AFSCME and UC are continuing to communicate and are scheduled to meet in the coming weeks to discuss the next steps.”

Workers also demonstrated at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, though university officials said they did not expect any disruptions to patient care. At the main campus in Davis, some dining options and venues were closed or open with limited hours, however there were no disruptions to class instruction.

At the strike, student members of the Spartacus Youth Club distributed flyers and held signs to express solidarity with the unions, calling on their peers to “respect the picket line and shut down the campus.”

“We are now being targeted by the government and administration for protesting the genocide of Palestinians,” the flyer reads. “The way to defend our classmates is not by making moral appeals to the administration, but to build an alliance with workers who are striking against the admin. Although the unions’ demands are economic, the way to beat back repression will be by building winning pickets that no one crosses.”

By 2 p.m., the strike at Hutchison and La Rue Road had packed their gear away, and the demonstration had ended.

Workers gather on Hutchison Field for the strike on April 1, 2025. (Jenna Lee / Aggie)

4 | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

Let’s bring back the diplomatic leader

Why diplomacy is an invaluable skill

BY MAYA KORNYEYEVA mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu Over the course of our lives, we typically learn to associate the idea of “being diplomatic” with universally moral concepts like fairness, reciprocity and respect. Our parents teach us to behave courteously with our friends and siblings, our coaches encourage us to be good sports with the opposing team and our bosses instill in us the importance of being tactful and sensitive when approaching a business opportunity with another company. The notion of diplomacy exists far beyond the sphere of political discourse, subtly ingrained within our everyday communication.

However, more often than not, we hear the word “diplomacy” emphasized within the realm of international politics, where it is celebrated for its potential to be a powerful tool when utilized appropriately. At its core, diplomatic communication is a strategic exchange of views that can be used to connect with global leaders, negotiate interests and form genuine compromises that ensure both economic and social peace. It is both an art and a science — a skill that demands character, finesse and patience.

In our modern political climate, the art of being diplomatic is actively being forgotten, or, rather, purposefully pushed to the sidelines.

Many of our country’s conservative elected officials solely look out for their particular self-interests, at the expense of everyone else: prioritizing “winning” over “collaborating.” Our current president is no exception.

In almost every area of foreign affairs, President Donald Trump is tearing down complex and hardwon webs of connections with global leaders, from Canada to Mexico, Greenland to China and Ukraine to Europe. It seems as though he is altogether incapable of patient, polite conversation and incompatible with the notion of treating other leaders with kindness and respect (unless, of course, there is some potential for personal gain).

Trump and J.D. Vance’s in-person conference last month with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a shockingly clear example of the current Trump administration’s lack of diplomacy. In a meeting that was supposed to result in the signing of a rare earth mineral deal between Ukraine and the United States, Trump opened with a sarcastic comment on Zelenskyy’s attire (plain military clothing, rather than a suit), Vance accused Zelensky of not being “grateful enough” for U.S. military aid and their conversation ended with both the president and vice president shouting down Zelensky and berating him for “gambling with World War III.” Their behavior broke all bounds of

decency and demonstrated unfounded contempt for another world leader, resulting in irreversible damage to diplomatic ties with Ukraine.

Notably, Ukraine-U.S. relations were progressing smoothly up until Trump’s appointment to office; Both countries were in agreement to protect a Ukrainian democracy and condemn Russia for its crimes. In a conversation that lasted just under an hour, Trump and Vance managed to show the world how disrespectful they could truly be, cementing the views of other global leaders that America may no longer be a reliable and friendly ally.

Beyond this widely televised exchange, Trump’s rapid installation of tariffs on foreign imports — pertaining to nearly all of America’s trading partners — is evidence of his disregard for keeping the peace with other nations, sending a spark capable of fueling the fire of a global trade war. Furthermore, his clear disrespect for the sovereignty of other independent countries brings America back centuries, to a time when our nation was eagerly seeking to conquer and colonize. In recent weeks, Trump referred to Canada’s former prime minister, Justin Trudeau, as a “governor” and the country as America’s “51st state.” He has also vowed to annex Greenland, a Danish territory, “100 percent,” “one way or another,” citing national security as a reason for this bizarre move.

This is not to say that keeping our

The successful, the worthless and the artificially intelligent

Exploring how society perpetuates the manifestations of its own fears

BY VIOLET ZANZOT vmzanzot@ucdavis.edu

Artificial Intelligence (AI) — it does your homework, makes your workouts and explains whether you should “text them back” or not. It feels limitless, and if you do happen upon what feels like a limit, you can tell it to do it better, to be more succinct, more accurate, more precise — to sound more human.

In fact, AI is better than a human; It has all the answers, and you don’t have to worry about ChatGPT’s feelings.

Today, I am not here to talk about AI in an operational sense. To be perfectly candid, I can only use a computer for exactly what one would use a DVD player, a piece of paper or a book of facts. That is to say, my personal knowledge and interest in technology do not extend further than watching television shows and movies, writing, reading and looking random things up.

I would much rather discuss the “people” side of AI and the conversation surrounding the integration of this way of knowing into our society, specifically in the world of education.

Why are educators so afraid of AI? Is it, perhaps, not the fault of the student or the technology? Does the real fear manifest as a result of the very people who create it?

I think yes. The reason we should be wary of AI is not because students could use it as a crutch but because they could use it as a wheelchair. More importantly, we should be cautious that the reason students may rely on this support is not because they are lazy, but because there is an increasing pressure for success.

“By whatever means necessary” — that is the mantra instilled in today’s anxious world. While that may not

JASON XIE/ AGGIE

be the vocabulary used by educators, the expectations within education emphasize quantity over quality: quantity of correct answers, rather than quality of correctness.

The two concerns with AI I find to be most demonstrative of this point are the fears about cheating and the loss of critical thinking skills — of course, these go hand in hand.

Academic dishonesty operates in ever new and exciting ways in the wake of the AI revolution. Because of the way AI is able to answer questions and reproduce language, no field of study can avoid the potential replacement of student work by AI-generated content.

The phobia of forgery, plagiarism and inauthentic work has greater implications that all point to a fear of “cognitive offloading.” Cognitive offloading is the idea that AI will replace critical thinking. Despite the benefits of AI increasing efficiency and accessibility, is it worth it if we lose cognitive skills in the process?

I think that question is derived not from problems with AI, but from the foundational structure of success that exists in our social system, which is, more importantly, built into our schools. From the very beginning, we

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.

Equal access to egg-ucation Students demand action as egg prices continue to rise

This question, I am sure, is on everyone’s minds: What are we to do about the cost of eggs? It’s no secret that egg prices are on the rise and have yet to hit a breaking point. When eggs cost almost as much as a quarter at Davis, it becomes high time that the administration rectifies the situation.

They need to crack open the case and work to maintain the physical and mental well-being of students during these trying times.

Fried, scrambled or deviled, the students deserve equal access to eggucation. So what does the university decide to cook up? The auctioning of the famous eggheads — profiting off of the suffering of others. Of course, it is in our time of trouble that the university’s response serves us more problems, over-easy.

First, the minus system, which operates only to damage our grade point averages, and now this.

Luckily, as we all know by now, we are a university full of activists. We stood up for teaching assistants and dining hall employee conditions, and now we stand up for our eggs.

I call the students of UC Davis to action. In fact, I invite you all to a feast. On May 1, 2025, there will be omelets available for everyone. Come

national interest at the forefront of our political agenda is not fundamental.

However, if the means to achieve this end bypass respectful negotiations, attack other leaders and destroy connections formed over decades of diplomatic communication, it creates lasting harm and uncertainty.

In turning away previous American allies, withdrawing U.S. Agency for International Development from vulnerable countries and taxing foreign imports with little to no negotiation process, Trump is isolating America from other democratic nations and building dangerous bonds with authoritarian nations like Russia and North Korea.

We need the diplomatic leader back: someone who understands the intricacies of polite and courteous communication, who is able to forge

stronger ties with our existing allies and engage in fair negotiation — not an administration that strongarms their way for personal profit, at the expense of the liberties and rights of the American people. Thus, it is beyond pertinent to judge our prospective politicians not just on their values and ideas, but also by the way they treat others and engage in conversation with those who have opposing views: by their capacity and knack for diplomacy.

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 ducks are bullying me

Can someone translate their quacks for me?

CRYSTAL CHEN/ AGGIE

are taught the ABCs. We are taught grades. We are taught success. We are taught failure.

I like how Gustav Ichheiser phrases this concept — he describes the notion that “the norms of success in our society require that those individuals [who] ‘ought’ to attain success are competent and worthy, and, to formulate it negatively, the incompetent and unworthy should be denied success.” He details the American system of success, which forces a need for either accuracy or failure.

When you incorporate a tool that can help create accuracy and precision into a society that finds worthiness in those who can be accurate and precise and awards them with success, are we not bound to abuse this system for the sake of getting ahead, especially considering that “ahead” is where we find value?

I am not here to argue about the wonders of AI. Not to say that there aren’t any, but it certainly is not my wheelhouse, nor do I find it to be deeply captivating. It is important to me, and hopefully to you, that we recognize the “dangers” of AI may be more about our confrontation with our own society’s perception of worth and success rather than a fear about its technological capacity. Perhaps we should worry less about the ways in which people can manipulate technology for personal gain and more about why people feel it is necessary to do so to begin with.

HUMOR

BY VIOLET ZANZOT vmzanzot@ucdavis.edu

MAYA KORNYEYEVA / AGGIE

one, come all to the biggest event of the year! We will be cracking open the egg in front of Shields Library; We will call the egghead formerly known as “Bookhead” our breakfast as we stand up to authoritarianism.

We will not sit idly by while our great institution sells out, becoming another victim of corporate greed. I choose to protest and I choose to do so with extra cheese and a slight crisp — please join me.

We will have several signs available for students to borrow. Here is a list of what we have thus far, but please feel free to bring your own:

• • • • • • • •

You can’t crack us!

Admin is going to shell.

I put all my eggs in one basket and the university stole it.

I’m runny-ing away!

Our lives are not a yolk!

We are not chicken, we will fight back!

Nevertheless, she eggsisted.

We hope to see you all there!

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

NOVA MAI / AGGIE

BY ALLISON KELEHER adkeleher@ucdavis.edu The ducks are out and about on the UC Davis campus, and you best believe I have noticed. Those little guys can’t hide from me. I love seeing them walk around on the Mrak Hall lawn whenever I head to the library.

Once, I followed some around and quacked at them so I could join in on the fun.

But lately, I feel like the vibes are off. Some have started chasing me in retaliation to my antics, and I don’t know how to feel about it. Are we building a friendly repertoire? Or is there something more conniving under those feathers?

To find out, I decided to investigate. I bought a duck costume on Amazon and it promptly arrived within two days. When I got the notification that my costume arrived, I ripped open the package and slipped into that bad boy. What followed was some very serious investigation as I attempted to infiltrate their circle in the Arboretum.

The ducks were so chill when I found them — they were all sitting politely in a circle. A couple of them were sleeping and had their beaks tucked underneath their feathers. I calmly and quietly took a seat on the grass to join the circle. Apparently, I wasn’t slick because all of the ducks stood at attention. I instantly became very aware that I was wearing a duck costume and thought that, perhaps, I wasn’t wanted.

I was feeling stressed until one of the ducks got up and started waddling around the circle as fast as he could.

My first thought was that this was a mating dance. Then, I realized that it couldn’t be because there’s no way a duck would choose someone wearing a duck costume. As I was deep in thought over my potential suitor, the duck pecked me with its bill, and I was worried that a mating dance might actually be happening. Did he peck me, or did he pick me?

In an instant, the duck took off around the circle with amazing speed.

The remaining ducks began quacking incessantly, and I started to wonder if they were entertained by what had just happened. I looked around in confusion, but the ducks just kept

quacking at me. The duck that had pecked me continued to waddle his way around the circle, but he was losing steam. He fully made his way around the circle and looked really annoyed when I was still sitting down.

Then he pecked me again.

That was when I had an epiphany.

I had trained for this my entire life — a real-life game of “duck, duck, goose.”

I was ecstatic; This was my moment to shine. I can clearly run much faster than these little birds, and I needed a win. I jumped into the air and took off after the duck. He already had a head start on me because I took too long to figure out what game we were playing.

Then it felt like time had stopped — I tripped over my duck costume and face-planted on the floor. I was so embarrassed. All of my new friends just saw me at my lowest moment.

When I rose from the ground, I wiped the mud off my face and tried to stand up. However, I didn’t make it — I tripped again on my costume.

I couldn’t show my face again, but I could hear their ridiculing quacks in the background.

By the time I finally got up on my feet, I looked over and the duck was already in my spot. I lost. My ego was shattered. I tried to look on the bright side, now I was finally given the opportunity to be a duck. That was until a duck made me sit down so they could play. The duck waddled around the circle with a big smile on its bill.

Once he made it around, he pecked me to be the goose again.

When I got up this time, I didn’t trip over my costume and was able to run and tag the duck. I confidently took my seat with my fellow ducks since I was one of them now. That was until the duck pecked me to be the goose again.

This cycle continued for hours, and it made me feel really bad about myself. Maybe I wasn’t a duck like I thought I was. I decided it was time to get up and leave the ducks alone.

As I walked away, I could hear their quacking fade into the distance.

They were laughing at me — I just know it.

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

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025 | 5

OPINION EDITORIAL

The Editorial Board condemns the Trump administration’s nationwide termination of student visas

Editorial Board CHRIS PONCE Editor-in-Chief ALYSSA CREVOISERAT Managing Editor

Taking away students’ visas violates their rights and threatens the UC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, pushing international students into further uncertainty

MADISON PETERS Campus News Editor HANNAH SCHRADER City News Editor MAYA KORNYEYEVA Opinion Editor

WRITTEN BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD Last weekend, campus administration announced that seven students and five recent graduates had their F-1 visas terminated without explanation. Unfortunately, this is happening across other universities and the entire University of California system: six students at UC Berkeley, six at UC Los Angeles and five visa terminations and one border deportation at UC San Diego — this total does not include alumni or recent graduates.

This is a result of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to oversee the nation’s largest mass deportation effort, censor students’ free speech and to impose an authoritarian agenda across the nation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that he has terminated more than 300 visas, including those of students.

The Editorial Board condemns this recent news and stands in solidarity with our students who have been targeted by the Trump administration. UC Davis itself has a large international student population, more than 9,000, which makes this campus especially susceptible to administrative actions.

While Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have not stepped foot on campus, according to current reports, we call on the UC Administration to do everything they can to protect all students. Universities are intended to be places of innovation and education, not places of raids, deportations and censorship.

UC police will not coordinate or help with any investigations led by ICE or federal forces, according to a statement from Chancellor Gary May. “Enforcement of federal immigration laws rests with the federal government and not with UC police,” May said in his statement. “Campus police officers will not contact, detain, question or arrest an individual solely on the basis of suspected undocumented immigration status or to discover the immigration status of any individual.

UC police will not undertake joint efforts with federal immigration

SEE ONLINE Read our editorial about student speech

ZOEY MORTAZAVI Features Editor ANA BACH Arts & Culture Editor MEGAN JOSEPH Sports Editor KATIE HELLMAN Science Editor 0DQDJLQJ 6WD̆ JENNA LEE Photo Director ARIANA NOBLE Layout Director LANHUI ZHEN Design Director JOANNE SUN Social Media Manager AARON POTTER Website Manager CASSIDY GILLIS Distribution & Outreach Director TIFFANY HE Copy Chief JENNY DYE Copy Chief SAMUEL RUIZ Translation Director

A photo of the UC Davis water tower.

(Creative Commons licenses / Wikimedia Commons) enforcement authorities to investigate, detain or arrest individuals for violation of federal immigration law.”

To be clear, students on visas are documented and are entitled to the rights and privileges of citizens — including free speech. Students across the U.S. have had their visas revoked for several unjust reasons, including over something as simple as traffic violations, according to the Associated Press. While the federal government has not provided reasoning behind visa revocations, a common denominator amongst some of these students that shouldn’t be ignored is their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.

On Jan. 30, Trump signed an executive order that claimed to combat anti-semitism within the U.S.; This has been their justification to enact much of these deportation efforts and to censor pro-Palestinian activism in America.

“To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you,” Trump said in the January executive order. “I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before.”

What the Trump administration is doing is fascist and impedes on the basic freedoms promised to those who live in this country. Deporting students over their free speech and political opinions challenges our right to call this country a democracy.

TO IMMIGRATION OR OTHER OFFICER: I am exercising my 5th Amendment right under the U.S. Constitution to remain silent. I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or give you any documents without a lawyer present.

I do not give you permission to enter my home or search my person or belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution, unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name and correct address on it that you slide under the door.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a student at Tufts University, was detained by ICE over an op-ed she wrote last year in a student newspaper that criticized Israel. She is still in custody of ICE, attempting to challenge her deportation.

Since then, student journalists have begun retracting their names from stories in fear of retaliation from the Trump administration. By detaining Ozturk, this administration has attempted to strike fear and panic into those who speak out and resist what has happened to our country.

In order to combat this, it is still important — now more than ever — to call out what is happening and to stay informed. To do our part, The California Aggie will continue providing coverage of accurate and essential information as news develops. If you are worried for your safety regarding the recent visa terminations, you can email editor@theaggie.org about having your information removed from our coverage upon approval. If you have any information regarding local ICE presence or any other essential updates, you may reach out to us as well.

As things remain uncertain in this country, it is critical to stay resilient and to speak out against all forms and levels of injustice. As always, be sure to know your rights — regardless of your citizenship status, you have them. You have the right to remain silent and to not let federal agents into your home.

For more information, you can visit the ACLU website or see the UC Know Your Rights Card.

Your rights if you are taken into immigration custody • You have the right to a lawyer, but the government does not have to provide one for you. If you do not have a lawyer, see resources listed on this guide or ask for a list of free or low-cost legal services.

• You have the right to contact your consulate or KDYH DQ RȲFHU LQIRUP WKH FRQVXODWH RI \RXU DUUHVW • You can tell the ICE agent you wish to remain silent and discuss your immigration status only with your lawyer.

• You do not have to sign anything without talking to a lawyer. If you sign, you may be giving up your opportunity to try to stay in the U.S. • Remember your immigration or USCIS number (“A” number), case number, or any other identifying number assigned to you by immigration enforcement and give this information to your family and lawyer. It will help family members and the lawyer locate you.

ILEANA MERAZ Translation Director LAURIE PEDERSON Business Development Manager

(UNITED FARM WORKERS / COURTESY)

For more information or to report an incident, please contact UC Immigrant Legal Services Center ucimm@law.ucdavis.edu (530) 752-7996 United We Dream national hotline To report incidents and abuses (844) 363-1423

Local Campus Contact

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IF APPROACHED

BY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENTS

6 | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025

ARTS & CULTURE

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

Review: Laufey shines yet again on ‘Silver Lining’ The bewitching singer sets off in a new, darker musical direction

BY NATALIE SALTER arts@theaggie.org

BY SAVANNAH ANNO arts@theaggie.org Movie: “Emma” dir. by Autumn de Wilde (2020) Continuing with the theme of spring, Autumn de Wilde’s 2020 adaptation of “Emma” is almost too obvious a choice — but only obvious to me, as it seems like every time I ask someone if they’ve seen my personal favorite romantic comedy, the answer is “no.” One of the only films I can stand (and am actually excited) to watch over and over again, Wilde’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma” is so rich with detail and character that it’s simply impossible to grow tired of. Whimsical, funny and at times infuriatingly gorgeous, “Emma” — its scenery, dialogue and pacing — is one giant extension of the film’s heroine. Emma herself, dreamy and oftentimes naive, navigates through Regency England as a wealthy twenty-year-old playing matchmaker while failing to see the match of her own located right under her nose. Filled with colorful flowers, eccentric costumes and a soundtrack full of fairy-like folk music, “Emma” is a breath of fresh spring air in movie form.

Song: “I’ll Find a Way (To Carry It All)” by Ted Lucas (1975) Although the lyrics may seem scarce and the guitar pattern simple, there’s something special about Ted Lucas’ voice that makes this one of the most mesmerizing songs you’ll ever hear. Like the sunset on a perfect afternoon with friends, “I’ll Find a Way (To Carry It All)” has a bittersweet quality, a sense of finality that can make any listener emotional. Nostalgic and soft, this is the perfect track for reminiscing about the end of a sunny day or a picture-perfect spring break with your favorite people. Similar to the style of artists like Nick Drake and Labi Siffre, Lucas’ folk style comes out in the honesty of his words — lyrics that are easy to understand and yet still keep you thinking about how they relate to your own experiences. While the song can sometimes feel like it’s on the more somber side of things, it’s perfect for a quiet spring night spent reflecting on life’s best moments.

Book: “Ghost Wall” by Sarah Moss (2018) While spring is a time of life and revival, it can also inevitably bring up thoughts of its opposite: winter and decay. “Ghost Wall” feeds on the beauty of a blossoming landscape while simultaneously telling a short story filled with dread and withering relationships. Author Sarah Moss creates a brief but poignant coming-of-age tale centered around 17-yearold Silvie, who comes to spend part of her vacation from school on a trip with her parents to a deserted portion of the English countryside. Led by her Iron Age-obsessed father and accompanied by an archaeology professor and his three college students, tensions grow as Silvie’s father becomes increasingly strict about living as if they were truly ancient Britons — gender roles and all. When forced to return to a world where women lacked all autonomy, Silvie begins to realize her strong desire for freedom from her family — but how can she possibly escape while already trapped in a portal to the past?

While Moss ensures “Ghost Wall” is short enough to read in one sitting, the unsettling feeling of history coming back to haunt you most definitely sticks around beyond the novel’s last page.

Album: “Forever is a Feeling” by Lucy Dacus (2025) We both know you’ve been looking for the perfect spring quarter tracklist.

When it comes to long walks, people watching in the park or riding your bike down a tree-lined street, there may be no better backdrop than Lucy Dacus’ newest album. “Forever is a Feeling,” the beloved Boygenius member’s fourth solo project, is a love story. Bright and melodic, a majority of its contents are dedicated to the also-Boygenius-member Julien Baker and the evolution of their relationship. Songs like “Best Guess” and “Bullseye” evoke the giggly feelings of a crush turning into something more, while the lyrics of “Lost Time” and “For Keeps” dig into the more sentimental aspects of companionship. A contrast from the fiery, more hard-hitting sound of most of her older work, “Forever is a Feeling” highlights intimacy through its slower, more careful musical choices. Full of a catchy, acoustic sound that can only make you smile, “Forever is a Feeling” won’t just be your Spotify spring fling, but an album you’ll always want to revisit for some romance.

Since releasing her first music online in 2020, the enchanting singersongwriter Laufey has left listeners spellbound with her romantic lyricism and sweepingly beautiful soundscapes.

Her songs carefully chronicle tales of loves lost and found, weaving together threads of melancholia and hopefulness effortlessly. She floats through dreams and mourns over lonely nights, her discography akin to a private diary scrawled with cursive sentences and coffee stains.

It is Laufey’s ability to capture this wealth of emotion, carefully balancing her starry-eyed romanticism with the morose lamentation of a woman burned by past relationships, that has allowed her star to rise over the past five years.

Donning ballet flats and hair ribbons, she paints a world filled with rabbit holes and moonlit skies, the universe she crafts offering an escape from the turmoils of modern life for an exhausted generation of young people. But her newest single, “Silver Lining,” takes her music in a captivatingly different direction.

From the delicate melodies of 2022’s “Everything I Know About Love” to the darkly rich tunes of 2023’s

“Bewitched,” the progression of Laufey’s artistic style has been like the slow shift from daylight to nighttime. Her new music seems to be continuing this trend, if “Silver Lining” is any indication.

Violins and drums beckon in Laufey’s honeyed voice at the start of “Silver Lining,” the song’s pace measured, yet powerful from its very beginning. “I’ve been falling in bad habits / Staring into the abyss,” the singer proclaims, her confession wistful yet coy.

The song’s chorus soars, and Laufey’s vocals are powerful and almost desperate as she sings to her unnamed lover. Her vocal technique is splendid, and the song pushes her voice to new limits; It is one of the boldest musical compositions she has put forth yet.

If Laufey’s songs are usually a pocket of dreaminess to escape into, “Silver Lining” dares to venture in another direction. It is laden with declarations of her sinfulness and more self-destructive qualities. “Never been calm or collected / No one ever called me sweet / What a miracle I’ve found a darling,” she says as the resplendent chorus dips into the second verse.

The heavenly worlds she usually crafts are turned to something more sinister on “Silver Lining.” This is no happily ever after, with sunlit mornings and peaceful nights. “When you go to

hell, I’ll go there with you too,” Laufey sings as the song reaches its chorus.

“And when we’re punished / For being so cruel / The silver lining’s I’ll be there with you.”

Though its addictiveness and richness are enough to make it a brilliant song, “Silver Lining” does a fantastic job of demonstrating Laufey’s range as an artist. She pushes beyond her usual realm of hopeful romanticism and fairytale daydreams to fully show off her darker side. As always, Laufey refuses to be defined by one aesthetic or musical label, and if “Silver Lining” is any indication, her much-anticipated new album will be her most daring creation yet.

Cover art for Laufey’s new single, “Silver Lining.” (AWAL / fair use)

Did you miss me, honey? A love affair with the good ol’ days

The bittersweet role of nostalgia in today’s media

BY IQRA AHMAD arts@theaggie.org Have you ever felt a memory wrap around you like a warm hug? The scent of rain on the pavement pulling you back to childhood afternoons on the blacktop at recess? Or an old song that transports you back to late-night drives with friends? Whatever the memory might be, nostalgia seems to be the universal thread that binds us all — reminding us where we’ve been and what we’ve felt.

So, where does the word nostalgia actually come from? Let’s break it down.

It originates from the Greek words nostos, meaning “return,” and algos, meaning “pain.” Put together, nostalgia literally translates to “the pain of returning,” a rather fitting description for that bittersweet longing for the past.

Swiss physician Johannes Hofer coined the term to express this debilitating symptom observed in Swiss mercenaries who worked for European monarchs.

These mercenaries displayed symptoms such as “obsessive thinking of home, bouts of weeping, anxiety, palpitations, anorexia and insomnia,” according to The British Psychological Association.

What we now know as an emotion of longing for the past was once considered

a serious medical disorder.

What does nostalgia mean in the context of our world now?

Merriam Webster defines nostalgia as a “a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition.” This definition encompasses what it means to reach for a time that is comforting yet out of reach.

While nostalgia often feels like a single, overwhelming emotion, it actually comes in different forms.

Psychologist Dr. Krystine Batcho explains that there are many types of nostalgia, but defines two main ones — historical nostalgia and personal nostalgia — in a podcast with the American Psychological Association.

Historical nostalgia is the yearning for a time before an individual’s lifetime, while personal nostalgia reflects the emotions stirred by an individual’s memories and life experiences. Both have shaped the way we reflect on the past.

What about the role of the media in inciting nostalgia?

Have you ever noticed that when you talk to your roommates or classmates, whenever your childhoods or lives before college come up, their eyes take on a certain reminiscent gleam? I’ve even begun calling it the “back in my day” blink.

As our lives continue to transition and get further away from the days of pretend castles and play or the lunch periods spent in teachers’ classrooms with friends, this blink seems to happen even more. It’s as if we’re all caught in a trance-like whirlwind of panic and excitement — grappling with the reality of leaving behind everything familiar while eagerly anticipating what’s ahead.

This surge of nostalgia isn’t just a personal phenomena; it’s everywhere.

With the rise of media designed to elicit memories, we’re constantly being pulled into the past. Nostalgia even fuels media trends with social media throwbacks and old-timey filters on photos, with digital archives or fashion trends frequently going viral, according to an article by Forbes.

Reboots of shows like “Full House” and remakes of “Ghostbusters” bring back beloved characters and storylines.

The resurgence of “y2k” in fashion and styling also presents a tether to bringing previous trends to the forefront of our lives. Even in TikTok videos, through edits of childhood movies like “Harry Potter” or shows like “Scooby Doo,” we’re constantly reminded of the past.

Whether it’s a reboot of a favorite TV show or a song, the past has honestly never felt more present.

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Review: ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ recontextualizes its world

The sun rises once more on “The Hunger Games” in a prequel starring beloved character Haymitch Abernathy

BY JULIE HUANG arts@theaggie.org Suzanne Collins’ series “The Hunger Games” is well known for exploring difficult questions about human nature and the structure of society, while at the same time being full of exciting youngadult entertainment. Its latest addition, “Sunrise on the Reaping,” follows that tradition in smooth fashion.

What can be described as a prequel following fan favorite Haymitch Abernathy’s journey through the 50th Hunger Games is also a novel that is inextricably concerned with the role of propaganda in shaping human experience and perception. Where can truth be found in circumstances where even the most genuine actions can be twisted by the perverse motives of others?

Before diving into the narrative, Collins prepares her readers for that question with four epigraphs by George Orwell, William Blake and David Hume, discussing the relationship between truth, propaganda and what human beings choose to believe in.

The novel then begins with a depiction of Haymitch’s early life in District 12, introducing his mother, little brother and beloved girlfriend Lenore Dove in a way that just screams “something bad is going to happen” before it actually does.

Foreshadowing runs rampant throughout the entire novel, but it strikes an emotional nerve in this early section as Collins writes a protagonist characterized as a hardworking optimist, driven by love for his close ones, in ominous contrast to the solitary and

jaded alcoholic that Haymitch failures, never knowing when becomes in “The Hunger victory might finally arrive. So, Games” proper. too, are these efforts unseen Once young Haymitch is and unnoticed by the majority selected to participate in the of people who never knew they 50th Games, “Sunrise” begins to existed, yet they are necessary recontextualize everything that in order to work toward was seemingly well-established serendipitous circumstances in the original series and never where positive change may once misses an opportunity actually take place. to make readers question Collins’ commentary on everything they thought the necessity of each generation they knew. The very moment planting seeds of hope is Haymitch is chosen constitutes nowhere more clear than in the one such fissure between truth character of Lucy Gray Baird, and untruth, and from there, the introduced as Snow’s tribute in discrepancy between the events the first prequel and never once that happen on the prequel’s directly mentioned by name pages and what was divulged in in this second prequel. Still, earlier novels only grows wider. she haunts the narrative and The plot unravels with these the characters within it: first, consecutive events building on in the defiant love of freedom top of each other, driven by exhibited by Haymitch’s tragic characters who were portrayed relationship with Lenore — one way in the original series who is a descendant of Lucy yet are cast in a new light by Gray’s family, formerly traveling their roles in this book. For musicians known as the Covey one, the role and motivations — and later in bitter words of Haymitch himself as a tribute spoken by a late-middle-aged in the games are revealed Snow on the fickleness of Covey to be vastly different from Cover art for the 2025 “The Hunger Games” prequel women. what was assumed by “The novel, “Sunrise on the Reaping.”

Despite their opposite Hunger Games” protagonist (Suzanne Collins / fair use) ideological stances, Lucy Gray’s Katniss Everdeen and realfree will and spirit left an of the nationwide revolution for which world readers alongside her. impression on both Lenore and Katniss would eventually become the Their father-daughter, mentor-mentee Snow. Their impressions are in turn “Mockingjay” figurehead. Collins’ reveal relationship is thrown into a new light transferred to Haymitch through their of just how long plans for revolution as well, as the word “sweetheart” takes interactions with him, despite him not against Panem’s tyrannical government on a poignant meaning. knowing the woman that they originally under President Coriolanus Snow have Aside from the reveal of other knew. been brewing. This sentiment alone heartbreaking personal connections The relationships between serves as pointed commentary that real that Haymitch and Katniss share, characters and the information they systemic change requires a lifetime of “Sunrise” also features the early seeds share, or omit from each other, could faith and effort in the face of repeated

be construed as Collins engaging in fan service — inclusions made simply to please the audience and long-time fans of the series. However, these interactions also feed into the novel’s central theme of how truths and lies are passed from person to person and how the constructed narratives that become propaganda take advantage of the constraints surrounding the communication of information.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” demonstrates over and over how artifice can be injected in even the most genuine of gestures and how wellintended actions can be repackaged to fit narratives that completely oppose one’s intentions, depending on what information has been relayed and what has been discarded.

Yet this story also propounds the idea that, like Haymitch and Lucy Gray, every person is connected through the past and future to others that they may never learn the names of. Even as some information has been lost or omitted, those people have played a part in shaping the world, unseen but not unimportant.

Despite its slew of harsh realities, “Sunrise on the Reaping” is a reminder that the people one has loved leave their influence on their surroundings long after they are physically gone, and those influences leave room for future growth. It is a reminder that the genuine connections forged with others in meaningful moments will always hold some truth, even if those truths might someday become invisible in their namelessness.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025 | 7

Countrywide pro-Palestinian student deportations present potential infringements on due process UC Davis students share their thoughts on the ongoing student deportations across the U.S.

BY EVELYN SANCHEZ features@theaggie.org Ongoing responses to the Palestinian encampments on several university campuses have created an environment of uncertainty. Davis Popular University for the Liberation of Palestine, a student-run organization, set up an encampment on UC Davis’ Memorial Union Quad in May 2024.

For some universities, administrative responses garnered significant public attention, with several involving law enforcement and educational repercussions. UC Los Angeles, as a prominent example, sent the campus police department in riot gear and demanded an immediate dissolution of the encampment, leading to the arrest of 27 people.

The UCLA vice chancellor, in response, called the demonstration “unlawful” and that it “threatened the safety of [UCLA’s] community.”

UC San Diego implemented a similar response to the demonstrators, and campus law enforcement was deployed to the encampment only days after it was erected. Deputies pepper sprayed into crowds of unarmed demonstrators, and police officers made 64 arrests in a single day.

Outside of the University of California system, other college campuses faced a similar response due to controversy surrounding the encampments. Amid public controversy, it became polarizing to be associated with the Palestinian liberation movement. While the events surrounding the encampments occurred in 2024, there have been recent developments in the United States regarding the pro-Palestine movement and student deportations.

Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and legal resident of the United States, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — notably, Khalil’s role was in negotiating on behalf

of student demands against Columbia’s active role in the ongoing IsraelPalestine conflict. The arrest comes after a recent Trump administration executive action, “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” and before a social media post wherein Trump referred to this arrest as deporting “terrorist sympathizers.”

Momodu Taal, a Cornell University student with a study visa, who was involved in pro-Palestine demonstrations, received visa revocation threats and potential deportation from the Trump administration.

With international students facing potential threats to their academic standing and access to education, many have expressed opposition to actions being taken by the current administration.

“I firmly believe that these [deportations] are a form of censorship,” Jordyn Reddic, a fourth-year animal science major, said. “These deportations are happening because they want to silence people who are able to see the wrongs of America today.”

These deportations reflect the ways in which similar tactics have been weaponized in the past and are now being used as tools, according to Reddic.

“Our parents and families have heard stories and have generational trauma that’s been passed down by these systems that have not been built to serve us,” Reddic said. “They have been built to serve white entities. It’s a gross misuse of power.”

Other students held similar views as well.

“It’s absurd that people have the power to do this systematically without due process,” Joanah Martin, a fourthyear design and cinema and digital media double major, said. “It’s so easy to get profiled in such situations to people that are undeserving of it.”

On March 25, masked ICE agents detained Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student, following a co-authored op-ed that included demands for the university to divest

from companies with ties to Israel and for an apology from Tufts’ President Sunil Kumar.

However, the legal systems in the U.S. recognize the infringement that these arrests pose. For example, Indira Talwani, a U.S. district court judge, ordered ICE to not remove Ozturk out of the state. “[Ozturk] shall not be moved outside the District of Massachusetts without first providing advance notice of the intended move,” Talwani said in an order.

However, Ozturk was transferred to an ICE detention center in Louisiana which has been reportedly exposed for “systemic human rights abuses against immigrants detained and disappeared,” according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union, among others.

“The reason why they’re doing these things is for intimidation,” Reddic said.

“They’re trying to make examples out of people so we stop protesting for Palestine’s freedom.”

Katie Trieu, a fourth-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, commented on the injustice that both graduate and undergraduate students are facing.

“They were forcibly detained and that’s kind of all I know, but it’s just crazy that it’s happening on college campuses,” Trieu said. “You would think they are protected by the institution, but they’re not. It makes me feel uneasy.

At the end of the day, they’re just trying to get their education.”

With the Trump administration’s ongoing actions surrounding students who have exercised their right to freedom of speech on college campuses, it remains an uncertain time for faculty, students and community members. The UC Davis Undocumented Student Resource Center offers support through legal counseling and policy updates to ensure students with diverse immigration statuses are well-informed.

Additionally, they offer mental health and wellness services and can be found at the Student Community Center.

Photos of ICE agents approaching a home in 2017.

(Creative Commons licenses / Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

JAILS works to support justiceimpacted law students at UC Davis

The student-created organization supports the well-being and academic success of members

JAILS’ recent therapy llamas event, held outside of the UC Davis School of Law. (Christopher Cortez / Courtesy)

BY EMME DUNNING features@theaggie.org Being justice-impacted — having a family member or friend involved in the criminal legal system — can be stigmatized in higher education. At UC Davis, Justice Affected and Impacted Law Students (JAILS), an organization at King Hall within UC Davis’ School of Law dedicated to supporting students who have been impacted by the criminal legal system, is working to change this narrative.

The club was founded in the spring of 2024 by law students Brenda Quintanilla and Dyanna Castañeda and has quickly grown into a thriving, tightknit community.

Castañeda has always known she wanted to be a lawyer. The third-year law student grew up loving to read, write and debate, and law school was a natural progression for the soon-to-be graduate. Additionally, her identity of being justice-impacted was a major part of her decision to attend law school.

“Being justice-impacted in a thirdparty sense was a huge reason for why I went [to law school] because I saw the need for it,” Castañeda said. “Once you’re here in law school, you bring such a different perspective than your peers whose parents and their parents’ parents have all been lawyers. They kind of see the world a bit more in black and white. I feel like I kind of bring the nuance to it.”

Despite this, upon coming to UC Davis, Castañeda found that these same circumstances that drove her to attend law school were not widely talked about.

“Once I actually got here, it felt so weird since I’m in such a minority,” Castañeda said. “It was so weird to talk about it. There was definitely a stigma surrounding it.”

Castañeda, who was a second-year law student at the time, connected with Quintanilla — a law student who has since graduated — and the two began to talk about their shared experiences of being justice-impacted.

Through their discussions and connecting with more of their peers, the pair began to realize just how many law students shared their background and started to brainstorm ways to establish a real community.

“We were like, okay, we’ve got this identity, but we don’t really have a place for it yet in the law school, even though it’s the reason why so many of us are here,” Castañeda said. “The second we

get here, it’s like a taboo. It’s hard to talk about. So what we wanted to do was create a space where we didn’t have to put up a front and where we could talk to other people who are going through the same thing and who could empathize with each other.”

The result of these efforts was the creation of JAILS, one of the first organizations of its kind working to support justice-impacted law students in their professional and personal lives.

Since its inception last spring, the organization has grown steadily, hosting picnics, fundraisers and even a bouquetmaking workshop. Most recently, the group held a therapy llama petting zoo event in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs to relieve stress as law students head into the middle of their tough semesters.

The event was spearheaded by Julia Martinez, a third-year law student and current co-chair of JAILS, who asserted that the organization has provided her with unique opportunities for connection with her peers.

“It’s a really unique community for us to have,” Martinez said. “I didn’t feel super comfortable talking about [being justice-impacted]. Being in law school, I feel like there’s not a lot of that. When I did get to law school, I felt a little out of place. JAILS has made me feel a lot more comfortable to have other people who have experiences in life like that.”

JAILS strongly emphasizes wellness and community building, a move that Emily Goll-Broyles, a second-year law student and JAILS representative, asserted was intentional.

“We’re not a group that’s trying to do advocacy or activism, but just a space for people to gather and be in community and feel less alone knowing they’re not the only person at the law school who faces these kinds of justice impacts,” Goll-Broyles said.

These sentiments were echoed by Castañeda, who reflected on the extra pressure justice-impacted individuals can feel to educate their peers on issues of incarceration simply because of their background.

“We were born into circumstances where we are expected to stand up and be very vocal about what we believe in because it’s affected us,” Castañeda said.

“This is us taking a bit of a privilege to sit back and be with each other and do fun things. It definitely is about just taking a breather and just trying to encourage as many people at the law school as we can to take back that identity.”

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Senior Send-Off: Nava Regev on making Davis home, preparing for law school and documenting the journey This spring, fourth-years reflect on their time at UC Davis and share their post-graduate plans

BY JALAN TEHRANIFAR features@theaggie.org Nava Regev, a fourth-year political science major, is graduating this spring.

Born in New York and raised in San Diego, Regev came to UC Davis as a first-year student and has called the campus — and her off-campus home — her own for the past four years.

“I’m really happy I came here,” Regev said. “I chose Davis because the campus is beautiful, and when I visited, everyone was so nice. I couldn’t do a formal tour because of COVID[-19], but my dad and I drove up [and] explored on our own, and I just had a feeling that this was the right place for me.”

Regev knew early on that she wanted to study political science, a passion that stemmed from hands-on experience during high school. She interned for Congressman Mike Levin and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, opportunities that exposed her to the real-world impact of government and public service.

“I did a lot of political internships

before college, and they made me realize this is what I want to do with my career,” Regev said. “Political science felt like the best way to build on that foundation and work toward my future goals. I wanted to understand not just how the government works but how I could be a part of making meaningful change in the world.”

Beyond academics, Regev found a deep sense of community at UC Davis. During her first two years, she was an active member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, where she held a leadership role as vice president of finance during her second year. Taking on this executive position at such an early stage in college gave her valuable experience in organization, teamwork and leadership — skills that she knows will benefit her in the legal field.

Outside of Greek life, she also built strong friendships that became the cornerstone of her college experience.

One of the most meaningful aspects of her time at Davis was her off-campus house, where she lived for three years after moving out of the dorms.

“My college house will always be special to me,” Regev said. “It’s where

I studied, laughed, grew up — it really became my home. I made so many memories there with my friends — the first thing that just popped into my head is the time [when] my roommate and I almost burned down our kitchen.

It’s the place that saw me through every stage of my college journey.”

Looking back, Regev said the best thing she got out of college was the friendships she made. While classes and internships helped her grow academically and professionally, it was the people she met along the way who made her time at UC Davis truly unforgettable. She knows that the friendships she formed here will last a lifetime, no matter where life takes her next.

“I’ve met people here that I know I’ll have in my life forever,” Regev said.

“College isn’t just about what you learn in the classroom — it’s about the relationships you build and the experiences you share. I feel really lucky to have found such amazing people who have supported me and shaped me into the person I am today.”

The most important lesson she learned, though, came from living on

her own and learning how to navigate adulthood without the constant presence of her parents. College was the first time she had full independence, and she embraced the challenge of managing her own responsibilities, making important decisions and figuring out how to balance work, school and her personal life.

“There’s so much growth that happens when you’re responsible for yourself,” Regev said. “College really teaches you how to be independent in a way that nothing else can. You realize that at the end of the day, you are the one in control of your future. It’s scary sometimes, but also really empowering.”

To undergraduate students, her biggest advice is to get involved and document the journey. She encourages new students to step outside of their comfort zones by joining clubs, making new connections and fully immersing themselves in college life. Regev also wishes she had taken more time to capture her experiences along the way.

“Join clubs — it’s the best way to make friends,” Regev said. “And make memories. Take pictures, write things down, start a scrapbook. I wish I had.

I’m lucky that one of my best friends is one of those people that film everything, and we can always watch our college memories back. When you leave, the memories are all you have. It’s so easy to get caught up in the stress of school, but the moments that really matter are the ones you’ll want to hold on to.

Also, say yes to new things, but also be intentional with your time.”

As she prepares for the next chapter, Regev is taking a gap year to study for the Law School Admission Test and gain legal work experience before applying to law school, which she hopes to attend somewhere close to home. She’s excited for the future but also knows that leaving Davis will be bittersweet.

“Law school has always been the goal, but I want to take my time and be intentional about it,” Regev said. “I’m excited for what’s next, but I’ll always be grateful for my time at Davis. This place shaped me in so many ways, and I know I’ll carry these experiences with me wherever I go. Your college years go by fast, and what you’ll remember most are the people, the laughter [and] the little traditions that become your routine.”

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

8 | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025

SCIENCE AND TECH Be there or be square: UC Davis builds future in Sacramento through Aggie Square

Be there or be square: UC Davis builds future in Sacramento through Aggie Square

BY NAREN KRISHNA JEGAN science@theaggie.org In 2017, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and UC Davis Chancellor Gary May established a vision to create an innovative hub where university researchers, students, industry partners, entrepreneurs and community members could collaborate side by side to accelerate interdisciplinary ideas and bring them to the world. This $1.15 billion investment, in collaboration with Wexford Science and Technology, resulted in the development of Aggie Square, the newest scientific addition to UC Davis.

Aggie Square is an urban development in Sacramento that offers all UC Davis students hands-on learning experiences, entrepreneurship programs and community engagement opportunities to help them develop critical career skills. As the embodiment of May’s vision, it fosters innovation, research expansion and strong community ties — expanding UC Davis’ regional, national and global impact.

Aggie Square’s state-of-the-art facilities have been designed to be flexible and accommodate students and researchers in a variety of fields. Some of the district’s first university tenants will come from the College of Engineering, the School of Veterinary Medicine and the School of Medicine. Continuing and Professional Education will also host classes for adult learners seeking to gain new skills for their careers. However, there are other opportunities — like Quarter at Aggie Square — for students from other disciplines to experience this space. Aggie Square is also open for student-led events, providing an active hub for connection and growth.

The Quarter at Aggie Square program started in the fall of 2020 with an initial cohort studying transformative justice studies during the pandemic. Within a short few years, the program has expanded to provide undergraduates many offerings such advancing healthcare equity, education in the African American community,

Interior of a building at Aggie Square. (Naren Jegan / Aggie) urban sociology and many more. The program provides unique experiences for undergraduates at UC Davis to immerse themselves in a topic of societal relevance through a combination of courses, field trips and experiential learning including internships, research and clinical rotations.

The combination of course-based learning and applied experiential components allows students to integrate theories with real-world practice and gain career-readiness skills for post- graduation endeavors.

The small class sizes allow professors to form a tight-knit community with their students. Oftentimes, students take more classes with each other or additional courses with the faculty in the program, allowing them to get letters of recommendation and access to additional opportunities. With equity as its focus, by design the program attracts students from diverse experiences and interdisciplinary backgrounds.

One of the key benefits of Quarter at Aggie Square is its financial accessibility for undergraduate students. There are no program fees or additional costs associated with the program, apart from potential transportation expenses to

SPORTS

The shift of Saint Francis University Athletics to Division 3 reflects larger trend in sports

Is the future of smaller college athletics at risk?

BY DIEGO CERNA sports@theaggie.org On March 25, 2025, Saint Francis University announced its decision to move from a Division 1 sports program to a Division 3 program beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year. Saint Francis student-athletes would receive a smaller amount of scholarships, as Division 3 programs only offer academic scholarships for student-athletes.

The announcement came as a shock to the Saint Francis community, especially since it involved the demotion of all 22 of Saint Francis University’s athletic programs. It came as even more of a surprise given that the Saint Francis men’s basketball team ended a 34-year drought of not reaching the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) March Madness tournament this season, which was seen as a step in the right direction for the entire athletics program.

Smaller college sports programs have seemed to struggle increasingly in the new landscape of collegiate athletics following COVID-19.

In January 2025, Sonoma State University announced its decision to cut all Division 2 programs in order to lessen its $24 million budget deficit. For Sonoma State fans and students, there was discontent as student-athletes were given no prior warning of this decision, prompting protests across the campus.

Other universities have made decisions to cut certain sports such as the swim team, including California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo, San Francisco State University and many more across the country. As financial pressure eliminates program after program, many smaller programs are struggling to keep up.

The emergence of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals has opened up more opportunities for college athletes to earn commercial profit with corporate companies in the media industry. NIL deals became legal in 2021, as rising discussions from the past decade had questioned whether universities excessively profited off of their students’ success and whether college athletes should receive any compensation.

The introduction of the transfer

portal and extended eligibility for student-athletes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced athletics. Additionally, athletic programs have continuously recruited based on NIL deals, which has drastically reduced smaller Division 1 and Division 2 sports programs from having any major influential power to recruit college talent.

College athletics have almost always been dominated by the “Power Four” conferences. These conferences include the Big 10, the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Big 12, which have controlled the recruitment of top players for a long period of time. With experience of longlasting success, they not only maintain a greater amount of resources than smaller universities to attract top talent, but they also gain more NIL funds to persuade student athletes.

Many universities end up selecting certain sports programs to cut instead of cutting the entire sports programs overall.

These programs include popular sports such as swimming and diving, tennis, golf and others. Sports such as basketball and football are usually prioritized, as they generate the most money and fans for universities.

This past summer, the NCAA agreed on a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement with five power conferences in order to compensate student-athletes while also providing more funding for programs.

This is an intended benefit for studentathletes, however, it also makes it harder for universities who do not choose to opt in to this antitrust settlement to retain talent and recruit players. With a seemingly continued shift toward larger programs with the most funding, the status of NCAA athletics still remains to be seen.

DARIXA VARELA MEDRANO/ AGGIE

and from internship sites. This ensures that the program remains equitable and accessible to all students, allowing them to focus on their academic and professional development. Moreover, with dedicated staff and programming designed to make the transition from Davis to the Sacramento campus seamless, students are able to fully immerse themselves in the experience without logistical stress.

In addition to the Quarter at Aggie Square, a novel master’s program in biomedical device engineering is being piloted to equip students with the skills to translate engineering concepts into scalable devices for the private sector.

The program features a three-quarter capstone project that tasks students with turning university research into prototypes aimed at improving clinical care. Students will work alongside clinicians to develop medical solutions that enhance patient outcomes and ensure the resulting devices can be commercialized at scale.

Moreover, Aggie Square offers a diverse range of experiences such as workshops, training and events through UC Davis and Wexford Science and Technology. For example, Venture

Catalyst, which will have a presence at Aggie Square, provides handson programs and resources to assist students — from any major — to turn research and technology into real-world solutions. It also supports student and alumni startups, helping them secure accelerator funding and venture capital through initiatives like the Smart Toolkit for Accelerated Research Translation (SMART) program and Biotech Innovation Gallery, as well as facilitating connections to venture capital firms.

Aggie Square is a short bus ride away from the Davis campus through the Causeway Connection, a free weekday bus service for university affiliates. The ground floor of 200 and 300 Aggie Square and the second floor of 300 Aggie Square, will be open to the public Monday through Friday and on Saturday mornings, beginning after the grand opening celebration on May 2.

Students, faculty, staff and community are welcome to enjoy the many indoor and outdoor seating options and free WiFi. Access to the university’s eduroam wireless network will also be available.

Aggie Square’s developer, Wexford Science and Technology, offers Connect

Labs to enable short-term leases in a 50,000-square-foot space featuring pre-built and furnished office, lab and support spaces designed for emerging innovators and entrepreneurs in digital, life science and health sectors.

ANOVA Aggie Square is a mixeduse residential building opening in spring 2025 on the UC Davis Sacramento campus, offering 190 apartment units (252 beds). UC Davis Student Housing manages 49 units for graduate and undergraduate students, prioritizing medical and nursing students, while GMH Communities leases the remaining 141 units, giving priority to UC Davis affiliates.

Amenities include a fitness center, study lounges, a game room and more. Rent for Student Housing units ranges from $1,138 to $1,510 per month, priced below the Sacramento market.

Beyond student opportunities, Aggie Square is invested in Sacramento’s growth. Through the Community Benefits Partnership Agreement (CBPA), UC Davis, the city of Sacramento and Wexford Science and Technology have committed over $50 million to affordable housing, local hiring, youth programming, community access to space and workforce development — ensuring lasting community impact for generations to come.

Forged from a vision to provide UC Davis students, researchers and faculty the opportunity to learn and apply skills through an interdisciplinary platform, Aggie Square is positioned to expand its footprint as the demand for occupancy at the district from university programs and majors, as well as private sector companies, grows.

UC Davis students, faculty and staff and community members will experience Aggie Square firsthand at the grand opening celebration on Friday, May 2. Open not just for UC Davis, but for the entire Sacramento region, anyone interested in attending is encouraged to RSVP for the event.

For more information on Aggie Square, visit their website.

CREDITS: Phil Wade, Mary Mumper, Matt Marcure

UC Davis basketball loses to UC San Diego in front of season-high crowd

The Aggies fell at home in their final game of the 2025 regular season

BY LUCIENNE BROOKER sports@theaggie.org

UC Davis men’s basketball wrapped up the regular season with an electric performance at the University Credit Union Center in front of over 4,000 fans. Despite the energy from the crowd and a strong showing by the team, it was not enough to propel the UC Davis Aggies to victory over the first-ranked UC San Diego Tritons.

This match also marked UC Davis’ return to national television, as it was their first nationally televised home game since 2016.

Stakes were lower than anticipated, with both teams already locked in on their conference playoff spots, but the Aggies were looking to put on a strong showing in front of a big audience.

Before the game tipped off, the Aggies honored five graduating fourth-years. T Y Johnson, a communications major, Pablo Tamba, a communications major and forward/wing, Leo DeBruhl, a sociology major and guard, Francesco

Borra, a fifth-year neurobiology, physiology and biology major and forward, and Lukas Prongos, a fourthyear managerial economics major and forward, were all recognized before the game for their contributions to UC Davis basketball.

After the ceremony, the Tritons took an early lead, going on an eightpoint run before UC Davis could find a response. However, the Aggies weren’t ready to let go of the fight that early and began to chip away at San Diego’s lead. They were able to cut the deficit to only two points with eight minutes left in the first half.

However, this narrow gap didn’t last for long. The Tritons again backed up their first-place ranking in the conference. Heading into halftime, they had extended their lead again, setting the score at 34-22.

Any hopes the Aggies had of a comeback in the second half were quickly dashed. The Tritons again went on a scoring run and pushed their lead to 18 by scoring the majority of the first points in the second half.

Although the Aggies never gave up — spurred on by the passionate

and noisy crowd— they were never able to overcome the lead built by the Tritons. Their best chance came with three minutes left in the game, where they were able to string together a six-point scoring spree, cutting the lead to six points. Despite this last surge of effort, they were unable to fully close the gap, and the Tritons took a comfortable 68-57 victory.

While this wasn’t how UC Davis aimed for this monumental game to go, there were plenty of bright spots. DeBruhl scored a career-high 19 points in his lastever game at the University Credit Union Center. Tamba also scored in the double digits, with 13 points.

Finally, although the Aggies were outscored, their defense had a night to remember. This was only the second time this season that UC San Diego was held to less than 70 points.

The Aggies finished out the season with a strong record, placing sixth in the Big West standings overall. The team will now enjoy some time off before they gear up for another season at the end of fall 2025.

The men’s basketball team lost their home game against UC San Diego at the University Credit Union Center.

(Aggie File)

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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.

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Let it remind you of all the places you’ve been and people you’ve met, and let it inspire where you’re headed.

JAILS FROM PAGE 7

NOSTALGIAINMEDIA FROM PAGE 6 Furthermore, media like Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” also encouraged

viewers to reminisce about the carefree days when playing with dolls was simple fun while making people realize how those memories now carry a deeper meaning. In this case, “Barbie” reflected the societal expectations that are placed on women. As we look back at the simpler times of childhood, we’re also

confronted with the reality of how far we’ve come — and how much we’ve had to endure along the way.

So, whether it’s rewatching “Space Jam” or “Tom and Jerry,” slipping into clothes and styles from the 2000s or simply revisiting old memories, embrace the nostalgia. Go ahead, be nostalgic;

In addition to providing important wellness resources and social opportunities for their members, JAILS also has a major goal of giving nonjustice-impacted criminal law students a more comprehensive insight into their future field through informal discussion and connection.

“If there are people who are going into criminal law and don’t have our background, they might not have that natural sympathy for people that they’re representing or prosecuting,” Castañeda said. “We wanted to humanize the criminal law realm in that way.”

As many members gear up to graduate and continue into their law careers, many have asserted the importance of JAILS to their postgraduate success, despite many not planning to go into criminal law specifically.

Goll-Broyles commented on the lasting impact that she feels JAILS

will have on her future career, as well as the careers of students from similar backgrounds to her own.

“JAILS has shown me that there [are] a lot of different ways to show up as somebody who’s justice-impacted,” Goll-Broyles said. “All of us are going into very different areas of the law. It’s nice to know that any sector of the law that I might explore in the future has somebody who’s in community with me.”

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Saturday at the Patio: Cloud Forest Cafe unveils 10-week outdoor music series

Davis students and community members can hear blues, folk, rock and jazz music at the café’s patio downtown

BY RACHEL GAUER features@theaggie.org As the temperature climbs and daylight remains increasingly present into the evenings, students and community members may find themselves searching for an activity to make the most of the spring nights.

On April 5, Downtown Davis’ Cloud Forest Cafe commenced their 10-week long music series titled “Saturday at the Patio,” which provides free outdoor music shows to the public.

The event’s spring season consists of 10 performances that take place at the café’s outdoor patio from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday evenings. Ranging from blues to Latin rock, the events provide the community with a unique musical experience in the heart of downtown.

TH Fang, the owner of Cloud Forest Cafe, hosts two Saturday at the Patio seasons — a spring season that runs from April to June and a fall season that runs from mid-September to midNovember. The events provide artists with a spot to showcase their music throughout 20 different shows during the year.

Fang explained that he first introduced live music to the café’s premises for informal shows by a UC Davis student.

“About six years ago, there was a student who came to me and said that they were looking for a place to play their music,” Fang said. “I looked into the situation and realized that there were not that many places that [provided] young musicians a place to play, so I let them play here.”

Once the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to close or operate in outdoor-only spaces, Fang realized that the café’s patio space could provide not only the artists with a locale to share their music, but the community with a pandemic-friendly gathering space.

“Around the pandemic, it really became an issue, because no place was open and musicians had no place to play,” Fang said. “I thought that I could provide some opportunity for them to play — so I opened the patio and because [it’s] outdoors, we could do that. I thought, ‘Maybe I should operate not only for the musicians, but also for the community.’’’

Now in their fourth season of structured programs, Cloud Forest Cafe aims to showcase local bands who primarily play jazz, blues, folk or rock music. Among this season’s performers are Nacho and the Dollar Menu, a Latin and Cumbia rock band, on May 10 and a UC Davis student jazz group on May 17.

The first show that kicked off the season was a performance by Julie and the Jukes, an electric blues band that features two UC Davis professors. The band is composed of Charles Oriel, a professor of Spanish, and his wife, Julia Simon, a professor of French — as well as their two local bandmates, Bill Mulvihill and Dave Gill.

The couple has played in various bands for about 25 years, including their duo act Chicken & Dumpling.

Oriel commented on the effect of his and Simon’s longtime connection on their music.

“We’ve known each other for a long time, and we’ve been playing together

for a long time,” Oriel said. “We know each other’s moves very well, and it creates a real chemistry in the band.”

Oriel and Simon have performed on Saturday at the Patio events two times prior, after Fang personally asked Oriel if his group would play at the café. Oriel noted that the central location of Cloud Forest allows their Davis colleagues, students and friends to more easily access their shows.

“It’s really nice when people we know here in Davis can come out and see us,” Oriel said. “A lot of times we are playing in places that may not be accessible to the students or are a little bit of a distance away from Davis or Sacramento, so playing in Davis is great since people that we know can come out and see us.”

Simon added that she particularly enjoys the accessibility of the events for her students at UC Davis.

“I love it when students come by, I really love that,” Simon said. “I am teaching Intro to African American Music [MUS 028] right now and I also teach classes on the blues. We see colleagues and friends, but I especially love it when students come out.”

Simon emphasized that the events are also beneficial for student accessibility due to the lack of age restrictions to enter — whereas other music venues often tend to be 21-plus events, Cloud Forest’s are fully open and free to the public.

“He’s got a lovely patio space out there on D Street, and people can come by and bring chairs and sit,” Simon said. “It’s really fun — people walk downtown and hear us and can stop for the whole time or just pass by.”

As the performances have grown in popularity, the Saturday at the Patio events have progressed from simply a place to hear music to a more structured event with a formal schedule and lineup.

Because of this change, Fang expressed that the process of choosing artists has become more selective as artists become aware of the opportunity.

Regardless, Fang highly encourages local and student bands to apply to perform for the fall season.

“They can send a music clip to my email, cloudforestcafe@icloud.com,” Fang said. “I will review it and respond back to them to let them know for the next season.”

For a complete list of shows for the spring 2025 season of Saturday at the Patio, visit Cloud Forest Cafe’s Instagram or Facebook page.

Local band Julie and the Jukes, featuring two UC Davis professors, performing at the first Saturday at the Patio event of spring. (Rachel Gauer / Courtesy)

TURNINGPOINTUSA FROM FRONT COVER “I would never ever, ever touch anybody physically for any reason unless they were stealing my property and it was only to get my property back.”

While there was an existing police presence during the initial confrontation, Tatum told The Aggie that event organizers had called the police after their tent had been stolen.

A small contingent of approximately 15 officers in riot gear was present for the remainder of the event, though they did not interfere in the altercation between Bourne and a student.

A university spokesperson acknowledged to The Aggie that an attendee, Bourne, was hit but made no note of an altercation between Tatum and a protester or Bourne attempting to restrain a student.

“The university makes every effort to ensure that events on campus are safe,” the spokesman said in a statement. “Student Affairs coordinated with Turning Point USA at UC Davis, Safety Services and other campus departments to create a safety plan for the event. The campus is reviewing its preparations for this event. UC Davis condemns all forms of violence. The university affirms and supports the right of our students to invite speakers to our campus, to express their views, and to peacefully protest speakers whose views they find upsetting or offensive.”

The spokesperson confirmed that while UC Davis police were investigating the incident against Bourne, no arrests had been made as of late Thursday.

In a separate statement announcing the independent investigation, May condemned the violence and said that the university would continue to support free expression.

“What happened was appalling and completely unacceptable,” May said. “There is zero tolerance for violence on our campuses — zero.

Those who were attacked did nothing but express themselves, in a nonviolent manner. They were peacefully expressing their views — as is their right — and they should be able to do so without fear, intimidation or violence. We are firmly committed to supporting free expression and open dialogue on our campus. That commitment does not — and will never — extend to acts of violence or intimidation.”

Nick Mollat, a third-year

anthropology major who observed the demonstration, commented on the protest.

“Honestly, with the way this country is going, I respect people’s rights to the First Amendment and free speech,” Mollat said. “But, when that speech has been harmful to other groups and other minorities, I don’t think it’s fair. I think if they wanna preach what they wanna preach that’s fine, but they better expect bitches like us back.”

Despite the commotion, Tatum continued to one-on-one debate with students, while members of his production staff recorded.

The remainder of the event occurred without incident, though a large crowd continued to watch and jeer at Bourne. By 2:30 p.m., TPUSA organizers had packed up their equipment and the remaining observers had largely dissolved.

Vince Basada contributed reporting to this piece.

LSAPRINT FROM FRONT COVER Sulur said that the LSA had been expecting repercussions for the constitutional amendment due to university and law school administrations statements, but the LSA had yet to actually implement the legislation. Due to internal conflict, implementation of the boycott had been delayed until after spring break.

Sulur also said that in a meeting with the senior assistant dean of student affairs, LSA representatives were denied the ability to appeal the decision. They were also denied a request for a formal hearing as to why the LSA was being suspended.

The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) chapter at UC Davis, of which Sulur is a member, released a statement on March 28 regarding UC Davis’ suspension.

“This suspension strips LSA of their governing status,” the statement reads.

“Yet the administration still expects LSA board members to distribute funds, plan student events, spend thousands of their personal funds and support student organizations, continuing to provide students’ free labor to the administration without the power to control our own student funds or implement the BDS policy.”

The LSA’s funds primarily went to student organizations to pay for events such as speakers, career fairs and culture weeks. Faculty appointment

representatives, policy representatives and graduate student representatives were also part of the LSA, though the future roles of these events and positions are uncertain.

Students at King Hall will continue to pay fees for student activities, which are $30 a semester and amount to some $36,000 this year.

“Rather than support students in implementing a democratically-passed amendment to our government’s bylaws dictating how we want our fees to be used, the administration has assumed control over our funds without providing any avenue for students to opt out of the fees,” the NLG statement reads. “This extreme response by the law school administration and Chancellor Gary May is a clear message to students that freedom of speech does not include speech supporting Palestine, which is instead actively targeted for retaliation.”

The university maintains that the decision to suspend the LSA is not an infringement of students’ free speech.

“While student governments have the right to address and take positions on public issues as long as the statement does not purport to represent the views of the University, the Resolution goes beyond this by restricting University funds based on viewpoint,” a university frequently asked questions statement on the issue reads. “The University is committed to ensuring that all students may exercise their constitutionally protected rights of free expression, even in instances in which the positions expressed may be viewed by some as controversial or unpopular.”

Sulur provided his stance on the matter.

“This [suspension] is a clear continuation of King Hall’s and Gary May’s silencing of Palestinian speech and ignoring harassment,” Sulur said.

“We’re asking that King Hall and the chancellor allow us to implement our constitutional amendment that we democratically and constitutionally passed to have a say where our fees are spent — that’s more aligned with the namesake of our school, [Martin Luther King Jr.].”

Some 100 protestors gathered outside Mrak Hall, which houses the offices of many university administrators, to protest the LSA’s suspension on April 2. They called for May and Berg to resign from their positions, among other demands.

“We stand in solidarity with students across the country who’ve been made to feel unsafe,” Randy

Davis Odd Fellows hosts Classic Film Festival

The local organization’s biannual festival continues with screenings of Doris Day films

The Odd Fellows building in Downtown Davis. (Andrew Huang / Aggie)

BY GIA LOOMIS city@theaggie.org This spring, the Davis Odd Fellows have resumed their bi-annual Classic Film Festival in Downtown Davis.

The festival spans three Sundays and returned on March 30 with a showing of “Pillow Talk (1959).” Each week, the festival will screen a different classic film, all within the featured genre this year: Doris Day films.

The Odd Fellows’ Classic Film Festivals began in 2014, making this the 11th year of classic film screenings.

Back then, the idea behind starting these film showings came alongside an upgrade to the Odd Fellows’ projection system. Dave Rosenberg, a Davis Odd Fellow and previous chair of the classic film committee, shared his inspiration for beginning the film festival.

“I come up with a lot of ideas that are fun and contribute to the community,” Rosenberg said. “I personally have always enjoyed classic films, so when we installed projection systems in the lodge around 12 years ago, it occurred to me that we should utilize them. Now we do through the classic film festival.”

Since its start, the film festival has featured a pre-movie presentation, the screening and a post-movie Q&A. These festivals have featured numerous genres, actors and more, including classic westerns, film noirs and science fiction.

As long as the movie was released over 50 years ago, it’s fair game to be screened.

This festival, the Odd Fellows decided to keep the movie genre more lighthearted. The classic film committee kept it cheery by featuring old romantic comedy star Doris Day. Rosenberg shared the committee’s inspiration for the lighter theme this season.

“The United States is in turmoil,” Rosenberg said. “So we thought, let’s do something really lighthearted, so we decided on some of these old romantic comedies featuring Doris Day. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and while they are dated in many ways, they’re still fun.”

Regardless of the year’s theme or movies, the film festival aims to not only screen movies but also to help attendees learn and understand more about classic films. To achieve this, the Odd Fellows collaborates with The Davis Enterprise film critic Derrick Bang to help choose

Bucky, a third-year law student at King Hall and protestor, said to The California Aggie. “We stand in solidarity with students who’ve been punished for expressing their free speech, particularly for expressing solidarity with Palestine, and we speak out now because the moment demands it.”

The university’s decision has also garnered negative reactions from some King Hall alumni, including a letter sent to the law school administration and May signed by over one hundred former UC Davis Law students on March 31.

“We, the undersigned King Hall alumni, are hereby withdrawing all

and share more information about the movies.

“I have lived and breathed movies since I was old enough to understand what I was watching,” Bang said. “It’s my job to explain why we picked [the movie and] find hidden treasures.”

With his extensive film critic background, Bang presents a preview before the movie to explain why it was chosen and provide some context.

Following the film, he helps host the Q&A with the audience to answer any questions they may have about the movie. This intends to not just provide information on the movie but also create a forum for film criticism, which Bang explained as part of his goal in these film presentations.

“A lot of movies get made every year, and a lot of good ones slip through the cracks,” Bang said. “Today, movies aren’t rescreened as they were in the 1970s to 1980s, and streaming services today are like an information dump. Film criticism is becoming an endangered species. I’m trying to keep this end of it alive in Davis.”

Bang is not the only one fighting for in-person movie screenings to stay alive in an age of streaming services. Younger audiences, like UC Davis students, are expressing their sentiment for keeping classic film events like the Odd Fellows’ film festival alive.

Alex Murdock, a first-year cinema and digital media major, expressed the importance of keeping screenings alive.

“It’s all about the tradition of delivering a full experience, isn’t it?”

Murdock said. “I think no matter if it’s a classic film at the film festival or a modern film, there’s always the aspect of stepping through the theater doors, watching the lights dim and anticipation [building] for the movie’s opening. Everyone should have the chance to experience a movie in person like the good old days.”

The Odd Fellows’ Classic Film Festival will continue throughout April with “That Touch of Mink (1962)” having screened on April 6, followed by “The Thrill of It All (1963)” set for April 13. The event hosts free admission and free popcorn with doors opening at 6:29 p.m. and the movie beginning at 7:01 p.m. each week. Visit the Davis Odd Fellows’ website for more information.

material support from King Hall until the LSA is reinstated with full funding and allowed to enact its own democratically passed measures,” the letter reads.

The regional chapter of Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), in a press-conference with NLG held outside King Hall on April 7, also affirmed support for the LSA. “Silence in the face of injustice is complicity,” Reshad Noorzay, the executive director of the Sacramento Valley/Central California CAIR office, said.

As of time of publication, the future of the LSA and its responsibilities remain uncertain.

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