April 22, 2021

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VOLUME 139, ISSUE 23 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

LOCAL VACCINE SUPPLIES INCREASE AS VACCINE ELIGIBILITY EXPANDS TO PEOPLE 16 AND OLDER

Yolo County official explains that the pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccines has not severely impacted the vaccine schedule

BY SHRADDHA JHINGAN city@theaggie.org In a press release published on March 31, Yolo County announced that those aged 50 and older became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting on April 1 and those 16 and over starting on April 15.

At the time of publication, the press release explained that “supply of the COVID-19 vaccine is still extremely limited and the newly eligible population is large. As a result, not all eligible residents will be able to immediately schedule an appointment or get vaccinated.”

Yolo County Public Information Officer Jenny Tan said that since its publication, however, supply has increased.

“We have seen a slight increase in the vaccine doses we’ve gotten from the state of California, so we definitely want people to know that we do have doses available, that if they are eligible that they should absolutely get the vaccine,” Tan said.

Even with the number of vaccinations increasing, some parts of the country have experienced a rise in cases, particularly among young adults who have not been vaccinated yet.

Tan stated that in Yolo County, however, cases

have been “steady.”

From March 30 to April 5, the test positivity rate was 0.6% in Yolo County, according to the Yolo County COVID-19 dashboard. However, Tan explained that the metrics for transitioning to the yellow tier have yet to be satisfied.

“We have noticed that in terms of moving tiers, we’re still in the orange tier—we haven’t

quite hit the yellow tier metrics yet,” Tan said. “So our numbers have not gotten better by a whole lot over the last couple of weeks, even though I think they’re pretty good for what they are.”

Davis City Councilmember Dan Carson explained via email some factors that have contributed to the steady case numbers in Davis and Yolo County.

MARIO RODRIGUES / AGGIE

“I think the strong local commitment by a large share of our populace in partnership with UC Davis to our Healthy Davis Together has made a huge difference in reducing the spread of coronavirus and holding down the human toll of sickness and death,” Carson said via email.

Carson further explained that the large-scale local testing operations have reduced the number of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 who are unaware of being infected.

“Our regular and quick testing of persons for the virus on and off campus allowed us to identify more than 1,000 persons who were asymptomatic carriers,” Carson said via email.

“That allowed us to work effectively to prevent thousands more from becoming infected. This is a victory for classic public health strategies and innovative new methods to adapt them in this deadly pandemic.”

Tan emphasized that despite the rise in vaccinations, it is still important for people to not let their guard down and continue adhering to social distancing guidelines—particularly due to new variants.

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UC DAVIS PART OF NATIONWIDE CYBERATTACK As federal law enforcement conducts an investigation, many details of the Accellion data breach— which resulted in stolen personal information of a range of UC affiliates including students, their families, faculty and staff—remain unclear

BY REBECCA GARDNER campus@theaggie.org The UC was affected by a nationwide cyberattack that impacted 300 other organizations, including other university systems such as the University of Colorado system. The University of California Office of the President (UCOP) was utilizing Accellion’s File Transfer Appliance (FTA), and hackers exploited vulnerabilities in

this product to seek financial gain.

The personal information that hackers may have obtained include names, birthdates, addresses, Social Security numbers, credit card and bank account information. Federal law enforcement is investigating to determine who was affected, and the UC will notify these individuals once they have been identified.

The attackers sent emails to those who had their information stolen and others who may not

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have been compromised, threatening to release the stolen information to the dark web. Some stolen information has been published online, according to the UC. UC Davis IT prevented phishing emails containing threats to release personal information from reaching UC Davis email account inboxes, according to Vice Provost and Chief Information Officer Viji Murali.

“We did receive a few emails threatening our users,” Murali said in an email. “We immediately prevented those phishing emails from being delivered to your inboxes so users would not click on the links by mistake and get hacked.”

The UC Davis administration stressed that UCOP, not UC Davis, utilized the Accellion software which resulted in the data breach.

Chancellor Gary May emphasized that the Davis campus’ systems have been secure.

“I do want to make one thing clear: UC Davis systems were not breached,” May said via email. “The data that was stolen was from UCOP systems and affected UC campuses to varying degrees.”

Murali echoed May’s sentiment, explaining that affiliates’ personal information was stolen from UCOP systems and asserting that UC Davis systems played no role in the breach.

“As Chancellor May indicated, we were not attacked,” Murali said via email. “We are working closely with UCOP to understand the incident and to follow the recommendations provided to us on how to secure our campuses. We also have

multiple tools and applications in place to assist us.”

Murali recommended that all students, faculty and staff take unilateral security measures including theft protection and resetting passwords. Murali extended this recommendation to students’ families, whose personal information could be compromised as well, according to UCnet. UCOP paid for all faculty, staff and students to get Experian IdentityWorks, according to Murali.

“Students, faculty and staff should use multifactor authentication (DUO), change their passwords often and use unique passwords for all of their accounts and applications,” Murali said via email. “This is especially true for your bank accounts and credit card websites. You should also sign up for Experian based on the link provided by UCOP to protect your identity. This is especially important now.”

Ashley Bilbrey, a first-year computer science student and member of the UC Davis cybersecurity club, experienced her second data breach as a result of Accellion’s FTA, despite taking extra precautions against cyberattacks.

“This is also not the first time I’ve had my data breached from this specific vulnerability,” Bilbrey said. “I used to work at Kroger, and they also used this product.”

Bilbrey said she fears identity theft and follows the best cybersecurity practices possible to protect herself against cyber attackers.

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PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR STUDENT PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OFFERED THROUGH NEW ‘VIRTUAL HUB’ The Transfer and Reentry Center has partnered with the Women’s Resources and Research Center to provide priority registration for students who are parents or primary caregivers to adults

BY KATHLEEN QUINN campus@theaggie.org Students who provide primary care for their children or are pregnant, as well as students who are primary caregivers of adults, are now eligible for priority registration through the Transfer and Reentry Center’s partnership with the Women’s Resources and Research Center.

“It was a natural partnership and, goodness, it’s been a really wonderful collaboration,” said Marissa Weiss, a transfer retention specialist.

The application, which is offered yearly, is available through the Transfer and Reentry Center’s webpage.

Those who become pregnant or are in the process of adopting or fostering a child while at the university are encouraged to reach out to Weiss.

As part of the push to create more awareness and opportunities for student parents and caregivers, the university has launched a new webpage dedicated to pooling resources throughout the university.

“We don’t have a Student Parent Resource Center like Berkeley, who has a robust one. We would love to have one,” Weiss said. “When we launched the student parent website, it says on there it’s a virtual hub because it’s almost like a virtual student parent center.”

Juliene Obusan, a fourth-year global disease

biology major, said she had to take time off from her undergraduate career at UC Davis‚ which she started in 2014, to care for her two children.

“My advisor knew about me being a student parent because I’ve mentioned it a couple of times, and I had to withdraw from school because I got pregnant with my second baby,” Obusan said. “I never heard of any accommodations for student parents through my advisor.”

Weiss said she has had difficulty identifying student parents unless they claimed a dependent on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), information to which the institution has limited access, or unless they identified themselves as a single parent in their admissions questions.

“We had to get some background information on the parents which is hard because student parents aren’t really tracked in a consistent manner,” Weiss said. “It’s not unique to UC Davis. It’s really a national issue.”

Weiss said caregivers are even harder to track because they don’t know what types of questions could be asked.

Eric Hanaway, a third-year astrophysics major and caregiver, said he was unaware of the priority registration option until recently. He said he only found about it when The California Aggie called for a request for comment by student parents and caregivers on this development.

Weiss said she hopes more awareness about

the new program will help students.

Among the resources offered to student parents, the Women’s Resources and Research Center offers its “Student Parent Closet” program, providing free diapers and other

supplies to student parents, though the pandemic has limited the availability of those resources.

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KATHERINE HUNG / AGGIE

2 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

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YOLO COUNTY PAUSES INITIATIVE DISTRIBUTING JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINES TO POPULATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS NOT CURRENTLY HOUSED IN THE AREA Officials explain that the pause is a minor setback as individuals are given Pfizer or Moderna instead

BY ELLIE LEE elelee@theaggie.org Prior to April 13, when Yolo County reported that it was pausing the distribution of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines, it had been directing the J&J vaccines toward populations of individuals who are not currently housed in the area, including those experiencing homelessness, people who are homebound and agricultural workers.

Fourth & Hope is a Woodland organization that provides resources to individuals experiencing homelessness. Amara Pickens, its chief operations officer, said that the homeless facility is working with the county to set up an event to vaccinate its clients. As a part of this process, Fourth & Hope is providing COVID-19 tests to clients every Tuesday and is following COVID-19 protocols.

“There were initially three vaccinated [individuals]—we have 54 clients at the moment,” Pickens said. “We’ve had another eight express an interest in signing up to get vaccinated. The County has reached out to us; we are planning a vaccination event for all of those that are interested in receiving the vaccine.”

Fourth & Hope staff can sign clients up through the normal process by facilitating appointments and assisting them with transportation, according to Pickens.

Pickens explained that the single-dose vaccine can be more convenient for individuals who are often moving from place to place.

“With our population being transient, there is a benefit potentially to a single-dose vaccine rather than a double dose,” Pickens said.

As of April 13, the J&J single-shot vaccine is no longer available, but individuals who are not currently housed in the area and other hard-toreach populations will still be able to receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, according to Yolo County District Four Supervisor Jim Provenza.

Provenza explained that sometimes these individuals do not come back for a second shot, so the county will prioritize outreach to ensure individuals receive both doses.

“We’ll just have to double our efforts to make sure they come in the second time that we have

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the vaccines,” Provenza said. “We’re going to continue to prioritize homeless and other hardto-reach populations; that’s a major priority right now.”

Yolo County Public Information Officer Jenny Tan highlighted that the County has always considered populations of individuals not currently housed in the area in its vaccination plans, rather than just the people who can drive to attend an event.

“We’re really thinking about equity, thinking about everyone in our community, not just those that can come to an event,” Tan said via email.

Since the J&J shots were put on hold, any J&J in the vaccine schedule (including those for individuals not currently housed in the area) will be replaced with either Pfizer or Moderna.

Although J&J is paused, Tan explained that it

will not drastically impact Yolo County’s vaccine timeline.

“We only received about 795 J&J doses for this week,” Tan said via email. “What it does mean is that there is more work on the back end as we’ll need to do second dose appointments/ clinics.”

Provenza explained that although the County is receiving increasing amounts of the vaccinations, the exact number varies each week.

Provenza described how Yolo County plans to ensure that hard-to-reach populations are not left out of the vaccination plans.

“We’re going to make a special effort to get to the homeless people, continue with the farm worker population, continue with people who live in areas where they don’t have access to the internet, help people sign up,” Provenza said.

Tan encouraged people to continue signing up for vaccines following the blood-clotting cases. The J&J shot is a viral vector vaccine, which has been rigorously studied to be safe and effective. The viral vector technology has also been used in Ebola outbreaks and for molecular biology research.

“Vaccines, including J&J, have been shown to be overwhelmingly safe and effective at preventing COVID-19,” Tan said via email.

Provenza explained that although the risks for the J&J vaccine are very low, he believes that pausing its distribution was warranted.

“It’s very unlikely that there’s going to be serious problems with anyone in our county,” Provenza said. “But having said that, it makes sense to pause.”

EMPOWER YOLO HOSTS VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, according to experts CHRISTINA LIU / AGGIE

BY JELENA LAPUZ city@theaggie.org Disclaimer: This article discusses content that may be sensitive to some readers, including domestic violence and sexual assault.

Empower Yolo hosted a virtual walk and run fundraising event from April 3-11. The proceeds benefited the organization, which focuses on supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Director of the UC Davis Center for Advocacy, Resources and Education Sarah Meredith explained via email that domestic violence and sexual assault have continued to occur throughout the pandemic.

“Intimate partner violence and sexual assault has continued to affect our UC Davis community throughout the pandemic,” Meredith said via email. “Survivors continue to face many of the

same challenges they faced pre-COVID, along with additional challenges unique to this period of time.”

My Sister’s House is a Sacramento-based organization that supports women and children of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who are impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault.

Executive Director Nilda Valmores described the organization’s goals.

“All our work is about preventing and intervening in issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking,” Valmores said.

“Our whole vision from our board members to our staff, to our volunteers, to our clients—we recognize the importance of trying to end and prevent gender violence from occurring.”

Valmores noted that domestic violence and sexual assault affect people of all backgrounds.

“Domestic violence and sexual assault affect people of all ages, of all education levels, of all religions, of all colors,” Valmores said. “People should get the help that they need. Otherwise,

the problems get even bigger.”

Director of clinical programs at Empower Yolo Amy Groven explained via email that the therapy department at Empower Yolo has recently been receiving an influx of clients seeking therapy regarding domestic violence.

“We are not out of the woods yet; most people realize this and are still under immense stress,” Groven said via email. “Wherever there is stress, uncertainty and pressure, there is a risk for violence.”

Celina Alveraz, the associate director at Empower Yolo, explained via email that domestic violence is also about power and control.

“Although stress, uncertainty and pressure are some risk factors or triggers for violence, domestic violence isn’t only caused by stress,” Alveraz said via email. “Domestic violence is about power and control, and as long as we continue to live in a society that oppresses individuals, those who lack power and control will continue to be at a risk for domestic violence.”

Natalia Baltazar, the director of development and community relations at Empower Yolo, explained via email that survivors still need resources and support after escaping from dangerous situations.

“We would like the community to always be mindful of survivors and not forget about them just because it may not seem to be a forefront issue as much anymore,” Baltazar said via email.

“Domestic violence is always happening and is always an issue, and we need to always remember to be there for survivors and their families during those difficult times during the pandemic and moving forward.”

Groven noted the increase in uncertainty as a result of the pandemic, which further negatively impacts people experiencing domestic violence.

“Though the state is easing up on restrictions, people are still struggling with the stress of the pandemic and being out of work,” Groven said via email. “Many clients are fearful that they will get a job and a COVID spike will happen and they will be back at square one.”

Meredith emphasized the importance of dismantling oppressive systems as a whole in order to help combat domestic violence.

“Gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence and sexual assault, is sustained in a community where racism, sexism, cis-sexism, xenophobia and other forms of oppression are allowed to exist,” Meredith said via email. “If folks want to end gender-based violence, they need to be thinking about how to dismantle these oppressive systems.”

Valmores offered a word of advice to anyone experiencing a situation of domestic violence or sexual assault.

“Be brave and get the help—find someone who’s professionally trained to deal with the issue,” Valmores said. “These issues are very complex, and it’s hard for others who aren’t trained. There are resources available to assist folks. They should access those resources.”

Valmores left a final note regarding the importance of discussing difficult issues such as domestic violence and sexual assault.

“It’s uncomfortable to have these discussions, but it’s important to have these discussions so that people can address the issues and the trauma that have occurred in their lives,” Valmores said.

For those who may be experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault, resources such as Empower Yolo’s crisis line at 530-662-1133, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or WEAVE’s support line at 916-920-2952 are all available 24/7.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021 | 3

CHANCELLOR GARY MAY COMMENTS ON POLICE KILLING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT, AN UNARMED BLACK MAN, IN MIDST OF DEREK CHAUVIN MURDER TRIAL Student Health and Counseling Services refers to racial trauma resources and partnerships with campus retention centers to gauge students’ needs

North Hall at UC Davis where Student Counseling Service is located. (Quinn Spooner / Aggie)

BY REBECCA BIHN-WALLACE campus@theaggie.org In the wake of the police shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, an unarmed Black man, in a Minneapolis suburb earlier this week, UC Davis officials and spokespeople for Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) spoke about racial trauma and mental health resources available at UC Davis.

The police officer who fatally shot Wright has since been charged with manslaughter, having allegedly mistaken her service weapon for a taser gun she planned to use on Wright during a traffic stop.

Wright’s death has sparked protests demanding racial justice and police accountability in Minneapolis, MN, which is also the site of the high-profile murder trial for former police officer Derek Chauvin who instigated worldwide protests last year.

“As a Black man in America, I often feel like Schrödinger’s cat: I exist in an uncertain state that can be simultaneously considered both alive and dead, subject only to a potential random interaction with an incompetent/fallible/malicious law enforcement officer that may or may not occur,” Chancellor Gary May wrote in an April 13 letter to the UC Davis community. “It’s exhausting.”

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP) also released a statement condemning this week’s events in

Minneapolis and highlighting its re-examination of police reform on college campuses in recent months.

“Even as Americans follow the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, this latest horror vividly conjures the trauma and heartbreak of the killing of George Floyd just a few miles away,” UC President Michael Drake wrote in the UCOP statement. “And so many, too many, others.”

May wrote an email to The California Aggie about resources available to students struggling with these events. These resources include accessing information about racial trauma and anti-racism on the university website or making an appointment with SHCS. Students with UC SHIP insurance can also make an appointment through Live Health Online, which offers no-cost video counseling appointments.

“In times like this, it’s easy to feel scared, hurt, frustrated, angry or exhausted,” May said. “Many of us felt those emotions last month with hate crimes on the rise against the Asian Pacific Islander community. We felt them last summer when George Floyd was killed and many times before that.”

Dr. Michelle Burt, the director of multicultural resources and a counselor at SHCS, said in an email that students’ reactions are valid.

“It is important to remember that there is no one right way to react,” Burt said. “Some students may want self-help resources.

Others may want to be in community with friends and family and others with shared identities or allies, and still others may seek more formal types of mental health support.”

Other resources listed on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website include student-focused cultural centers on campus, local organizations, reports on police accountability, academic articles about racism, social justice links from different organizations and news articles.

According to Burt, the Community Advising Network (CAN) at SHCS consists of counselors who connect with campus coordinators about the current needs of students.

Campus centers are seeking to gauge what kinds of support students may need amid the current wave of protests against police brutality.

“With the Chauvin trial and recent shooting of Daunte Wright, CAN counselors are collaborating with student retention initiatives and student resource center staff to determine any additional ways to support students,” Burt said. “As these spaces and resources are confirmed, information will be sent out through our partner units.”

SENATE BILL #70 PASSED AT APRIL 8 ASUCD SENATE MEETING The ASUCD senators voted to support Fair Trade and environmentally sustainable products on campus and in the Davis community

BY MADDIE DULEY campus@theaggie.org The April 8 ASUCD senate meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. by Internal Vice President Emily Barneond.

Controller Alexis Lopez-Perez was late.

Sarah Theubet, the chair of the Disability Rights Advisory Committee (DRAC), presented the respective nominations for DRAC. The nominees included Stephanie Loera, Sydney Wren, Kris Matas, Katrina Zara and Julia Shurman. Each nominee introduced themselves and their qualifications for the role.

In light of World Autism Month, Senator Kristin Mifsud asked if the committee had any potential projects in mind pertaining to autism awareness.

“I think that it’s really important to educate people about [autism],” Zara said. “We want to create a newsletter—that’s in the works. It will promote awareness and education for the public.”

The nominees were unanimously confirmed as DRAC members.

Tariq Azim, the chairman of the Transfer, Reentry and Veterans Committee (TRVC), then introduced the TRVC committee member nominees and provided their respective qualifications.

Nominee Juliana Olivera was present at the meeting and the other two nominees were absent. All nominees were confirmed as committee members.

President Kyle Krueger then introduced the Fall Planning Task Force. The task force includes campus stakeholders, faculty and students who are planning the academic and operational aspects of the 2021 Fall Quarter. The task force members at the senate meeting included Ari Kelman, the interim dean of the College of Letters and Science; Cynthia Ching, the interim provost and dean for undergraduate education at UC Davis; Jason Stewart, the assistant director of institutional analysis; and Pablo Reguerín, the vice chancellor of student affairs.

Krueger then facilitated a conversation between senators and the task force members present to address concerns regarding what Fall Quarter will look like for students.

“Right now, it seems like not only our campus, but all of the UC campuses are pointing toward being back in person in the fall,” Kelman said. “There will still need to be a certain number of courses that are going to be taught remotely.”

When asked whether COVID-19 vaccination will be a requirement for students, Reguerín responded that it is very likely that there will be a vaccine mandate for students.

Reguerín added that unvaccinated students are likely going to be tested weekly. However, vaccinated students may not have the same requirement depending on the effectiveness of other testing methods, such as wastewater analysis.

Senator Annoushqa Bobde asked what accommodations are in place for international students who may not be able to travel to the U.S. for Fall Quarter.

“We need to see if what we need to create is a series of smaller individualized solutions or if there can be some large solutions that would apply to a larger group,” Ching said.

Bobde replied that the best ways to support international students include exam windows of 24 hours, flexible office hours and alternative ways to receive participation points outside of live lectures and sections.

Ching shared that the Academic Senate will be meeting with faculty to determine which professors are willing to teach asynchronously and in-person classes simultaneously.

She also shared that the Academic Senate is forming a separate subcommittee on international student issues and

instruction to better serve those students.

Senator Ryan Manriquez raised concerns over proctored exams contributing to stress and discrimination for students with disabilities.

“One of the questions that was asked to me [while taking a proctored exam] was, ‘Can you lift up your laptop and show us your work area?’” Manriquez said. “That question is inherently ableist because someone with a physical disability, like myself, is not able to do those simple tasks that someone who is able-bodied would do super quickly.”

Ching responded that every quarter, the Academic Senate sends out a strong recommendation to faculty to avoid using electronic proctoring during exams and shares recommendations for other types of assessments.

Kelman said that in the fall, first-tier physical exercise activities will be offered such as swimming lessons and self-defense, at no additional cost to the student.

Barneond then introduced SB #72, a bill to adjust the ASUCD reserves structure to better reflect the needs and services referendum.

The bill was assigned to the Internal Affairs Commission, the Academic Affairs Commission and the Environmental Policy and Planning Commission (EPPC) to be reviewed.

The table then moved to SB #69, and Senator Maahum Shahab shared her authors’ comments.

“This amendment proposes a housing commission [that will] be ASUCD’s representative and lead strategist when it comes to all housing and student housing advocacy efforts,” Shahab said.

Currently, several branches of ASUCD are addressing housing efforts, which are focused in very niche, specialized areas. This bill will centralize those efforts and better mobilize student voices, according to Shahab.

Senator Lauren Smith voiced concern that the commission might not be active enough as the housing committee vacancy was

posted several times with no interest. Smith advocated for utilizing the resources that already exist.

Allie O’Brien, the co-founder of Aggie House, shared some statistics on the student population the housing commission would be supporting.

“Annually, over 2,000 students experience homelessness,” O’Brien said. “[Additionally], 3% of our student population at some point will be in a car, living in shelters, couchsurfing in living spaces that are not meant to be homes, and 7% experience homelessness. Almost one-fifth of students experience housing insecurity.”

The commission would be advocating for the construction of more student housing to help offset the steep cost of housing in Davis, which has tripled in the past decade, according to O’Brien.

Mifsud echoed the thoughts of several senators by stating that she could not support the bill as it stood and voiced evaluating and expanding the advocacy already in place.

The bill was voted on, and due to a tie, SB #69 was tabled.

Senate Bill #70 was then brought to the table and was introduced by author Sydney Cliff, an EPPC member.

“As a fair trade university, UC Davis will demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and continue to educate the campus community about Fair Trade,” Cliff said. “[They hope to] inspire other institutions and organizations to support Fair Trade and enhance [UC Davis’] image as a leader in sustainability and social justice issues, while working with student housing and dining services.”

The bill will establish a long-term plan to increase the use of Fair Trade products and support Davis vendors that are environmentally responsible, according to Cliff.

SB #70 passed unanimously.

Barneond adjourned the meeting at 10:46 p.m.

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COVID-19 DERAILS THE FUTURE OF TEACHING AS STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BECOME LESS INCLINED TO PURSUE THE PROFESSION Due to the pandemic, fewer students are majoring in education and more teachers are quitting their jobs as a result of increasing constraints and pressure placed on teachers

BY FARRAH BALLOU features@theaggie.org

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With most schools being remote for over a year, admissions statistics illustrate that many students are becoming dissuaded from committing to a profession in education while more teachers are quitting their jobs.

Izamar Ortíz-González, a first-year Ph.D. student studying student-school organization and policy at UC Davis, described her previous experience as a teacher and how the pandemic has influenced her peers’ decisions. Last year, Ortíz-González knew it would be her final year teaching at K-12 schools as she began her Ph.D. program application in order to become a professor. Before she left, however, she noticed that with the transition to online learning, some children who had previously struggled in school were improving, while many who had excelled during in-person schooling now began to struggle. Çağrı Güzel, a third-year Ph.D. student specializing in language, literacy and culture at the UC Davis School of Education, discussed the similar difficulties he noticed among the students he taught. He mentioned that students face physical strains and screen fatigue when learning online. In addition, he said that virtual learning can perpetuate an inadequate form of education and retention.

“After a certain point, it really doesn’t take you anywhere in terms of your education and in terms of getting the conversation or the topic at hand,” Güzel said.

Beyond the difficulties he has observed among students, Güzel also noted that the teachers are placed in a difficult position where they can sense the struggles of their students, yet they only have access to limited resources to help them succeed.

“Obviously, if you look from the other side—teachers’ perspectives—we’re seeing the problem, we’re in the middle of the problem and we’re trying our best,” Güzel said.

For Ortíz-González, the pandemic only emphasized the difficulties of teaching, such as developing relationships with different students.

“As a teacher, you’re in front of students, you’re performing constantly and [...] you’re having a relationship with 30 different students,” Ortíz-González said. “If you’re a teacher in a secondary [school], like middle school and high school, that’s 160 different

relationships.”

According to Ortíz-González, though teachers have always faced obstacles, now the harsh reality of the pandemic has encouraged many teachers to quit their jobs.

“Outside of my Ph.D. program, I do know people who [...] stopped themselves from continuing their program or they’re taking a year off,” Ortíz-González said. “Whether they will go back, I’m not sure.”

In addition to more teachers leaving their positions due to the pandemic, Güzel noted that many of his friends deferred their journey to get a degree in education. Despite the difficulties

surrounding careers in education, Güzel emphasized his commitment to his Ph.D. and remains motivated to pursue his goal of becoming a professor.

“When you’re in academia, you are already aware of the problem and possible problems that could always come up,” Güzel said. “This is part of our training process of how to manage these problems, how to manage unexpected crises and how do you tackle that in your trajectory. I am definitely very committed to my end goal.”

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UC DAVIS BEGINS WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK INTO CLASSROOMS Three students share their experiences with in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sciences Lab building at UC Davis during Spring Quarter 2021. (Quinn Spooner / Aggie)

BY KATIE DEBENEDETTI features@theaggie.org While UC Davis plans to resume in-person classes in the fall, a few courses have been offering in-person instruction since Fall Quarter 2020. Although these classes do not look similar to those in previous years, according to three UC Davis students who are taking in-person classes this spring, they have been exciting and refreshing nonetheless.

Naina Misra, a fourth-year cognitive science

major, said that being on campus for class is a welcome break from the rest of her Zoom classes.

“It was a really nice change of pace,” Misra said. “Also the class is outside, [...] so just being able to be outside was really nice. It’s a good break from sitting on Zoom all day. I feel like that can be really exhausting.”

Misra is taking Field Methods in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology (WFC 100), which usually includes 30 hours of field work and 30 hours of lab work, a requirement that the pandemic has made more challenging. This quarter, WFC 100 has transitioned from entirely

online to hybrid so that some of this important field work can happen. Misra explained that there are two online lectures each week, and the class is split into two groups for lab sections.

These two groups alternate being in person, so throughout the quarter each student will have the opportunity to complete five labs in person.

Although she was excited to get back on campus, Misra said that she didn’t expect to be as nervous as she was.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to have to be somewhere for a certain amount of time,’” Misra said. “That’s a window of time that I’m not going to be able to do anything else. The thing with online classes is that my schedule has been so flexible. But then when I actually got to the class, it felt very normal.”

Like Misra, Emma Ramirez, a thirdyear genetics and genomics major, had been completing virtual labs for the past year. This quarter, however, her molecular and cellular biology laboratory, Principles of Genetics, has been hybrid. Ramirez said that being in the physical lab is crucial to learning this material.

“Especially being in an upper-division genetics class, [professors] really realize that we can’t teach these techniques over Zoom because all lab work is incredibly hands-on,” Ramirez said. “Lab is probably one of my favorite things.

I love being able to be in the lab, work with samples and also be able to collaborate with my peers.”

Ramirez attends the lab in person every other week, and her class is divided into four groups so she only shares the lab with five other students at a time. In addition to more hands-on learning, Ramirez said that having a lab in person has also

helped her focus. “[At home, I’m] distracted by housemates and our four dogs, and there’s so many external things constantly going on,” Ramirez said. “That makes it even that much harder to stay focused, but when you’re actually in the lab, there aren’t any distractions. You’re just solely focused on the task at hand.”

Ramirez added that it has also been motivating to be back on campus.

“I’ve had two of three quarters of physics being online, and those [labs] are three hours,” Ramirez said. “It is one of the most tedious things to sit through. That week of being on campus has made me excited. I’m motivated again, especially for that class.”

Ankita Angarwal, a fourth-year managerial economics major, said that her two-hour dance class also felt extremely long on Zoom before it was moved to in person.

“I don’t know if it was just the fact that it was online and we would have to be in our room and it was on Zoom, [but] those two hours go by so slowly,” Angarwal said. “I would be counting down every 10 minutes, but now, the time goes by so much faster because I think [in] dance and art, most of the fun comes with interacting with others.”

Angarwal said that the in-person class feels less tedious, and she is able to get a lot more out of it.

“I think it’s super nice because a lot of my classes are held outside, so there’s not even that big of a risk, but I still get the benefits of interacting with other students,” Angarwal said. “I’m actually creating more meaningful connections.”

NEW HUMAN BIOLOGY MAJOR TO BE OFFERED STARTING FALL 2021 Professors Aldrin Gomes and Ken Kaplan give insight into the major’s unique opportunities and subject matter

BY LYRA FARRELL features@theaggie.org The new human biology major is currently only open by lottery to College of Biological Sciences students who entered UC Davis as freshmen and have met other requirements detailed on the major’s website—200 students will be admitted into the major starting fall 2021.

Professor Ken Kaplan, the vice-chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Professor Aldrin Gomes cocreated the major, which will be offered to students with secondyear status. According to Kaplan, human biology is a topic central to biological sciences that hasn’t been given a sufficient platform at UC Davis.

“A lot of us in biology think all the time about human biology whether we study model organisms or not, so it’s central to how we think, and I think there’s a recognized need to help students see that,” Kaplan said. “[We’ve] got micro[biology] majors, neurobiology majors and cell biology majors and they all study different organisms, but this is an opportunity to really focus our teaching on human systems in a way that we haven’t had a chance to do.”

Jasmine Taros, a second-year biological sciences major, said she had been considering other majors as she approached her third year at UC Davis and wished she could apply to a major that involved the human side of biology.

“I was thinking about cell bio and I was even thinking to myself, ‘I wish they had a human bio major,’ because ever since a young age, I’ve always liked bio but [...] always liked the chapters that have to do with the human bio rather than the plant part,” Taros said.

Professor Aldrin Gomes, the vice-chair of the neurobiology, physiology and behavior (NPB) major, believes that the new major will allow students to take more diverse biology classes than other majors in the college.

“We wanted something where students can actually have access to anything in other majors that they thought [was] very useful for them going forward,” Gomes said. “For example, in a microbiology lab, if a student was only an NPB major, [...] it wouldn’t give credit toward [their] major,” Gomes said. “Now, they can still do things like that and get credit toward the major.”

One of Kaplan’s motivations for wanting to implement the human biology major was that it integrates a wide array of laboratory subjects, whereas labs in other College of Biological Sciences majors have a more narrow focus.

Green Hall at UC Davis where the College of Biological Science is located. (Quinn Spooner / Aggie) “To me, one thing that’s super exciting is that now, students can satisfy their laboratory requirements [...] choosing from this menu of really exciting laboratory courses that span microbiology, biochemistry, physiology,” Kaplan said. “There’s just so many opportunities for them to pick from these laboratory choices that they may not have had access to before.”

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THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021 | 5

OPINION THE

C ALIFORNIA A GGIE

E DI TO R I AL B OAR D

ANJINI VENUGOPAL Editor-in-Chief MARGO ROSENBAUM Managing Editor SABRINA HABCHI Campus News Editor EDEN WINNIFORD City News Editor CALVIN COFFEE Opinion Editor

The Editorial Board expresses its support for the federal legalization of marijuana Federal legalization should be equity-based and confront criminal justice and economic inequities

SOPHIE DEWEES Features Editor ALLIE BAILEY Arts & Culture Editor OMAR NAVARRO Sports Editor MADELEINE PAYNE Science & Tech Editor

CAMERON PERRY New Media Manager JUSTIN HAN Photo Director KATHERINE FRANKS Design Director JOELLE TAHTA Layout Director KAITLIN ARAGHI Copy Chief ALEX WEINSTEIN Copy Chief KESHAV AGRAWAL Website Manager BEN CHENG Social Media Manager JOSHUA GAZZANIGA Distribution Manager LAURIE PEDERSON Business Development Manager

With this Tuesday marking 4/20, the Editorial Board wants to express its support of the federal legalization of marijuana—Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently announced that he and other senators are drafting a bill to “end the federal prohibition of marijuana.”

The federal government currently classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule 1 is the most severe drug tier; cocaine and meth are Schedule 2. If this classification strikes you as too severe, that’s because it is—racism against Mexican immigrants in the 1930s and Black people during the War on Drugs drove marijuana’s classification as a dangerous drug.

Details of the bill have not yet been announced, and it remains unclear if it will federally legalize marijuana or decriminalize it, although Schumer said in an interview that it’s leaning towards legalization.

The distinction between legalization and decriminalization is important since they have different impacts on arrest rates and marijuana equity. Legalization means that marijuana can be legally sold and taxed, and adults of a certain age are able to possess and use it recreationally. Under decriminalization, marijuana remains illegal to sell and possess, but the crime of possessing certain amounts of marijuana is reduced from criminal charges to civil fines.

Federal legalization and decriminalization are both steps in the right direction, but the Editorial Board supports legalization because of the greater number of benefits it’s associated with, including lower arrest rates, legal avenues for selling marijuana and the ability to use it recreationally.

It is well-known by now that marijuana legalization provides states with economic benefits and individuals with medicinal benefits. The Editorial Board believes that the most important component of federal legalization is addressing past injustices against low-income communities and people of color caused by marijuana’s strict criminalization.

Although white and Black people consume marijuana at similar rates, Black individuals were 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white individuals from 2010 to 2018. In that same time period, states that had either legalized or decriminalized marijuana had lower marijuana-related arrest rates than those that did neither, but arrest rates were still eight times higher in states that had decriminalized it as opposed to states that

had legalized it.

Despite being associated with lower arrest rates, racial disparities are still prominent in states that have either legalized or decriminalized marijuana. Therefore, the federal government cannot stop at legalization or decriminalization—it must pass other racial equity-based reform that addresses legal and economic injustices.

Decreasing over-policing in neighborhoods of color and further reforming the criminal justice system could diminish the racial disparities in marijuana-related arrest rates.

To confront criminal justice inequities, it is vital that any legalization or decriminalization bill also mandates that individuals currently serving time for marijuana-related crimes that would fall under decriminalization are released and have their records expunged. Those who have already served time for the newly-legal infractions must also have their records expunged.

Schumer is already looking towards economic injustices, pledging that the bill will favor small marijuana-related businesses located within communities of color over large alcohol and tobacco companies. Despite his acknowledgement of this economic injustice as a problem, Congress will have to follow through in order to ensure that the growing marijuana industry doesn’t exclude the people of color whom marijuana was weaponized against.

The bill must include that people with felonies (especially marijuana-related felonies) are able to own and operate legal dispensaries. U.S. legislators also have a responsibility to pass the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act, which would enable banks to legally serve certified dispensaries. Opening a dispensary costs about $250,000, and allowing banks to give loans to hopeful dispensary owners would increase equity for people of color, who hold significantly less wealth than their white counterparts.

And even if these actions are taken, there is still so much work to be done. Even in states that have legalized marijuana, businesses can randomly drug test employees when it isn’t relevant to their job, which is problematic since marijuana can be detected in a person’s urine up to 30 days after ingesting it.

The Editorial Board urges everyone to educate themselves about marijuana-related racial disparities and advocate for equity-based legislation. And if you’re purchasing marijuana products, consider buying from a local dispensary owned by a person of color, such as Crystal Nugs in Sacramento or one of these businesses if you’re not in the area.

Why are the life choices of Black police brutality victims put on trial?

How character assassinations absolve blame from the actual perpetrators—the police

BY RENEE WANG reswang@ucdavis.edu When it comes to victims of police brutality, a frequent narrative is touted: They were no angels. Victims of police brutality receive polarizing news coverage and have their reputations ruined in the courtroom. Their death is not put on trial—their life choices are.

As author Touré puts it: “It’s as if a Black person must be a perfect victim to escape being thuggified, an angel with an unblemished history in order to warrant justice.”

A study analyzing the media coverage of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, Tony Robinson and Freddie Gray (all unarmed victims of police brutality) found that when racial minorities are depicted as victims, they are dehumanized, demonized and criminalized. There is constant fixation on their criminal histories, as well as “stereotypical elements” about their lifestyles.

Michael Brown, according to HBO Talk Show host Bill Maher, was “acting like a thug, not like a gentle giant.” Eric Garner was a “career petty criminal” who was a “victim of himself,” according to New York Post editor Bob McManus. Twelve-year-old Tamir Rice’s mother’s old drug charge was reported by the media. Alton Sterling, according to a Baltimore Sun article, “was not an admirable man [...] [with] convictions [for] domestic abuse [...] [and] illegal weapons possession.”

Victims of police brutality are ultimately dichotomized, according to Emily Jenab of the Fordham University Center for Ethics Education: “They are victims or they are thugs; or worse, they are meaningless statistics, neither martyrs nor criminals.” Victims are forgotten into a media trajectory that seeks to amplify a narrative that they were no angels.

By stripping victims of their wings, their deaths become free reign for invasive media outlets to publicize irrelevant details and for media personalities to dole out judgement calls on the deaths of victims using only snippets from their lives. The narrative that they were no angels effectively absolves blame from the actual perpetrators— police officers. What happened in these officers’ lives is never as actively discussed compared to the highly racialized examination into the lives of their victims.

The conjoining of a victim’s criminal history and their death implies that victims have a responsibility in their own death.

Emphasizing a victim’s innocence or lack thereof, places the onus onto a victim; as though their series of life choices—in particular life choices that reflect the Black criminality narrative—creates a tragic domino effect of their doing that leads to their death.

Stereotypes of Black criminality are especially pronounced in courtrooms as well. Trayvon Martin, though not a victim of police brutality, was unarmed and fatally shot. Text messages and photos from his personal cell phone were disclosed by the attorneys of the man who shot him, George Zimmerman. These images include

Flowers placed on a banner outside the Brooklyn Center (Minn.) police department on April 13. (AP / John Michillo) Martin with gun and drug paraphernalia, as well as text messages with references to gangs, all in an effort by Zimmerman’s attorneys to “paint a different picture of the 17-year-old than the one portrayed by his family and supporters.”

Similarly, Stephon Clark, who was killed by a police officer in his family’s backyard, had his private text messages to his fiance detailing his mental health struggles released by the Sacramento district attorney. The district attorney also did not charge the police officers who shot an unarmed Clark.

For the families and victims of police brutality, these unfair characterizations and publicization of intimate details only serves to strip victims of every shred of their humanity and demonize them beyond death.

The constant invasion into the lives of such victims understates a larger conversation that needs to take place: Black Americans

are unjustly targeted and killed by the police, so much so that Harvard University researchers are calling for it to be treated as a “public health issue.” Instead of working toward ways to revise the criminal justice system, we are finding ways to excuse the police officers responsible for the deaths of Black victims through constant character assassinations.

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

6 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

OPINION There might not be a future for our TikTok celebrities As our free time runs out, their spotlights may dim

BY ISABELLA CHUECOS ifchuecos@ucdavis.edu For the first time since last March, our pandemic-ridden lives seem to be coming to a close—safe and healthy freedom is on the horizon.

No more are the days of lying face-down on the couch, staying up ‘till six in the morning and letting the weeks bleed together.

The end of quarantine symbolizes not only gaining back our freedom, but also losing something to which we’ve all grown a bit too accustomed: free time. Remember when we were all excited to have an extra few weeks of spring break? We quickly learned that too much of a good thing isn’t so good. Now, we pine after the hours in lecture halls and bike commutes to our favorite campus study spots.

At the beginning of the pandemic, we mitigated all of the extra time with new hobbies and fads: whipped coffee-making, banana

bread baking and the like. This got old pretty quickly––my banana bread count was at a measly two when I gave up. We’d all gotten tired of keeping ourselves busy with these mentally stimulating activities and sought refuge on the internet for something banal to take our minds off the stressors of the year.

TikTok emerged as our savior here. We can rag on it all we want, but this app saved many quarantiners from hours of boredom. My summer routine consisted of waking up, checking my subpar grades on Canvas and then scrolling through TikTok for hours as the sun rose slowly through my blinds.

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.

TIKTOKLEGS on 11

Tiktok star Charli D’Amelio at the 2021 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. (Amy Sussman / Getty Images)

HUMOR

Cartoon Picnic Day 2021: Discovering silver linings

BY RUSHI TAWADE rntawade@ucdavis.edu

UC Davis offers new ‘Cow Wrangling’ major, comes with free hat and whip Yeeeeeeeeehaw!

BY IAN COSNER iacosner@ucdavis.edu “We at UC Davis support all kinds of education, and we want to allow students to follow their dreams of eating beans and dying of dysentery,” said new head of the Western Studies Department, professor Thaddius Cowboy.

It’s been a long time coming, but UC Davis finally has its first official “Cow Wrangling” major (COW), filled with classes like “Professional Yeehawing 101,” “101 Ways to Cook Beans” and “Brokeback Mountain Climbing.” Professor Cowboy has even hinted at a possible study abroad opportunity at Donner Pass for more “culinarily-minded” students.

Students who have taken the first round of the new COW curriculum had a lot to say: “So I took one of the classes just to try something new, y’know? And after one week I’ve stuck my arm in a cow, hit myself in the face with a whip and I think I’m becoming illiterate,” said one student.

“I’m really grateful they started the COW curriculum. Cowwrangling has always been my dream, and I never knew I could do it professionally. I’ve just been walking around in chaps and a cowboy hat around campus, terrorizing the townsfolk,” said a second-year, riding a horse through the Memorial Union.

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAW,” said another student.

It’s not just all horse riding and dangerous river crossings. As part of their senior project, students must retrace the Oregon Trail, crossing only with the materials and technology appropriate to the era.

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

COWBOYMAJOR on 11

Explore all the UC Davis has to offer with its newest major. (UC Davis)

Student completes more thorough background check on TA than NCIS within first five minutes of class On a mission to discover everything but the syllabus

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

BY ANNABEL MARSHALL almarshall@ucdavis.edu

Wow! That—that’s definitely not legal. I guess sophomore year hit hard.

Let’s face it. No one particularly cares for Zoom introductions, especially the one-sided rambling of your apathetic teaching assistant (TA). You could find out more from a thirty-second Google search than from their inane mini-presentation about themselves. Actually, that’s not a bad idea.

How do you spell that last name? No, wait, here it is. Seventyeight results on Facebook. Okay, grad students, Sacramento Davis area…

Here. Got it. That was easy.

University of Alabama, blah blah blah. Neurobiology major?

This is a history class. Why are you teaching this class?

Ooh, campus involvement. Let’s see that. Geography Club.

Sounds like a hoot. And a sorority? Let’s go to their Instagram.

Tagged photos. Oh, how cute. They’re all wearing the same white mini dress and borderline culturally insensitive fake tan. I wonder if they bulk order those dresses from Sears.

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

AGGIE FILE ZOOMTA on 11

Why study abroad when Davis is essentially the new-and-improved London?

I see London, I see France, I can study abroad in my underpants

BY KATE HARGES klharges@ucdavis.edu Hey you! Are you dying to study abroad?

Dying to meet that special someone overseas while taking English 1? Who could blame you?

Here at the UC Davis Hub of Global Learning (unaffiliated with UC Davis Global Learning Hub), we understand that studying abroad can be an expensive endeavor. Between the flight tickets, room and board expenses and frequent tourist shopping sprees, the prices add up. That’s why we’re here to offer you a study abroad experience here in Davis.

One of our most popular programs is called “London in Davis.” Students will spend their quarter learning about the history and culture of London—from the comfort of their own homes.

While it’s not enforced, they are encouraged to adopt an English accent and act snobbishly rude at all times. Students reported that their favorite activity was dressing in jerseys and yelling “just kick the damn ball already,” at the local pickup soccer football game.

If you’re still not convinced that you could receive the full London experience here in Davis, we will be asking an alumna of the program to outline some similarities she noticed between the two cities. Here’s the list she gave: 1. Double-decker buses. Both cities are known for their red double-decker buses. Enough said.

2. Big Ben. London is known for its famous clock tower at the Palace of Westminster, called Big Ben. Similarly, I met a student named Benjamin the other day who was 5’7”, and I’m 5’3” so I’d

consider him to be rather big.

3. The Beatles. London is the birthplace of one of the most famous bands of all time. Here in Davis, I have a friend whose buddies are trying to start up an indie rock band. The lead guitarist is currently taking guitar lessons, but says he can almost play “Hey There Delilah.” So, I see no difference—they have Abbey Road, we have Dairy Road.

There’s no better city to experience the culture of London in than Davis. If you’ve found yourself interested in the program, please contact the UC Davis Hub of Global Learning. It would be greatly appreciated if you would refrain from telling people about the program, as the Chancellor is still unaware of its existence.

Passengers board the Unitrans E Line at the Memorial Union bus terminal. (Photo by Quinn Spooner / Aggie) Disclaimer: This article is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and or names of “sources” are fictionalized.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021 | 7

Staying in tune online: Davis music groups reflect on functioning virtually for a year A cappella and chorus groups at UC Davis share their experiences singing together this year

BY NORA FARAHDEL features@theaggie.org As a school year of Zoom meetings and online hangouts comes to a close, clubs and organizations in Davis are left to reflect on their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to other organizations, music ensembles have adjusted to a new reality without in-person meetings.

Makenna Stever, a third-year applied mathematics major and the president of The Spokes, joined the all-female a cappella group her freshman year and has loved it ever since. Auditioning on a whim, Stever stated she didn’t expect to find such a meaningful extracurricular and community.

“It was the niche that I didn’t expect to find in Davis,” Stever said. “It’s been my absolute favorite extracurricular my entire college career.”

Under normal circumstances the group rehearsed for five hours every week and performed at gigs and a cappella group showcases.

Since the pandemic began, the group has lost the experience of singing together. Instead, The Spokes meet on Zoom to learn music pieces as a group and practice separate parts in different breakout rooms. The music pieces are created by group members individually recording themselves singing their part which is then sent to the group’s music producer who combines the recordings into a finalized version.

Moreover, the group has made content with these pieces through music videos posted on YouTube. Stever shared the process of perfecting the group’s sound for these audio pieces when they cannot meet in person.

“It’s definitely been hard to figure out stuff like trying to make sure that everyone has the same tone and that we’re all blending together,” Stever said. “What we’ve been doing with that is our music director will hold little office hours during rehearsals sometimes, where if we’re learning a piece and we’re submitting audio recordings, you can come to her and show her your recording, and she’ll give you tips on it, she’ll try to make sure that you’re matching her sound.”

Additionally, Stever shared that this year’s singers were mainly composed of new members because the majority of the group graduated last year.

“Most of the members in our group have never sung in an a cappella group before, are brand new and all they know is [COVID-19] rehearsals and individuals recording and learning music distanced,” Stever said.

Despite her continued love for The Spokes even throughout the pandemic, Stever said she misses singing in person with the group and looks forward to the time when it will be safe to do so again.

“It was something before [COVID-19] that I looked forward to every day,” Stever said. “And I definitely still feel like I’m a part of something now. I love this group and I will always love being in The Spokes. I just do miss that in-person component and being able to stand next to someone and hear the music live because that’s something that we haven’t had at all this year.”

John Agpalo, a second-year mathematics major and the treasurer of The Liquid Hotplates, is finishing his second year in the coed a cappella group at UC Davis. Coming from a performing arts high school and with a choral background, Agpalo knew he wanted to join a singing group in college and found The Liquid Hotplates to be a perfect fit.

Before the pandemic, the group would meet every week to practice songs and go over choreography, preparing to participate in competitions like the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) along with performing at events and gigs.

CHRISTINA LIU / AGGIE

Today, the group rehearses online, and according to Agpalo, has gone from focusing on choreography to video editing while preparing for online competitions.

Agpalo explained the new process of creating music that took place this year.

“We each record our part of the song, which we send to our sound engineer to piece together and make us sound beautiful,” Agpalo said via email. “We tried singing together on Zoom or Discord, but because of latency, lag or just bad internet, it’s hard for everyone to synchronize and sing at the same time.”

While the group participated in a yearly retreat and small gatherings in the past years, Agpalo shared that it is difficult to meet with his fellow members under the circumstances of the pandemic.

“For the future, we hope that it becomes safe enough for everyone to meet again on campus for our rehearsals face-to-face; I think we [...] all just want to see each other again and get back into the old groove of singing and dancing together,” Agpalo said.

Professor Caleb Lewis, a lecturer in music and the director of choirs at UC Davis, leads three choral ensembles open to students and community members. Before the pandemic, each choir met twice a week for two hours to sing and rehearse for concerts together.

When the pandemic initially began, Lewis focused on classes about music history and theory while also doing guided listenings and warm up sessions on Zoom.

Since fall, however, Lewis has created a routine for virtual projects.

“We put all the choirs into one group, and we met twice a week on Zoom for a little vocal warm up and a Q&A session [and to]

practice some new training stuff,” Lewis said. “Then we do the recording projects where I’d make practice recordings for everybody with a click track, [...] they spend a lot of time on their own learning the music, they send it in and then we compile it together.”

In addition to the online meetings and recordings, Lewis has set up slots for one-on-one meetings with singers in which they can seek help on their parts. Since Spring Quarter, however, the groups have been able to meet in small socially distanced groups outdoors, separating back into three ensembles.

Lewis shared that the social element of the choral groups has grown in isolation, and students have formed friendships while chatting over Zoom.

“I’ve been really pleased by the enthusiasm and the longevity of a lot of our singers: They just keep showing up,” Lewis said. “Because even though they can’t hear each other singing, they like to see one another, and it feels like we’re together in isolation.”

Lewis shared that while the experience this year is different than normal, the group continues to provide a sense of togetherness that keeps people singing even online.

“One of the things about music, and singing especially, is that it brings people together who otherwise would not be together at all,” Lewis said. “And that’s what’s really great about it, and I think that people miss that. They just know that it’s a place where [they’re] welcome, and that they can come together. I hope that that’s what keeps bringing people back.”

KDVS to move locations UC Davis campus radio station is one of several organizations affected by the demolition of Freeborn Hall

BY JACOB ANDERSON arts@theaggie.org UC Davis campus radio station KDVS is relocating after functioning out of Freeborn Hall for more than 50 years. UC Davis decided in 2018 that Freeborn Hall (the big triangular building next to the Memorial Union) must be taken down.

The decision came after confirmation that the necessary seismic retrofit, which was considered as an alternative to taking down the building, would be too costly to justify. While the building has been closed since 2014, the university has spent the interim considering a variety of options—among them converting the building into an open-air pavilion. Lower Freeborn, the basement level, was declared safe for occupancy, and continued to be used by KDVS until recently, in addition to other ASUCD units such as Aggie Studios, The Pantry and The California Aggie, until they were forced to move locations in preparation for the demolition of the building.

Luckily, a new base of operations has already been located: the first floor of the Memorial Union.

“Our new home in the Memorial Union will be the stomping ground for our current community to elevate their creative passions, as well as a supportive space for new KDVSers to cultivate their own,” said Noel Fernandez, the general manager of KDVS. The station intends to remain on-air during the move, but given the complexity of the situation, the specifics of the move remain unclear.

Despite this ambiguity, KDVS remains confident that they’ll be able to finish the process during the 2021-2022 academic year.

The new location will offer a significant increase in visibility, in addition to space for the broadcast studio and a lounge and office area.

Unfortunately, the new location won’t have room for the entirety of “The Stacks”—the collection of records and CDs KDVS has so diligently collected over the years. Part of “The Stacks” will be stored on-site at the new Memorial Union location, but the remainder will remain in temporary storage until a permanent home is found.

The interior of the KDVS studio in Lower Freeborn Hall at UC Davis on October 21, 2019. (Justin Han / Aggie) The demolition of Freeborn Hall is anticipated to cost around $5 million (compared to $8.5 million for the seismic retrofit) across six months, with a start date still undetermined. The building’s role as a primary large-event space for the university has

been usurped by others like the Mondavi Center and the Recreation Center Ballroom, and as such the extra $3.5 million appears to be too high a cost for the university to pay.

KDVS is optimistic about the move, and

hopes it will play a part in ensuring the station’s viability in the coming years. They intend to provide updates to the student community as the timeline of the move becomes clearer.

8 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

Stark numbers show that larger companies thrive during the pandemic while small businesses suffer

As small businesses struggle and large companies like Amazon continue to break records, individuals can decide which stores to support

BY MUHAMMAD TARIQ arts@theaggie.org As the COVID-19 pandemic continued on, America fell into economic crisis, social justice movements came to the forefront of our lives and people became obsessed with TikTok. Healthcare providers were touted as superheroes while some people became distrustful of scientists. This last year has been worse than anything most people could have predicted.

So why is it that the world’s richest billionaires continued to increase their wealth by 54%? Why have some businesses continued to profit when most other parts of the world suffer?

Many restaurants suffered from a mixture of the stay-at-home mandates in many states. People cooked more at home and many restaurants were unable to stay open or offer sufficient safe dining options. Meanwhile, according to credit card data from the research firm Second Measure, the meal delivery industry saw a 70% increase in spending with Grubhub, Doordash and Uber Eats seeing an increase in their customer base.

Gyms began to shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions and there were limited options of outdoor exercising, so another company that saw a major rise in popularity was Peloton, the stationary spin bike that shows instructor-led classes in the convenience of your own home. Peloton has done so well in the last year that they expect even higher sales than predicted as they now expect a full-year revenue to exceed $4 billion, a significant increase from their previously predicted $3.9 billion.

Unsurprisingly, Amazon saw a giant spike in sales, in part because of the pandemic as it was much easier to shop online than in person. The behemoth of a company was already a staple in many people’s lives but saw even more traction as COVID-19 surged.

In the beginning months of the pandemic in 2020, the company acquired more than 175,000 new warehouses and added 36,400 more employees.

Amazon’s 2020 sales were at $386.1 billion, which was a 38% increase from the year before with profits doubling to $21.3 billion.

The company even became a go-to spot for high-demand, lowquantity items—such as toilet paper. From February to March of 2020, toilet paper sales soared to 186% on Amazon. The company also described sales during the holiday season as “record-breaking.”

MARIO RODRIGUEZ / AGGIE

As a consequence of Americans hoarding toilet paper and spending more time at home, even toilet paper companies saw a huge increase in sales, as the sale of toilet-paper spiked to over 845%, which amounted to about $1.45 billion in the month of March of 2020 alone.

But perhaps the most successful as a result of the pandemic was Zoom. From May to July of 2020, Zoom saw bigger sales and profit than all of 2019 as the world transitioned into online learning and working. Zoom’s profits from the second quarter of 2020 were $185.7 million, a huge increase from its $5.5 million from the same quarter of 2019. The company reported an adjusted profit of nearly $1 billion, compared to their 2019 fiscal year of $100 million.

With the successes of major companies came great losses for small businesses. In August of 2020, Yelp saw 163,735 businesses that indicated closures with 97,966 reporting they will not be reopening. According to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank, it was revealed that three out of 10 small U.S. businesses claimed they would not survive without further governmental assistance, which

is an estimated nine million businesses who may potentially have to permanently close their doors.

In April of 2020, the unemployment rate was at a staggering 14.8% with over 23 million Americans unemployed as most of the U.S. had frantically transitioned into some kind of quarantine: many jobs were going remote or shutting down and people were being laid off. As of March of 2021, the unemployment has fallen to 6.0% with 9,710,000 million people still unemployed.

Large corporations survived 2020, profiting off of a global pandemic that has killed millions of people, while data shows that small businesses and the restaurant industry saw staggering hits.

Individuals should ask themselves if supporting companies— who do not need more sales—for the benefit of cheaper prices or more convenience can potentially come at the expense of small businesses which are often the backbone of communities. Individuals can decide how they spend our money. If this pandemic has illustrated one thing, it’s that supporting one’s community is one of the small things they have control over that can have a big impact.

‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ is a success despite un-savory reasoning behind its release Why the singer re-recorded her album and why we’re so glad she did

BY ITZELTH GAMBOA arts@theaggie.org

Cover art from Taylor Swift’s ninth studio album, Fearless (Taylor’s Version). (Republic Records)

When artist Taylor Swift posted a message on her Tumblr regarding CEO of Big Machine Records Scott Borchetta refusing to sell her the masters to her music without conditions, many of her fans’ hearts sank. They were left in a moral dilemma where they didn’t want Borchetta or Scooter Braun, the owner of Big Machine (better known as a record executive and music manager), to gain any money from her life’s work, but they loved her music and wanted to continue to listen to it. So Swift, being the savvy business woman she is, decided to re-record her masters once enough time had passed, making it legal to do so.

But before we get into dissecting “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” let’s learn a little Swift history. When Swift first started working with Borchetta (her then manager) back in 2005, she was 15. When she finally got out of the contract, she was in her late 20s. Swift wanted to buy back her masters, but instead of giving her a price, Borchetta gave her the alternate deal of being able to ‘earn’ back each album with every new album that she created under Big Machine Records.

After being locked in with a recording company for 13 years that owned her music, Swift refused. But the true drama didn’t unfold until Swift discovered who was buying Big Machine Records: Scooter Braun, a man who has had previous drama with Swift. Swift then wrote that post on Tumblr, proclaiming that this situation was her “worst case scenario,” but as much as fans attacked and begged, Borchetta wasn’t budging and Swift never bought back her masters.

Fast forward to November of 2020, Shamrock Holdings, a private equity firm, bought her masters from Braun. In an aim to be fully transparent with the fans, Swift released a statement on Twitter in addition to the letter she sent to the company. The company let Swift know of the deal after it was done, but because Braun would

still profit from her music, she refused to work with them. This is where the re-recordings come in. While there were doubters who thought her re-recordings were pointless, she proved them wrong and set a record as the first artist to release nine albums that each garnered at least 500,000 sales in a week.

The “Fearless” album definitely isn’t my favorite of Swift’s discography. I will admit that it’s because I’m not a fan of country music. So while listening to “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” I had to take a step back and remove my country-hating bias in order to assess the album well. While this album does have more of a country pop focus than pure country, I still can’t count it as one of my favorites.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a few songs on the album that I’ve always loved, including “The Way I Loved You” and “Forever and Always,” but those songs didn’t outweigh the country tone of the album.

The “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” album sounds the same to a casual fan, but those that have listened to the original album on repeat, knowing every lyric and who each song is about, notice subtle changes in her tone and lyrics. For the most part, the songs sound identical, which is a mind boggling concept considering that if she had no copies of her original tracks, she probably would have had to sit down and listen to her old album numerous times to get them to sound exactly the same. One apparent difference is that her voice does sound more mature, but that was to be expected 12 and half years after the original release. When “Fearless” was released, Swift was 18 and just beginning her career—now, at 31, with many years and concerts under her belt, her voice is bound to sound a bit different.

FEARLESS on 11

An open apology letter to Lady Gaga Gaga’s album, “The Fame Monster,” will never be topped, and here’s why

BY ANGIE CUMMINGS arts@theaggie.org Dearest Mother Monster (aka Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, or Lady Gaga), Before I get into the nitty-gritty of my letter, I just need to tell you that I’ve loved you for so much of my life, it is almost scary—13 years to be exact. I am here as a dedicated little monster (paws up) to regretfully inform you that I do not believe it is possible for you to top the masterpiece that is “The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition),” your sophomore album released in November 2009.

First, I’ll lay out the facts. While this album is admittedly an add-on to your debut album, “The Fame,” it is still entirely its own piece of pure art with its eight additional songs and one remix of the previously released “Bad Romance.” Not only did this album earn you your fourth Grammy, for “Best Pop Vocal Album,” but it was the best-selling album as a re-release in 2010. Needless to say, I have ample evidence to back up my claim that this is the best album ever created. (For legal reasons, I am employing the use of hyperbole to get my point across.) And Gaga, I know, you know, we all know that you won’t stop creating music (it’s your job) and trying to grow and outdo yourself as an artist, and I don’t think you should stop—but it just might not be possible to create any one album better than “The Fame Monster.”

I hate to do this, but I am going to compare your six or seven albums (depending on if we want to count “A Star is Born”) following “The Fame Monster” to fully illustrate this one album’s supremacy over all the others in your discography.

First up, there’s “Born This Way,” and while I love the drama of it—from the outrage the single “Judas” caused, especially after

releasing it and the music video on Easter weekend—this album didn’t do anything more than “The Fame Monster” had already done, besides make many conservative groups hate you more than they already did.

Next, we have “ARTPOP,” and quite honestly Gaga, I don’t really want to get into this one—not that it is exactly a bad album, but we all know it doesn’t even come close to “The Fame Monster.”

You tried out experimental club and new age music, and it was clear it wasn’t the right fit, except I will say the song “Donatella” is thoroughly enjoyable (but that’s not saying much from a 14-track album). I’d say the direct predecessor to “ARTPOP” (that somehow did it better) from “The Fame Monster” would be the song “Teeth,” which has a bit of talking and could be classified as conceptual like “ARTPOP” because I don’t understand the meaning behind it, but I like the feeling of the song.

In all honesty, I would prefer to sweep “Cheek to Cheek” (with Tony Bennett, aka my grandma’s favorite singer) as well as the soundtrack album “A Star Is Born” under the rug as they are not entirely yours and they just aren’t you. It’s almost a chore to attempt to sit through all of “Cheek to Cheek” as it feels almost as long as Tony Bennett is old. As far as “A Star Is Born” goes, I watched KAITLYN PANG / AGGIE

the movie (for you), I cried and I only really need “Shallow” (and maybe “Always Remember Us This Way” if I’m being completely transparent) to sing along to those incredible vocalizations; the rest I can do without or just watch the movie again. For these two “albums,” I feel no need to compare them to “The Fame Monster” as it’s clear to see they’re not even in the same league.

I must say your brave dabble in country music, “Joanne,” took some time to grow on me. While this departure from conceptual pop music came as a surprise to many, Gaga, believe me when I tell you I was prepared. Hints of the rock-fused passion of this album are especially apparent in the song “Brown Eyes” from “The Fame Monster”—a beautiful guitar- and piano-heavy ballad for a lost lover. Perhaps due to your maturity when making “Joanne,” or simply the time in which it was made, there are a few songs off the album that might make someone think, “Hah cool, feminism,” something we definitely cannot say about “The Fame Monster.”

For those wondering, the primary “#feminism” songs off this album are “Grigio Girls,” “Hey Girl” featuring Florence Welch, “Joanne” and some may argue for “Come to Mama.” Basically, this album is beautiful even though I didn’t fully appreciate it when it came out in 2016 and yet, it still doesn’t reach the creative genius that is “The Fame Monster.” This is mainly because “Joanne” is inherently restricted by being your “country album,” whereas “The Fame Monster” is anything and everything.

It’s a long time coming but we’ve made it to “Chromatica,” and yet again, it can’t compete. Gaga, this one really hurt me because with all the promotion for it and both of the amazing singles, “Stupid Love” and “Rain on Me” with Ariana Grande, I was really hoping for a pop magnum opus. Maybe this one is slightly my fault, building it up so high and with “The Fame Monster” admittedly as my frame of reference. This is in no way saying “Chromatica” is not good, because I can wholeheartedly say I like at least half the songs, and I definitely thoroughly enjoy about five of the 16, but this futuristic return to your roots of dance-pop didn’t go above and beyond.

GAGA on 11

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021 | 9

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

Answer to previous puzzle 4/15/2021

Crossword Answer to previous puzzle 4/15/2021

10 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

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SCIENCE & TECH UC Davis helps develop enzyme to convert pigments into new natural blue food colorinG Pigments, or anthocyanins, of blue color are extracted from red cabbage to be converted into products for commercial use

BY BRANDON NGYUEN science@theaggie.org An international team of researchers, including chemists from UC Davis, recently discovered and refined the natural production of cyan blue food coloring, a challenge that has plagued scientists for almost two decades.

The scientific lead on the research project, Pamela Denish, a current UC Davis Ph.D. candidate in her sixth year as part of the Biophysics Graduate Program, explained why discovering this natural blue dye on par with the current FD&C Blue No. 1 was such a remarkable feat.

“There has been this movement in the customer demand for natural ingredients and their food products, and people are trying to get away from synthetic ingredients,” Denish said.

“So we’ve seen a lot of the major food producers making public commitments to getting rid of synthetic ingredients and one of those groups of ingredients is food coloring. Companies have started to phase out synthetic dyes in favor of naturally sourced colors and they actually found that blue is really hard to find; it does not exist in nature as much as you would think.”

Mars Advanced Research Institute and Mars Wrigley Science and Technology, addressed as Mars for short, has been the primary research institute developing a natural and brilliant blue dye. They found that the pigment in red cabbage produced a perfect brilliant blue, but only existed in very minimal amounts.

With the help of chemists from UC Davis, an enzyme has been developed and refined to convert these pigments, called anthocyanins, into much higher amounts and at a much higher efficiency in hopes of meeting customer demand. Mary Riley, a graduate student in the UC Davis Department

of Microbiology, tested and refined the enzyme to better mass produce the anthocyanins. “[Mars] realized that this anthocyanin was only like 5% of the entire red cabbage mixture,” Riley said. “There are these other anthocyanins that are just slightly bigger than this one that we want, and we designed an enzyme to break those bigger ones into the small one that we want. So then it goes from 5% of that anthocyanin we need to like 50% of the mixture.”

Rebecca Robbins, a trained organic research chemist at Mars, explained the chemistry behind why blue is such a rare color in nature compared to other colors like reds and violets.

“In order for the anthocyanin to absorb in the red area, for example, nature has to create actually very elaborate structures,” Robbins said. “It’s just the nature of the wavelength and the energy. You see all the violets in petunias; that’s an anthocyanin but it’s just a simple anthocyanin. In order to really shift it to the area of blue, nature starts to add aromaticity. It has to react with metals; it has to not only increase one molecule, but sometimes it has the stack in order to get blue and the right wavelength. That costs a lot, if you will, in terms of natural resources and natural energy, so they are very rare in nature.”

From what appeared impossible, UC Davis chemists successfully designed an enzyme to help convert these rare anthocyanin blue dyes, found as a small percentage of red cabbage extract, into a highly efficient anthocyanin that can now be used for mass production.

“We were able to look at the anthocyanin that we wanted, to look at what other things exist in red cabbage and come up with an enzyme reaction

The natural blue pigment found in red cabbage was not available for consumer use in large quantities, so UC Davis researchers worked on figuring out ways the color could be produced with higher efficacy.

(Rebecca Robbins / Courtesy) for enhancing that blue anthocyanin from red cabbage,” Denish said.

From the lab to the world of industry, Denish and Dr. Justin Siegel, for whom she works in the lab, had already begun a startup company called PeakB, which Denish explained as a unique opportunity to bring the blue color to the market.

“I think it’s a cool opportunity to kind of standardize the production of natural food

colorants,” Denish said. “There are a couple of big companies that have started to transition into that.

They’re called color houses, and basically there are companies dedicated to food coloring. But they have their portfolios of all these synthetic dyes and have slowly started to look for sources of natural color, so we’re trying to just kind of establish that pipeline for blues.”

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center acquires Versa HD linear accelerators to improve radiation cancer treatment New technological advancements allow faculty to offer faster and more accurate treatment for patients

BY MICHELLE WONG science@theaggie.org As a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has a responsibility to offer personalized and innovative treatment to their patients, as explained on their website. In order to continue providing patients with quality care, the center recently installed an Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator to target complex tumors, according to a recent article by UC Davis Health. According to Stanley Benedict, a professor in the UC Davis Health Department of

Radiation Oncology, the currently installed machine is named Versa Blue and the incoming one—to be installed September 2021—will be named Versa Gold to pay homage to the UC colors.

“These linear accelerators have multiple digital imaging capabilities that provide planar images, 3D images (like a [computerized tomography] CT scanner in diagnostic radiology) and even 4D images which can indicate the range of motion for a patient’s anatomy relative to their treatment site,” Benedict said

Richard Valicenti, the chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology. (Julie Ostoich-Prather / Courtesy)

MARIO RODRIGUEZ / AGGIE

via email.

Shyam Rao, an associate professor in the department of radiation oncology, elaborated that there are three central pillars of treating cancer—surgery, chemotherapy and radiation oncology, or using ionizing radiation to destroy tumor cells. Despite radiation being a powerful treatment for killing cancer cells, it also has the potential to damage normal tissues. Rao explained that with the new Versa HD linear accelerator, the improved image guidance through 3D and 4D scans allows him to better focus the radiation.

“This machine can do something that the [older models] couldn’t do which is a 4D scan, which [means] it can take images in real time,” Rao said. “Let’s say someone had a lung tumor. If you just did a CT scan, you would just get a snapshot of where it is, but with these 4D scans you can get scans of how it’s moving in time.

As you breathe in and out, the tumor goes up and down or left and right.”

This new technology is also able to deliver the radiation to patients at a faster rate. Rao described prior treatments taking up to 25 minutes, whereas the Versa HD can deliver the radiation in 15 minutes or less, according to the Elekta website.

The Versa HD is not the only recent upgrade the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has made. Rao stated that the center has been adding other advancements such as imaging techniques that can detect the patient’s movement on the operating table with non-ionizing radiation. They also have been recently using a Flexitron, a machine used for the technique of brachytherapy where radiation sources are placed inside the tumor to radiate from the inside out. In addition, the center has a Gamma Knife unit which allows physicians to use extremely focused radiation on small structures such as the brain.

“Versa HD is very exciting, but we’ve actually been upgrading and updating everything in the department so we’re very excited about that,” Rao said. “For everything, we’re bumping up our technology which makes us excited that we can do more targeted treatment. In the end, that’s the goal—to get the treatments more and more focused and targeted on the tumor and try to miss all the normal tissues and minimize damage.”

Rao elaborated that each piece of technology is used for a different kind of tumor. For example, as demonstrated in a case study by the University of Heidelberg, the Versa HD linear accelerator can be used to treat surgically inoperable tumors in the lung, while gynecological tumors are better treated with a brachytherapy machine.

“It’s not just one machine, we need to have all the technologies because we see so many different things, complicated things that sometimes are not familiar to people in the community so we have to be prepared for anything or to help anyone who comes in,” Rao said.

Ultimately, the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center hopes to use these new upgrades to achieve the same, if not better, effectiveness of treatment while reducing side effects and normal tissue injury from radiation.

“Our goal is to cure people first and foremost if possible,” Rao said. “But we know there’s side effects and we’re trying to be on the cutting edge of minimizing those side effects. That’s the overarching unifier between all these technologies we’re putting in.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021 | 11

VACCINEELIGIBLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “We have seen that there have been some more cases in California and in our region that have a variant,” Tan said. “So it’s still important that people get tested, people get the vaccine. Even though I think with the warmer weather, also with the vaccines being out, that people sort of have this feeling that things have really turned the corner.

Even though it seems like it’s better, the variants really hone in on the fact that people still can get sick, that people are still getting severe symptoms and that there are people that are still dying. So we definitely want people to take this seriously and to get vaccinated when they are eligible.”

Since the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine on April 13, Yolo County placed all J&J doses on hold and will be waiting on further guidance from the California Department of Public Health.

Any J&J vaccine appointments scheduled during the pause will be replaced by Pfizer or Moderna, as Yolo County has some of those doses leftover. Tan explained that the hold will not have a major impact on the vaccine schedule and that people’s “health and safety are [of ] utmost

CYBERSECURITY concern.”

Tan said that should an individual experience “severe side effects or are not feeling well from the vaccine, they should contact their medical provider.”

Despite the hold, Tan explained the other vaccines are still safe.

“The vaccines are still considered safe and effective—the Pfizer and Moderna ones, and so even though there is this pause on Johnson & Johnson, we do want people to feel that they should still take the vaccines when they’re eligible.

They can go on the My Turn website, where they can sign up for different types of appointments and clinics within the area.”

Ultimately, the pandemic will be overcome, but there is progress to be made, according to Carson.

“Obviously this has been a challenging and heartrending time because of the loss of life and the terrible impacts of the pandemic on renters and small businesses and workers who are underemployed or lost their jobs altogether,” Carson said via email. “We will bounce back, but we still have work to do to see our community through this crisis.”

PRIORITYFORPARENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Obusan said that she had looked into the programming at the Early Childhood Lab, but because of its half-day programming, she would end up having to pay double the price to have a sitter watch her two daughters for the rest of the day.

“It wouldn’t have worked for us because of the way I scheduled my classes,” Obusan said. “It was really hard to schedule my classes in clusters, so they were all over the place.”

Kelly Twibell Sanchez, the interim director of the Early Childhood Lab, said the lab currently serves up to 24 children for essential workers, but typically serves up to 84 children for half-day programming.

“One of the hopes that we have in partnering with [Weiss] in the future is to look at what we can do to make the Early Childhood Laboratory more accommodating, particularly to undergraduate student families, single parents [and] low-income parents,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said she hopes to open up full-time programming for the children of student parents in the future and that the Transfer and Reentry Center will partner to publicize the opportunity to student parents.

“There’s research that shows the more time children spend time on campus, the more they identify that college or university is for them in the future,” Weiss said. “So in a weird way, it’s almost like doing recruitment to the very youngest people.”

Obusan said she was often dependent on individual professors to provide accommodations, and mandatory synchronous lectures haven’t helped her.

“The synchronous lectures are a little harsh, especially the mandatory attendance,” Obusan said. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic and there’s a lot of things going on.”

Before the pandemic, Obusan’s babysitter got sick and Obusan was told she could not bring the child into the classroom for a mandatory lecture or leave the classroom early to take care of her

child. She was concerned about the impact this could have on her grade.

“I know there [are] not a lot of student parents on campus, but we also matter,” Obusan said.

When Hanaway’s mother had cancer removed from her stomach last month, he was unable to attend his finals.

“Fortunately, my professors were able to just give me the grade I had without taking finals,” Hanaway said.

Obusan said she would love it if there was a community of parents that she could connect with.

“I never realized that being a parent is very isolating,” Obusan said. “I’m never alone because I’m always with my kids, but it’s very isolating.”

Recently, Sanchez piloted a workshop to provide student parents with early childhood development information and is working on a program to distribute play kits.

“I know that particularly when you are a student, housing space is limited,” Sanchez said.

“So having a rotating kit of play materials for your child that you don’t have to store long-term can be appealing.”

Sanchez said she would like to get the lab up to 80% capacity for Fall Quarter.

Obusan said she hopes that UC Davis will look into adjusting FAFSA fees for student parents who live off campus because the price for a family is much higher than it is for childless students who can have roommates.

“I think there’s a big discrepancy in prices that I think should be changed for student parents,” Obusan said.

Sanchez said the priority registration is intended to help student parents and caregivers manage their schedules.

“Having that priority registration at least gives them a solid start to set up that important family schedule,” Sanchez said. “Hopefully [it] will take some stress off of parents as they juggle all their responsibilities.”

TIKTOKLEGS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 There was something so comforting about being guaranteed some sort of comedic relief as the world experienced its own personal drama.

The emergence of TikTok celebrities, then, was a given. We had the time to learn the 30-second TikTok dances and familiarize ourselves with the names of the different characters that crossed in and out of our For You pages. The faces of these previously unknown teenagers flooded Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. A group of especially prominent TikTok influencers known as the “Hype House” had their own New York Times feature.

Outside of the dancing and the humor skits, there was a strange sense of invincibility that these influencers exhibited in the face of the pandemic. While we were festering inside, these teens fulfilled all of the rags-to-riches dreams that were more reflective of normal times in our lives. In a period of disorder, we sought to create order by living vicariously through these internet personalities who seemingly weren’t affected by this chaos.

This idea checks out when we look at the numbers. In May 2020, we were in the thick of our quarantine lives. Charli D’Amelio, TikTok’s most-followed creator, was incredibly popular at this time, with 157.5 million views on a video from that month. In March 2021, by contrast, D’Amelio’s most popular video reached only 61.9 million views. Granted, these are very high view counts, but was about an 87.2% decrease in viewership.

This downturn in D’Amelio’s view count is not a reflection on any of her merits. As an influencer, she’s been consistently creating hundreds upon hundreds of dance videos, and has 9.1 billion likes across her entire account.

The downturn, then, is a reflection of the public’s

attitude toward TikTok celebrities in general–– we’re starting to move on. With the world coming back to normal, there’s no need for us to live vicariously through young influencers.

You could say that this is all speculative, but it should be noted that we aren’t really giving these creators much of a chance to expand their careers outside of TikTok. When Dixie D’Amelio (Charli D’Amelio’s older sister) and Addison Rae (the second most-popular TikTok creator) both attempted to launch music careers, they were met with ridicule from social media users outside of their target audiences. In our minds, we’ve already relegated these individuals to the “pandemic-era TikTok celebrity” niche, and we’ve done this mostly without paying attention.

TikTok influencers are going to be hit especially hard by the post-pandemic fan migration simply because they rose to fame during the pandemic. As a collective, social media users (including myself) enjoy reminiscing. As a young Instagram user, I was marred by ‘90s kids nostalgia-posting about “Rugrats” and Tamagotchi Pets.

These days, TikTok users are already posting about their “early quarantine nostalgia,” which is something that I relate to even though it gives me very intense Stockholm syndrome vibes.

Whenever this pandemic will truly come to a close, TikTok stars will become a fixture in the halls of pandemic history as the unlikely figureheads of 2020. The coronavirus may go away for us, but their careers will be stained forever.

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.

LADYGAGA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 Perhaps the one part of “Chromatica” that competes with “The Fame Monster” is its visuals.

Both albums come with incredible music videos, something so many pop artists these days sadly neglect, and those from “Chromatica” clearly had some incredibly high production values with full-blown CGI in “Rain on Me” and incredible sets and wardrobes in “911.” This is definitely due in part to your now being worth about $320 million, most likely with boundless budgets for things like music videos in comparison to the days of “The Fame Monster.” Yet, those videos still hold up today as some of the best music video rabbit holes to dive down anytime I find myself on YouTube. Need I remind the masses of the masterpiece that is the video for “Telephone” featuring Beyoncé? Honestly, no amount of CGI

or fancy set design can beat the power that music video holds. Not to mention that your music video for “Paparazzi” essentially kickstarted the actor Alexander Skarsgård’s career. All in all, “Chromatica” attempted to do the impossible (go toe to toe with “The Fame Monster”) and fell short.

Gaga, I’m sorry to rag on you like this, but you (and everyone else in the world) needed to know the scope of “The Fame Monster”’s excellence and how it will always stay on top.

There’s nothing else I can say besides thank you, and I hope you take solace in the fact that I will never stop streaming that album—hopefully, someone will go ahead and listen to it after reading this and understand everything I’ve been saying.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “I’m mostly just scared that my identity is going to be taken and I’ll be a victim of identity theft,” Bilbrey said. “As someone who is interested in cybersecurity, I take really great care to protect myself, protect my identity. I try to make myself the hardest target. So it’s disappointing to me when there’s a breach and I couldn’t have stopped it because it wasn’t my responsibility.”

While it is a difficult task to determine which individuals’ information was stolen, Bilbrey said that providing UC community members with

Experian identity theft protection for one year is an insufficient response.

“The use of Accellion FTA should have been discontinued in January when there were first notifications that there were vulnerabilities in this service,” Bilbrey said. “Post-notification of this breach, in specific to the university, I am disappointed that they only provided one year of identity protection coverage, as we will need to deal with this the rest of our lives.”

HUMANBIOLOGYMAJOR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 As a part of most majors within the College of Biological Sciences, students will take certain upper-division restricted electives pertaining to their major. According to Kaplan, the new major’s restricted electives will incorporate both the natural science and social science concepts necessary to understand human biology.

“We will have courses from anthropology introduced as one of those restrictive electives, so not only do they get courses that we’re used to teaching here, but they’re going to get exposed to human biology from different perspectives across the university,” Kaplan said. “My vision is that we continue to work on bringing in those kinds of courses from outside because human biology is more than just the molecules and the genes and the proteins and the organs, it’s also how it affects society, [...] medicine and policy.”

Gomes said that he and Kaplan plan to increase the number of students in the major after five years.

“The tentative plan was for five years at a cap of 200 because we want to give a good experience to students and if problems arise, we want to be able to handle it and get a well-oiled major before we start to let everyone who wants to do it in,” Gomes said.

Gomes and Kaplan plan to continue revising the major as it progresses.

“It allows us now to leverage the strengths of all the departments instead of just one department to really create something that is like a live-in document which you continue to improve, and in future years, we’re actually thinking about specific courses to add that will add value to the major,” Gomes said.

FEARLESS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 Where listeners could once hear the effort it took to sing certain notes, fans can listen to the effortless tone in Swift’s songs.

What I was most excited about with the rerecordings were the previously unreleased songs she labels “From The Vault.” I was never the type to look for unreleased songs on YouTube, so all of her “From The Vault” songs were ones that I had never heard before, and I was looking to see what songs didn’t make the cut the first time around.

One of her first new songs that was released as a single was “Mr. Perfectly Fine (From The Vault),” and I am in love with it. There’s something about a 31-year-old Swift singing the playful (yet heartbreaking) lyrics that a young teenage Swift wrote when a breakup was ripping her to shreds.

For reference, with this album a good number the songs are about the musician Joe Jonas, who is now good friends with Swift—she even sent his baby a blanket. This is what’s great about having the re-recordings—so many of the songs are whispers of what Swift once felt, and fans can rest knowing she’s in a much more peaceful place now.

Swift brought six new songs from the vault on Taylor’s Version, and fans are eagerly learning every lyric. One of those songs is “That’s When (From The Vault)” featuring artist Keith Urban,

which is climbing its way into my heart. It’s a playful song that I can’t imagine Swift writing now, when I’m so used to her storytelling. I love hearing what could have been on this album so long ago; it feels like we are getting to know more of Swift when she was young and how she felt.

In addition to the new songs on her album, she also added in some twists on her original setlist that came as a welcomed surprise. Her new rendition of “Forever and Always” as a piano version made me appreciate the song so much more. I was so used to hearing the song with its happy, dance-y sound that I didn’t get to appreciate it as a song about the devastating pain that is teenage heartache.

It’s also so nice to be able to absorb these songs as if it were the first time you were hearing them. When the album first came out, I was nine, and didn’t know how to feel lyrics for what they were. I just sang along to “You Belong With Me” because it was catchy. These new songs, and realizing what was always there that I just didn’t pick up on, only reminds me how much her writing has grown over the years. While her songs were always catchy and I was always a fan, the elegance that her newer albums hold with their imagery and storylines is astounding.

Whether it’s with “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” or “Folklore,” I’m here for the new Taylor.

EDUCATIONFUTURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Although he remains within his Ph.D. program, he still has doubts over future job opportunities and potential success within the field.

“Because of the pandemic, I know that the job market right now is terrible and people are having a really hard time finding jobs, even to get an interview,” Güzel said. “It’s a big mystery, it’s a big question. It’s of course that fear too of what I’m going to do and how I should navigate this.”

For undergraduate students, Güzel said that the current issues that teachers face, such as a lack of resources, are dissuading students from pursuing a degree in education.

“When we have conversations with students, […] they are having second thoughts right now,” Güzel said. “When they see how their profession is being treated by the government and by other outlets, of course they’re having second thoughts.”

Despite these doubts, Güzel encourages his students to continue with their education degree.

“Of course we are encouraging them, but there are also realites that they are seeing as well,” Güzel said. “It’s very sad to unfortunately see that people are having second thoughts about their passions.”

If this pattern continues with fewer students becoming education majors and more teachers leaving their jobs, Ortíz-González said that this could seriously impact the quality of education that students receive. California has already been impacted by a teacher shortage that has made reopening schools more difficult.

“I think that in the short term, if teachers continue to leave or choose not to enter the field at all, you’re going to have bigger classrooms so students are going to have less quality instruction,” Ortíz-González said. “Because of the teacher shortage happening in California, a lot of districts are partnering up with teaching credential programs […] that expedite the process.”

Though the future of teaching remains unknown, Güzel remains confident that current educators will be able inspire students who are passionate about teaching to pursue a future in education.

“This is why we are doing this job,” Güzel said. “We will win them again. We will work hard. We will help their hopes come back again, and we will bring them back. It’s on us right now.”

COWBOYMAJOR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 And as entertaining as it may seem to cross America eating only bacon and eventually your horses, multiple students have failed the trip.

But that’s not all. If you actually make it back to Davis in one piece, you’ll be forced to face down Professor Cowboy himself. You’ll showdown at noon in front of the Memorial Union, and whoever is the last man standing will gain the title of Professor Cowboy and teach the curriculum for the next year. The current Professor Cowboy is undefeated, but with a practically-free Doctorate degree bounty on his head, who knows how long until the next professor is named.

The current Professor Cowboy assured me that it’s just part of “being a cowboy.”

UC Davis’ first, spur-jangling steps into the world of the West may be a bit of a culture shock to other students, but I respect all forms of education and expect all students to do the same.

COW classes will be available to all students next quarter, with priority registration for students from Texas.

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

ZOOMTA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 I’m really good at this, actually. I should work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Or try to find my ex’s new girlfriend on Instagram. Did she say she was an astrological counselor?

Maybe I should check on the Zoom. Oh look, they’re on another slide about her boyfriend.

He’s from Wisconsin. They went to Disneyland together. Riveting. I can see him on her Instagram dressed like a rejected J.Crew model. Wait, that’s her dad. Oh my God. He looks like her boyfriend.

Oh my God. She’s dating her dad. Ewwwwww.

Is there a hotline for this? Disgusting. Anyway, moving on.

Who links their Twitter in their Instagram bio? You are not Chrissy Teigen.

“I would literally kill someone for Olive Garden breadsticks.” Dude, you don’t have to.

They’re unlimited.

“Undergrads are idiots. They never pay attention and then email at the last second.” Oh, that’s just unfair. This one says, “Stop stalking

me.” Who would want to retroactively read your mediocre attempts at—Okay, point taken.

Wait, did she say something important? No, they’re still on the syllabus. I can read the words “office hours,” thank you.

LinkedIn! How could I forget LinkedIn! Sales associate and customer advisor at Burger King.

That’s definitely a stretch. Wow, can you actually speak Arabic, Spanish and Zulu? Elementary proficiency. Get out of here.

The Zoom is ending. Smile and wave. No, I will not do the reading. You might want to ask if your father has an illegitimate child who grew up in Wisconsin.

Unmute for the first time to say thank you.

I’ll email you my questions. Keep smiling while clicking to exit. Goodbye.

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

12 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

SPORTS UC Davis Women’s Water Polo team prepares to finish off their season After last year was cut short, the motivated Aggies enter tournament season with a clear goal

By OMAR NAVARRO sports@theaggie.org The No. 10 ranked UC Davis women’s water polo team is now entering the final frame of their regular season and in what’s been a whirlwind year, there is a lot to take away. After having their season cut short last year due to COVID-19, the Aggies have been back in the pool this impressive season.

After rising COVID-19 cases hit the country hard during the fall and winter months, it was doubtful that there would even be a season. Up until January, the team’s training consisted of only distanced swimming and leg work. When they were cleared to incorporate passing and balls into their training, county guidelines eventually loosened and since then, the situation progressively got better. Still, the long road it took to work up to the season was not an easy task for all involved—it was one of uncertainty.

“It was a week by week thing [during the offseason],” said head coach Jamey Wright, who is coaching in his 36th season. “[The team] enjoys training and enjoys each other’s company. I think those two things really got us through those tough times. You don’t know if you’re going to have any games. There’s a lot of questions in your

head like ‘why am I working so hard?’”

For the players, trying to recreate the normal team feel was not easy. With all protocols in place, building that team chemistry during a pandemic was difficult.

“It was pretty tough in the beginning,” junior attacker and psychology major Emily Aikema said. “We had a lot of team meetings together, we did team bonding, everything we could—obviously socially distanced. We just have a good team and a really dedicated group of girls this season.”

When the team got the green light to play a season, it was time to get to work. Getting tested three times a week and 48 hours before a game, the protocols were set for the Aggies to begin their water polo season. In their first taste of action after almost a year, the team hosted No.11 Fresno State at the Schaal Aquatics Center in Davis, CA, on Feb. 13. In a close matchup, UC Davis fell in overtime 11-12, but were able to see them once again in a doubleheader two weeks later—this time in Fresno. After falling in the first leg of the double header, the team was able to finally knock them off, earning their first win of the season, 10-7.

“I was honestly surprised that we were going to have a season,” Aikema said. “I’m very grateful that we had a season and I know a lot of other girls [on the team] are very grateful as well. It’s just really

Chloe Robinson (6) of the UC Davis Women’s Water Polo team takes a shot attempt during a match against Fresno State on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020 at the Schaal Aquatics Center in Davis, CA. (Justin Han / Aggie)

nice playing with a team that gets along and all want the same goal.”

Having been in a rhythm and practicing full-on now, the team began to find their groove. In a span of two weeks, the Aggies were able to put together four straight impressive wins against ranked teams.

They beat No. 17 Pacific University twice, No. 15 San Jose State and upset No. 4 ranked UC Irvine in the first leg of the doubleheader on March 12. Despite losing the second leg, the Aggies’ big wins in previous weeks began to draw the national spotlight, as they climbed the rankings. A split against No. 9 UC Santa Barbara on March 21 followed by a sweep of Long Beach State a week later, gave them their eighth win of the season as they closed the month of March.

As with almost everything in life during the pandemic, the team had to make many adjustments this season, especially in regard to travel. In a normal season, there are events held in one location where many teams meet throughout a weekend and play on a neutral site.

There are also occasions when the team has to travel both in state and out of state. This year, in an effort to reduce travel and stays, most games have been doubleheaders played the same day. Aside from their trip to Santa Barbara and their upcoming trip to Hawai’i, the Aggies have been able to avoid overnight trips this year, a much different experience than they are used to.

Against No. 8 ranked UC San Diego, the Aggies were able to again achieve a split, moving to their ninth win of the year— surpassing last year’s shortened season’s total. On April 17, the team hosted Fresno Pacific in a doubleheader, beating them handedly both times, by scores of 17-2 and 13-5 respectively. With only two games remaining in the season at Hawai’i, UC Davis is shaping up to be a force as they enter the Big West Tournament.

The team’s solid defense and scoring have catapulted UC Davis to the edge of the top 10 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association rankings. Led by center and sophomore human development major Noelle Wijnbelt who has 28 goals, the Aggies have been able to outscore their opponents by a total of 141-130. Aikema has also played a major role this year, as the junior has 35 total points thus far. The team as a whole has eight players in double digits, a sign that their scoring strength is fairly spread out. Even during all this success and a much better year in terms of wins than last year, head coach Jamey Wright is still taking it on a weekly basis, as the team approaches the end of the regular season.

“In a strange way, I’m still kind of holding my breath,” Wright said. “Just two weeks ago, [UC] Santa Barabara, who is in our conference, suddenly had a group of people test positive [for COVID-19] and had to cancel the rest of their season. We’re only 10 yards from the safe ground but any step can be your last one. We just keep applauding our team ‘way to stay safe and keep staying safe.’”

With only two games remaining until the Big West Conference Tournament, the Aggies hope to make it back to the NCAA Tournament—a place they haven’t gone since the 2008 season where they finished fourth. They will finish playing 18 games, two less than last year’s season which was cut short. Regardless, this has been one of the most memorable seasons thus far in the careers of not only the players, but the coaches.

“This feels like all of a sudden it’s April. How did that happen? It was so quick,” Wright added. “It’s just a great group. We’re relatively young, but I’m just so proud of them with how well they followed the rules and followed the protocols [this year].”

2021 NFL Mock Draft for non-playoff teams With the draft right around the corner, The Aggie looks at where the NFL’s future will land

By OMAR NAVARRO sports@theaggie.org AGGIE FILE

The National Football League (NFL) Draft is upon us, and teams are preparing their final thoughts and big boards ahead of the event which spans from April 29 to May 1. The event will be held in Cleveland, Ohio this year, so the return of fans will bring back a familiar element after last year’s fully virtual set-up. With the league’s future stars also in attendance, 259 names will be called and their lives will be greatly impacted.

As the countdown approaches, there is a lot of talk and uncertainty surrounding most of the top 10. After the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles all shuffled the draft order in late March, it remains unknown where these players will land. As fans and teams anxiously await the arrival of players they hope can give them an extra push for a Super Bowl, The Aggie looks at the most probable landing spots for these players.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson QB The NFL Draft’s worst kept secret is the No. 1 overall selection held by the Jaguars. After going 1-15 last year, Jacksonville won the “Tank for Trevor” sweepstakes and will look to build around Trevor Lawrence, who is touted as the best quarterback prospect in almost a decade.

After reportedly giving the Clemson quarterback the playbook, the Jaguars are hoping to turn their fortune around and finally have their franchise quarterback, making him the obvious choice at the top.

New York Jets: Zach Wilson, BYU QB After much speculation on whether the Jets would go quarterback at No. 2, their trading of their former third overall pick Sam Darnold all but solidified that choice. After Zach Wilson’s athletic stature and ability impressed college football once again this past season, many expect New York to begin a new era with the BYU star at the helm.

Having not made the playoffs since the 2010 season, the Jets hope they finally got it right with

the quarterback selection.

San Francisco 49ers: Justin Fields, Ohio State QB Having come up short in the Super Bowl just a season ago, last season was quite the opposite for the 49ers as they battled injuries the entire year.

Although quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is still under contract for two more seasons, his ongoing health issues and his limited capabilities as San Francisco’s starter has led the team to make a splash up to No. 3. After many believed the Niners would go in a different direction, Justin Fields is now the betting favorite as the pick to round out the top three. His ceiling and potential as the future quarterback of the 49ers is enough to place him in third.

Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, Florida TE With Fields off the board, the Falcons are in an interesting position. As longtime starting quarterback Matt Ryan turns 36 in May, a future investment could be at play. However, Atlanta could decide to give it one last push. Enter Kyle Pitts, the athletic tight end from Florida. Pitts dazzled at Florida and his 6’6” frame and elite speed makes him the perfect tight end in today’s NFL. As the Falcons hope to make it back to the Super Bowl, Pitts would join a stacked offense of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley—more than enough to wreak havoc in the league.

Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase, LSU WR All signs point to a Louisiana State University (LSU) reunion in Cincinnati, as it is reported that the Bengals are locking in on the LSU star wide receiver. Ja’Marr Chase would join his former college teammate and fellow quarterback Joe Burrow, who is working his way back from injury.

After the young quarterback suffered a tough injury during the season, the Bengals hope to give him some more weapons to work with. Although Cincinnati could use a lot of offensive line help, the possibility of teaming up Chase and Burrow to an already impressive receiver room is too much to pass up.

Miami Dolphins: Penei Sewell, Oregon OL Labeled a “generational” draft prospect, the quarterback-heavy top of the draft could make Penei Sewell slide just a bit. However, the Dolphins could be the beneficiary here, as Pro Football Focus ranked them the 28th best offensive line this past season. Hoping to give last year’s first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa some more protection, Sewell can help the young quarterback flourish after an inconsistent year.

Denver Broncos (trade with Detroit Lions): Trey Lance, North Dakota St. QB Rumored to be interested in moving up for a quarterback, the Broncos will be able to do just that in a trade with the Lions. Advancing two spots, Denver is able to get their franchise quarterback in Trey Lance, a prospect from the FCS ranks.

After striking out on every quarterback since the retirement of Peyton Manning, the Broncos hope Lance is the fresh start they’ve been looking for.

Carolina Panthers: Rashawn Slater, Northwestern OL After trading for quarterback Sam Darnold from the Jets, the Panthers may look to give him some help and boost as he begins a new era in North Carolina. With Rashawn Slater, the Panthers would give Darnold better protection than he had in New York and more time in the pocket. With great speed and balance, Slater will make an immediate impact on the Panthers’ offensive line.

Detroit Lions (trade with Denver Broncos): Devonta Smith, Alabama WR The 2020 Heisman Trophy winner gets the nod at No. 9, as the Lions begin a new era with Jared Goff. After a stellar year at Alabama, Detroit will be looking for him to replace Kenny Golladay, who made his way to New York in free agency.

Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II, Alabama CB Another Alabama player is off the board as the Cowboys start the draft in desperate need of defensive improvements. After setting a franchise record in permitted points, Patrick Surtain II would join fellow Alabama defensive back Trevon Diggs, who was drafted by the Cowboys last year.

New England Patriots (trade with New York Giants): Mac Jones, Alabama QB Once seen as a possible top three pick, Mac Jones has the potential to slide into this year’s draft. Although the Patriots brought back Cam Newton, Jones gives them a new quarterback to develop in the post-Brady era.

Philadelphia Eagles: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle would continue the slew of Alabama players drafted, as the Eagles look to give new starting quarterback Jalen Hurts some more weapons. Having drafted Jalen Reagor in the late, first round last year, Philadelphia's misses at the wide receiver position have placed them in

a position to draft someone they hope can be a splash player.

Los Angeles Chargers: Jaycee Horn, South Carolina CB The young defensive mind of new head coach Brandon Staley brings a fresh element to the Chargers who are looking to get back into contention. To fix up the defense that showed flashes, Jaycee Horn gives Los Angeles that athletic player in the secondary that can fit Staley’s system.

Minnesota Vikings: Micah Parsons, Penn State LB Head coach Mike Zimmer had his worst defense in a long time the previous year, and after many offseason moves, Micah Parsons would be one of the last pieces to get the Vikings back to normal. After a slow start to the year, the Vikings picked up near midseason and hope to build on what they have.

New York Giants (trade with New England): Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC OL With quarterback Daniel Jones entering a make-or-break year, the Giants’ offense has enough in their arsenal to compete this upcoming year. Alijah Vera-Tucker stands to add some more pass protection to a line that showed potential, which could be huge for the development of Jones.

Arizona Cardinals: Jaelen Phillips, Miami DE Even after the addition of JJ Watt, the Cardinals’ defense needs some help when it comes to rushing the passer. After losing Haason Reddick to the Carolina Panthers and the return of Chandler Jones from major injury, going defensive with Jaelen Phillips would be choosing the best player available.

Las Vegas Raiders: Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech, OL After a flurry of moves in the offseason, the Raiders must now rebuild their offensive line. Holding the 24th ranked line last year, the addition of Christian Darrisaw allows them to improve and give quarterback Derek Carr more time in the pocket.

Miami Dolphins: Kwity Paye, Michigan DE In their second pick of the first round, the Dolphins look to attack a need. The losses of Kyle Van Noy and Shaq Lawson to free agency leaves a hole when it comes to rushing the passer. For their secondary to continue to impress, pressure on the opposing quarterback will be key, making Kwity Paye a reliable pick.