May 5, 2022

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VOLUME 140, ISSUE 26 | THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022

NON-BINDING BALLOT MEASURE ELIMINATING UC DAVIS TO HOST THE 53RD WHOLE EARTH STUDENT FEES THAT FUND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS TO BE PLACED ON SPRING 2022 FESTIVAL IN PERSON ELECTION BALLOT ASUCD Senate discusses university policy about referenda for the athletics portion of student fees

The festival will include changes to eliminate past instances of cultural appropriation CHRISTINA LIU / AGGIE

BY ANGELINA ANGELO campus@theaggie.org

Sunset during UC Davis Homecoming Football Game against Northern Colorado. (Benjamin Cheng / Aggie)

BY KAYA DO-KHANH campus@theaggie.org On April 14, ASUCD Senate passed SB #68 and SB #69, which places a non-binding ballot measure on student fees for university athletic programs on the spring 2022 election ballot. When the elections begin on May 9, students will be able to vote on whether or not they want to continue paying $571.41 in annual fees that goes toward funding UC Davis Intercollegiate Athletics through the Student Activities and Services Initiative (SASI) Fee and the Campus Expansion Initiative Fee (CEI).

Voting member of COSAF and fourth-year history major Calvin Wong has been pursuing the referenda since the summer of 2021. He said his involvement with the issue is primarily because of the context of the discontinuation of the university’s physical education (PE) program.

In the 1990s, the SASI fee was put into place to help fund athletic programs, which came with the promise of an athletics program with multiple sports and other benefits such as a creditbearing physical education program, according to a petition to save the UC Davis PE program in 2020. In winter 2021, the PE program was cut.

Wong said that with the termination of the PE program and since the fees had not been voted on in 20 years, he wanted to have a revote by the student body. “[I] saw this connection between the SASI and CEI and our PE program and how because we no longer have the PE program, it’s really difficult to justify why we’re continuing to pay [...] for athletic operating expenses that don’t benefit the 98% of students on this campus that are not student-athletes,” Wong said.

With this referendum, Wong stated that his main goal is not to cut athletics funding but to re-establish the credit-bearing PE program, which would justify the fees. The ballot measure states that “Yes” vote “may also result in one or more of the following: student leaders may use an affirmative result to negotiate the return of the credit-bearing Physical Education program.”

“Fundamentally, why I started all of this was to give ASUCD a stronger negotiation ground to be able to bring back the PE program,” Wong said.

ASUCD President Ryan Manriquez stated that there are many fees that many students are not aware that they are paying, and with the SASI and CEI, he saw the inequities of students paying fees for things they might not have access to.

“I certainly use myself as an easy example; as a student with a disability, I’m paying into athletic scholarships that I will never be able to access,” Manriquez said. “But it’s not just about that; it’s about [how] every other section of that fee is something that I can access, like the Coffee House [and] the Student Health and Counseling Services. There are other things that I am paying into within the fee that I can benefit from and I can access whenever I want, but for athletics, it’s not the same.”

According to UC Davis Director of News and Media Relations Melissa Lutz Blouin, impacts of the elimination of athletic fees from SASI and CEI on athletic programs would include athletic program cuts, lower-level competition and layoffs and maintenance deferral on venues used by club sports and students such as the Hickey Gym, track and the beach volleyball courts.

ATHLETICSREFERENDA on 9

The 53rd annual Whole Earth Festival (WEF) is returning in person for the first time in two years on the UC Davis quad from May 6 to 8. This zero-waste festival focuses on promoting activism, sustainability, wellness and environmental consciousness, according to the WEF website.

This year, festivities include live bands, arts and crafts vendors, educational workshops and food vendors. The history of the festival spans over 50 years and began as a small class project for UC Davis students. Since then, it has grown in size and attraction and become a self-sustaining ASUCD unit.

Over the past few years, student groups on campus have raised concerns about certain aspects of WEF. Some past events at the festival are now considered disrespectful to certain communities and cultures, according to Cozette Ellis, a fourth-year design major and a co-director of WEF. “WEF was started in the late 1960s, so parts of the festival have become problematic due to cultural and religious appropriations,” Ellis said. “We have [...] taken input from many different studentrun groups. We have decided to not facilitate or allow a drum circle to take place. We hear what students have shared regarding not feeling comfortable or respected during WEF, and we are doing our best to make adjustments accordingly.”

WEF has been working to promote an inclusive space by making changes such as altering the title of the “Karma Dome” to “Festival Dome,” additional staff training, as well as working with the ASUCD Ethnic and Cultural Affairs commissioner to identify and eliminate issues of cultural appropriation, according to the WEF website.

In addition to inclusivity issues being addressed, COVID-19 will also have an impact on the festival.

“While we have a student staff of about 41 people, most of our staff [has] never seen the festival in person before,” Ellis said.

“This year, we will have less vendors and artisans present due to the impacts of COVID-19 on small businesses.”

WEF is a family-friendly event and historically has attracted around 30,000 people. Community involvement is critical to this event, Ellis said, and she recommends masks in order to keep the UC Davis community as safe as possible.

Nancy Marshall, a recently graduated UC Davis student and a co-director of WEF, spoke about the importance of volunteers for this event.

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SOME UC DAVIS STUDENTS SAY COLLEGE LIFE ISN’T ALWAYS RAMADAN-FRIENDLY UC Davis students discuss challenges balancing observing Ramadan while away from home, attending Picnic Day and living on campus

BY UMAIMA EJAZ features@theaggie.org As UC Davis celebrated its beloved Picnic Day in person for the first time in three years on April 27, some Muslim students felt like they were not as welcome as others at the event.

Parwana Mehr, a third-year psychology major, returned home on Picnic Day early. She was among the many Muslim students whose Ramadan fasts coincided with the event.

Mehr, along with her friends, had woken up early to join in on Picnic Day festivities, but said that there weren’t many options for her.

“The lines for any of the things were easily over 100 people,” Mehr said. “We were all fasting, and it just didn’t seem like it would be a healthy thing to be under the sun like that ... I couldn’t check [out] the foster cats and the dog races merely because of the lines and heat. And obviously, I couldn’t eat or drink anything from the food truck.”

Mehr is also the social media manager for the UC Davis Afghan Student Association. She said she tried advocating for a push for this Picnic Day to be more Ramadan-friendly, but because it had been planned a year in advance, she found that there wasn’t much she could do.

“It was Ramadan this month,” Mehr said. “But next year, it could be something for another religion. They should definitely have more representation when making decisions like this.”

Shukla Ahmad, a second-year biochemistry and molecular biology major, was also among the students who were disappointed because they couldn’t enjoy the Picnic Day to the fullest.

“All my friends were drinking cold water and eating ice cream,” Ahmad said. “But, I couldn’t. After I went back home, the first thing I checked was whether Picnic Day next year would be during Ramadan or not.”

The Aggie reached out to the organizers of the Picnic Day for comment.

“Traditionally, Picnic Day has been held during the month of April,” UC Davis News and Media Relations representative Julia Ann Easley said via email. “We are always looking for ways to make the experience more inclusive for our students. We will work with the Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian (MENASA) Student Resources unit and Picnic Day organizers to consult with students and understand how we can meet the needs of students who are observing Ramadan.”

Ahmad said that she’s found that some other aspects of college life aren’t Ramadan-friendly either. Ahmad, who lives on campus, was excited to find out that the dining commons would be providing additional breakfast items that students were allowed

AMY YU / AGGIE to take with them for later consumption for suhoor, the meal with which one closes their fast before the sunrise, but to her surprise, it didn’t seem to be very much food.

“I went and tried it on the first day for suhoor,” Ahmad said. ”It was just dates and yogurt that day. I just went back home, and now I don’t go to the dining commons — I just cook for myself at home.”

Harris Razaqi, a fourth-year economics major and ASUCD senator, said he has tried to push for more halal food options at The Pantry on campus and ways to accommodate students who are fasting.

Razaqi chose not to fast on Picnic Day this year, both because of his workload and because it happened to be both the first and last Picnic Day that will occur within his time as a UC Davis student, but said that more options should be available for students who do choose to fast. He said that the CoHo and other dining options with limited operating hours put strain on Muslim students, leading many of them to make a choice between their

religious obligations and their academic ones.

The Aggie also reached out to the Student Housing and Dining Services for comment. “[The MSA] requested a meeting in my office to go over the needs of Muslim students,” Branden M. Petitt, the director of Student Housing and Dining Services said via email.

“Out of those conversations, we have expanded to a more extensive Halal food menu and better accommodations during Ramadan. They were very pleased with the outcome and we’ve continued since.”

The Muslim Student Association UC Davis (MSAUCD) has made efforts to support students fasting during Ramadan who feel that the school has not done enough to support them. MSAUCD has arranged community meals for iftar and suhoor, the meal one has before the sun rises and the fast begins, but also distribute their own packed meals for iftar, providing more options in addition to what the dining commons offered.

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THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

UC DAVIS RESEARCHERS FIND LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF HAVING HIGH SELF-ESTEEM A research review discovered multiple positive long-term benefits of self-esteem that varied distinctly from the known negative effects AMY YU / AGGIE

BY MONICA MANMADKAR science@theaggie.org In a recent study at the University of Bern and UC Davis, researchers suggested that having high self-esteem can influence people’s lives in a positive manner.

Fascinated by self-esteem as a graduate student, Dr. Richard W. Robbins, a professor in the Department of Psychology at UC Davis, and Dr. Uli Orth, a co-author of this research review and an associate professor of psychology at the University of Bern, conducted many studies examining the relationship between selfesteem and success. Robbins stated that many psychologists also believe that there are several potential costs to having high self-esteem.

“In fact, some psychologists even claim that high self-esteem has a ‘dark side’ because it can

lead (in their view) to narcissistic traits that are toxic for relationships and other life outcomes,” Robbins said via email. “My coauthor, Uli Orth, and I disagree with this claim, so we decided to write an article that reviews and summarizes the very large body of research examining the consequences of high vs. low self-esteem.”

The research review went over empirical evidence on the benefits of having high selfesteem. Robbins and Orth delved into the evidence in six categories: social relationships, education, work, mental health, physical health and antisocial behavior. Through their review, they were able to find that self-esteem is beneficial in most of these domains, which holds true throughout different stages of life, genders and ethnicities.

“The findings of our review indicate that high self-esteem helps individuals adapt to and

succeed in a variety of life domains, including having more satisfying relationships, performing better at school and work, enjoying improved mental and physical health, and refraining from antisocial behavior, [which refers] to delinquency in adolescence and unethical or criminal behavior in adulthood,” Robbins said.

Although the findings did not change across different demographics, the benefits of selfesteem may be moderated by other factors, Orth said.

“For example, having high self-esteem could be more important in some social contexts than in others,” Orth said via email. “More specifically, if an individual lacks a supportive social network, having high self-esteem could be particularly important.”

Orth also explained that the available longitudinal evidence suggests that high self-

esteem leads to more satisfying relationships, improved health and better performance at school and work, whereas low self-esteem is a risk factor for problematic outcomes in these life domains.

Looking to future research in this field, Robbins would like to provide stronger evidence that high self-esteem actually causes the positive outcomes detailed in the research review. To prove this conclusively, researchers would need to create interventions to increase self-esteem and then test whether people whose self-esteem has been boosted by an intervention program do better in various life domains than people whose self-esteem was not improved through the program.

SENTATORS HOLD AN OPEN FORUM TO DISCUSS POSSIBILITY OF AN UNCONTESTED ELECTION SB #78, SB #79 and SR #30 bills pass unanimously Surprisingly unrelated drunken mishaps APRIL 20 “Burning candles found in abandoned vehicle.”

“Urinating in sorority backyard.”

APRIL 21 “Dispatch explained that there was an emergency. Reporting party dissatisfied with that information, requested PG+E work be stopped.”

“Nevermind it’s just the janitor.”

APRIL 22 “Non-customer using the restroom.”

APRIL 23 “Loud party.”

“Party since 5:30am.”

“Live music.”

“Urinating on neighbor’s fence and throwing up.”

“Large groups of people outside.”

APRIL 24 “Large swarm of bees in a tree.”

“Claimed he works for the CIA.”

APRIL 25 “Roommate won’t let me in.”

“Subject is stomping.”

APRIL 26 “Guardian requested help finding new housing for dependent.”

“My mother won’t leave the car.”

BY KRISTIN TRENT campus@theaggie.org Vice President Juliana Martinez Hernandez called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. on Thursday, March 28 and recited the UC Davis Land Acknowledgement.

Senator Owen Krauss then moved to confirm the Donation Drive Committee member nominees. The nominees were confirmed with no objections.

President Ryan Manriquez announced a $1,000 release from the special project fund and invited senators and registered student organizations to pitch ideas for projects.

Martinez Hernandez announced that Peer Education And Community Empowerment (PEACE) held a protest on Sunday, May 1 and encouraged those that believe in their mission to support them.

Chairperson Gabriela Tsudik announced that the Academic Affairs Commission (AAC) is endorsing candidates for the upcoming election and encourages candidates to reach out to the AAC for more information.

Chair of the Student Sustainability Career Fair Committee (SSCF) Alana Webre then presented the SSCF quarterly report. Webre shared that over 20 organizations tabled at the career fair, connecting students with career AGGIE FILE

opportunities in sustainable sectors that increase future sustainability. Prior to the fair, SSCF hosted a “Career Fair Prep Workshop” which helped students prepare to interact professionally with tabling companies. During spring quarter, SSCF has used social media campaigns to highlight sustainable summer job internships.

They have also held a “Professional Prep” series, which gives students tips on professionalism in the workplace.

Future plans for SSCF include electing new leadership and adding paid and volunteer positions.

The California Aggie quarterly report was then presented by current Editor-in-Chief Anjini Venugopal and upcoming Editor-in-Chief for the 2022-23 school year Sophie Dewees.

Eustacio Alamilla then presented the quarterly report for Housing Advising for Undergraduate Students (HAUS). Alamilla stated that HAUS is looking to undertake more projects and will need to increase their budget to do so.

SB #78 was passed unanimously to make structural changes to the Executive Advisory Council Unit Relocation and Space Allocation Committee (URSAC).

SB #79, a revised bill to previous bill SB #73, was passed unanimously which changes the requirements of the ballot measure to change the UC Davis mascot to a cow.

SR #30, a bill to make the month of April Sexual Assault Awareness Month, was also passed unanimously.

An open forum was held in which Senator Rashita Chauhan discussed the possibility of candidates in the upcoming spring 2022 election running uncontested. Krauss requested that another special committee meeting on election reform be held in response to the current election climate. Manriquez said he remained positive, despite the possibility of an uncontested election, stating that many of the candidates are very qualified.

Martinez Hernandez proposed to increase the amount of time candidates have to collect signatures in order to be allowed to run in ASUCD elections. Extending time may allow more candidates to have their name placed on the ballot, Marinez Hernandez said.

Members of the Senate discussed the possibility of increasing voter turnout and election participation through the use of social media promotion. Senator Radhika Gawde suggested that senators use their social media to promote election turnout.

“It’s not a lack of engagement; it’s a lack of effort,” Gawde said.

The meeting was adjourned by Martinez Hernandez at 9:26 p.m.

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THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022 | 3

BARRIERS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BRING LEARNING INEQUITIES, ACCORDING TO TWO STUDENTS Students with disabilities continue to face accommodation barriers and discrimination on campus Theubet also manages type 1 diabetes that, due to its late diagnosis, has caused visual impairments. She finds that navigating campus at night is especially challenging because of Davis municipal lighting codes that aim to decrease light pollution.

Theubet has walked into low-hanging trees, which she said makes her feel unsafe on campus. Cracks in the sidewalk also present a hazard, as Theubet uses a cane that has gotten stuck in them and caused her to trip. Additionally, due to her visual and mobility impairments, Theubet uses the bus to commute to school, although she experiences anxiety due to crowding and her limited vision. “[Campus] is not a safe place for me to go,” Theubet said.

Proctored Exam Inadequacies The use of online proctored tests continues to be a barrier for students with disabilities, according to Theubet and Manriquez.

Manriquez shared a specific instance when his class required him to take a proctored exam. Using online testing software, the exam proctors asked Manriquez to lift his laptop as a pre-test check.

He could not perform the task as a result of his disability and had to wait for approval of this change to the testing requirements, which he said caused him to feel unfit for the university environment. As Manriquez waited for approval to take the test, he said he found himself questioning his belonging at the university.

Theubet said she experienced similar barriers using proctored online testing; she was told by the proctoring service that she could not use her screen reader or scratch paper.

“I ended up failing the exam because they would not give me my accessibility needs,” Theubet said.

ADA accessible door at the Student Community Center. (Benjamin Cheng / Aggie)

BY KRISTIN TRENT campus@theaggie.org While 3% of students on campus have a registered disability, students like Ryan Manriquez, a fourth-year political science and communication double major, still face inequities in communicating with professors after class due to accessibility barriers.

Newly-renovated classrooms, such as Wellman 126, have seating that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at the top row, with steps leading down to where an instructor lectures. Manriquez said he uses a wheelchair due to his spinal muscular atrophy. In Wellman, the lecturing floor is only accessed by stairs, making it impossible for many students with physical disabilities to go up to the professor after class and ask them a question, according to Manriquez. This issue is furthered because the professor may leave out the lower side door, he added.

Manriquez said he has tried to ask a question from the back of the classroom and has not been heard. “[Not] being able to ask questions to my professor after class like any of my peers brings inequities to learning,” Manriquez said.

Discriminatory Acts Against Students With Disabilities Professors’ comfort levels vary in addressing students’ accommodation needs at UC Davis, according to Manriquez and Sarah Theubet, a fourth-year communication major and the chair of the ASUCD Disability Rights Advocacy Committee (DRAC).

The Student Disability Center (SDC) is in charge of processing and granting accommodations to students, which are then sent to their professors.

While Theubet said she has encountered a professor who

refused to address her accessibility needs pertaining to course materials, Maniquez said other professors have been more flexible in his experience.

Discrimination against students with disabilities is a violation of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which provides free appropriate public education to students with disabilities and is enforceable upon any organization that receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.

The center can help ensure that academic accommodations are being enforced, according to Jennifer Billeci, the director of the SDC. She encourages students to reach out immediately to their SDC specialist if they encounter difficulties.

Theubet is immunocompromised, and said she has experienced difficulty attaining appropriate accommodations through the SDC for remote learning. She contracted Epstein-Barr virus as a child, compromising her immune system and lacked insurance for proper treatment from a doctor. As a result, she does not have documentation of the disease that has rendered her immune system vulnerable and cannot receive the remote learning accommodation which allows her to view lectures recorded through the SDC. “We are being told to go to different schools, to take quarters off and drop classes because teachers do not want to make classes accessible,” Theubet said.

Billeci encourages students to request accommodations even if they do not have proper documentation of their disability.

The SDC will partner with students to help gather historical information and supply them with provisional services in the short term with the intent of providing accommodations in the future, according to Billeci.

A Future Forward During an ASUCD Senate meeting on April 7, SR #25, a bill drafted by DRAC, was approved by an 11 to one vote. The resolution demands that professors accommodate all students with disabilities in compliance with section 504 of the ADA. Manriquez believes that his position as ASUCD president can help further the dialogue about disability advocacy.

“I ran [for ASUCD President] in 2020 […] because I saw a lack of representation in the association,” he said.

According to Manriquez, more disability topics and policies have been addressed at the administrative level this year. However, he still believes there is much work to be done.

“Prioritizing our mental health is just as important as prioritizing our physical health and that should definitely be included in the conversation about accommodations as well,” Manriquez said.

Additional work can be done to address accessibility inadequacies towards buildings like the testing center, which lacks accessible pathways, Theubet said. Because it would cost more than the yearly budget for campus accessibility improvements, future construction projects should ensure accessibility for all students, according to Theubet.

“Accessibility should not be an afterthought,” Theubet said.

Furthermore, with most buildings on campus only having accessible entrances on their backs, Theubet believes that in order for accessibility to be truly equitable, entrances should be equally accessible.

“We should not be hiding our disabled members,” Theubet said.

Outdoor Accessibility Barriers Barriers to an accessible campus extend past lecture halls.

WINONA LO ON WHAT DAVIS MEANS TO HER, FOLLOWING HER PASSION AND ‘GOING FOR IT’ This spring, seniors reflect on their time at UC Davis and share their plans for post-grad

BY JALAN TEHRANIFAR features@theaggie.org This is the second story in The California Aggie’s five part series profiling seniors graduating from UC Davis this spring. Throughout the quarter, The Aggie will be speaking with seniors about their UC Davis experiences, favorite memories and plans for after graduation.

Winona Lo is a fourth-year cinema and digital media and communication double major from Hong Kong. Lo began her freshman year at UC Davis on the pre-veterinary track, which heavily influenced her decision to attend UC Davis.

“I used to be in pre-vet so it just made sense to come here,” Lo said. “I [also] liked the campus and aura, so I chose Davis.”

When asked what influenced her choice of studies, Lo said her parents’ wishes for her future played a major role in her decision-making.

“I always knew I wanted to do film, but my parents expected me to do medical studies, and they saw that I really liked animals so they were gunning for me to do pre-vet,” Lo said.

“I personally think my parents are really wise and have good intuition, so I followed their expectations until I went full into pre-vet.”

After beginning the pre-vet track, however, Lo realized that her parent’s wishes did not align with her own passion.

“During the fall quarter of my sophomore year, I shadowed this one vet and I followed her the entire day, practicing at different farms and doing surgery on different animals, and I realized that I’m not fit for the jobs,” Lo said.

Lo said it took time to accept that she wanted to follow her heart and pursue her dream of working in the film industry, but she eventually did switch her major to cinema and digital media.

In addition to changing her major, Lo also joined two on-campus communities that aligned with her goals.

“I joined Alpha Phi Omega, which is a national service fraternity, during my freshman year,” Lo said. “During my sophomore year, I [also] joined Aggie Studios.”

Lo also participated in research and internship opportunities during the summers of her college years that have prepared her for her post-grad life — and were fun experiences to have along the way.

“During the summer after freshman year, I did a dolphin research internship in Hong Kong,” Lo said. “During the summer after sophomore year, I shadowed on some film sets. During the

Fourth-year Winona Lo hopes to break into the film industry in Los Angeles after graduating from UC Davis this spring. (Winona Lo / Courtesy) summer after junior year, I went to San Diego to intern at a local news station.”

Although Lo plans to take a break after graduation, she hopes to eventually work in Los Angeles and immerse herself in Hollywood’s film industry.

“I really want to explore more of the film industry because I feel like I don’t really know about many of the roles that exist,” Lo said. “[I want to] take some art direction classes or try to find a job in Los Angeles, which is where I want to end up in the future.”

Lo’s favorite college memory at UC Davis was actually also the day that she decided to change her major.

“I shadowed a veterinarian, and that day she asked me to help her de-horn goats that she had,”

Lo said. “It was Halloween, and my whole shirt was stained with goat blood when I left. I went home [...] and when I walked in my roommates freaked out. Then they were laughing at me and saying that my outfit was my Halloween costume because I looked like a serial killer.”

If Lo could go back in time and give advice to her freshman self, she would tell herself to participate more.

“Try anything and everything,” Lo said.

“Also, go big or go home. I feel like you should go all out if you really like something.”

When asked what UC Davis means to her, Lo emphasized the university’s welcoming environment.

“To me, UC Davis means an encouraging place to learn, grow and develop yourself,” Lo

said. “I think personally, everyone here is aboveaverage-nice compared to the rest of the world, and this is a place where a lot of people can be comfortable trying new things out, and I think that happened to me too.”

The most important thing Lo learned during her time here is the importance of embracing who you are.

“Go with your intuition and pursue what you really want to do in life,” Lo said. “I feel like a lot of people have a natural tendency to follow the expectations of people they admire and love, but at the end of the day, it’s your life. If there’s something you really want to do with your life you should just go for it … Be shameless.”

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THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

‘A RITE OF PASSAGE’: DAVIS KICKS OFF NATIONAL BIKE MONTH WITH 12TH ANNUAL LOOPALOOZA Davis holds it’s 12th annual Loopalooza, a 12 mile bike loop ride throughout the city

BY CHRIS PONCE city@theaggie.org National Bike Month began this May 1 with Davis’ 12th annual Loopalooza. The Loopalooza is a 12-mile bike ride that is hosted

by Bike Davis, the city of Davis, The Bike Campaign/Bike Garage and Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District. This celebrated community event was on hiatus in 2020 and has returned for its second year since the start of the pandemic.

Nico Fauchier-Magnan, the President of the Board of Bike Davis, talked about the small hiatus that the Loopalooza faced early in the pandemic.

“We took one year off, the first year of Covid, so 2020,” Fauchier-Magnan said. “We decided not to do the event. It was just as Covid was starting, and nobody really knew much of what was going on.”

The Loopalooza is a large event that brings the community together according to FauchierMagnan. Before the event he talked about how it is a great way to kick off National Bike Month.

“May’s bike month is coming up,” FauchierMagnan said. “And Loopalooza is a really good kick off to that event. I mean I’m looking forward to Loopalooza itself. You know, it’s just a really fun ride. We have every year about 500 people coming out over those 4 hours of the event to just ride the bike loop. People really like all the stations along the way.“ Maria Contreras Tebbutt, the founder and director of The Bike Campaign/Bike Garage, discussed the sentimental significance to completing the Loopalooza. Tebbutt has a long list of experience in regards to biking. Tebbutt is a Nationally Certified Cycling Instructor and is the Outreach Director for the Davis Bike Club.

Tebbutt described the bike loop as “A rite of passage for many bike riders is to find the entire Davis Bike Loop, approximately 12 miles of designated bike path that goes around the entire city, crossing over the freeway three times.”

Daniela Tavares, the safe routes to school coordinator for the city of Davis, made a statement via email that discussed the history associated with the Loopalooza. According to Tavares, the city of Davis saw a decrease in bikers in 2010. Tavares said that in 2010 a committee worked to understand the decrease in biking.

“The Schools Committee identified the need for community wide education on navigating the existing infrastructure around bike friendly Davis,” Tavares said via email.

Tavares referenced that this need to educate

Bikers in Davis. (Aggie File) Davis citizens of bike infrastructure was what led to the creation of the Loopalooza in 2010.

“Parents were unfamiliar with the safe bike paths and routes that lead directly to Davis schools,” Tavares said via email. “The realization of this gap [led] to the creation of the much loved Loopalooza, a yearly event that directs families and community members around the 12 mile Davis bike loop with fun activities set up along the way.”

However, Tavares mentioned that the Loopalooza has only increased the bike culture in Davis.

“For many residents it is this event that solidifies their understanding of how easy it is to get around our community without a car,” Tavares said via email. “Loopalooza is now in its [12]th year and has conservatively introduced 5000 people to the joys and practicality of the Davis

Bike loop. This event is now run in partnership with Bike Davis and Bike Campaign.”

Fauchier-Magnan talked about the work he has done for Bike Davis and the advocacy Bike Davis continues to fight for. Fauchier-Magnan said he has been serving as president of the board for 3 and a half years. According to FauchierMagnan, Bike Davis has been advocating for safe biking in Davis for 15 years. The group has been closely working with the city to foster better bike infrastructure and other biking related issues.

Fauchier-Magnan mentioned the array of events at this year’s Loopalooza.

“This year we have e-bike test ride with a local shop,” Fauchier-Magnan said. “We have improv with a group from campus. We have a band that’s going to play. We have bike mechanics who are going to be along, posted at several stations around the bike loop. It’s just a really fun way

to see everyone come out, [to] see people seeing their neighbors and saying hi to everybody. “ Bike Davis is continuing to advocate for biking in the community throughout the month according to Fauchier-Magnan. He gave a roadmap of the group’s upcoming ambitious plans.

“After that, we also, our next big thing [is that] we do have the big day of giving coming up in early May so we’re excited for that too,” Fauchier-Magnan said. “Then we have a lot ambitious projects for this year that [lean] more on the advocacy realm of things. We’re working to finalize to reduce bike theft in the city. We’re working with City Staff and other organizations on that. We want also continue to improve infrastructure in several key segments. [To] make riding bikes more comfortable and safe for everybody.”

CITY OF DAVIS PRESENTS 28TH ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL RECOGNITION AWARDS Recipients describe their environmental contributions to the Davis community and discuss the significance of the awards KELLIE LU / AGGIE

BY LEVI GOLDSTEIN city@theaggie.org On April 19, the city of Davis presented the 28th annual Environmental Recognition Awards to recognize individuals, non-profit organizations and businesses “that have gone above and beyond to improve the environmental quality of life in and around Davis,” according to the city of Davis’ website. The city also held an in-person ceremony on April 20 honoring the 2020, 2021 and 2022 recipients and celebrating Earth Day, according to Jenny Tan, the director of community engagement for the city of Davis.

The winners in the non-profit category included Bike Davis and Davis Community Meals and Housing (DCMH). The individual winners were Davis High School teacher Sherri Sandberg and Eric Newman of Friends of the North Davis Channel volunteer restoration group. The business category winner was Dos Coyotes Cafe. High school student Eliot S. Larson received a special youth activist award and the organization Tree Davis received a special environmental legacy reward for continued

contributions to the Davis community.

Tree Davis celebrated its 30th anniversary on April 30, according to Executive Director Erin Donley Marineau. The organization arranges tree-planting events and educates the community about the importance of urban forestry and how to care for trees.

“One of the things that makes Davis a really special place to live is our abundant green spaces, our parks, our green belts, our open spaces, and it’s a lot of space for a small community to care for,” Donley Marineau said in an interview for Davis Media Access. “So these folks came together with the idea that a public nonprofit partnership could help to enhance the way that these parks and green spaces are cared for by bringing the people of the community together [...] to make public dollars go farther and making sure that we have beautiful green spaces for everyone to enjoy.”

Marineau said that Tree Davis has been successful thanks to the city’s sense of community.

“I would say that the mainstay of this organization is that the people of the community pull together to make it what it is,” Marineau said. “It’s really that community glue that has

kept Tree Davis strong for 30 years.”

Tree Davis’ 30th anniversary celebration will include a bike tour and storytelling about the organization’s and the city’s most loved trees.

In addition to the green spaces, biking is also central to the city of Davis. Another Environmental Recognition Awards winner, Bike Davis, is a volunteer-run advocacy group that fosters a biking culture in Davis, according to Board of Directors President Nico FauchierMagnan. They work with the city council and city staff to improve biking infrastructure, carry out demonstrations in DJUSD schools and host events such as Loopalooza all to increase biking and reduce vehicle transportation in the city.

“It’s a huge honor, honestly, to be recognized, to have our work over the last 15 years recognized at that level by the city,” Fauchier-Magnan said. “[...] It is really really encouraging. [...] It’s a really good validation of all the value we bring to the community.”

The final nonprofit winner, DCMH provides services to individuals experiencing homelessness such as shelters, transitional housing, meals and employment programs, according to Executive Director Bill Pride. Pride said that DCMH

obtains ingredients for their meals from leftover produce that grocery stores would normally throw out, reducing food waste in the city.

“It’s kind of a nice merger between helping folks in need and helping the environment at the same time, it’s clearly kind of a nice symbiosis,” Pride said. “The community is working together to make a difference for a better life and a better community and a better Earth.”

Tan said that the Environmental Recognition Awards demonstrate that the city of Davis is truly committed to its climate goals and show that the efforts of both individuals and organizations for the environment really does have an impact.

For Fauchier-Magnan, the awards are not just meaningful to him — they are also significant to the Davis community.

“I think it serves as an inspiration for others to highlight all the work that is being done in the community, and inspire others to join in, and help volunteer for an organization, and help recognize some of the challenges we are facing in this society,” Fauchier-Magnan said.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022 | 5

OPINION THE

C ALIFORNIA A GGIE

E DI TOR I AL B OAR D ANJINI VENUGOPAL Editor-in-Chief MARGO ROSENBAUM Managing Editor SOPHIE DEWEES Campus News Editor

ADA COMPLIANCE CANNOT BE EQUATED WITH ACCESSIBILITY The UC Davis campus presents serious accessibility issues for students with disabilities

MADELEINE PAYNE City News Editor EDEN WINNIFORD Opinion Editor KATIE DEBENEDETTI Features Editor ALLIE BAILEY Arts & Culture Editor OMAR NAVARRO Sports Editor MICHELLE WONG Science & Tech Editor

KATHLEEN QUINN New Media Manager BENJAMIN CHENG Photo Director KATHERINE FRANKS Design Director JOELLE TAHTA Layout Director ANNE THISELTON-DYER Copy Chief SABINE LLOYD Copy Chief DARSHAN SHIVAKUMAR Website Manager ANTHONY NGUYEN Social Media Manager JOSHUA GAZZANIGA Distribution Manager JENNA HEATH Marketing Manager

Simply put, even though UC Davis buildings comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this is not the same as having an accessible campus.

For many students with physical disabilities, parts of the UC Davis campus can be difficult to access. Students have cited Wellman 126 as an example of a lecture hall that has accessible seating in the back but only offers a staircase down to reach the front of the class. This is unacceptable — all students should have the opportunity to talk with instructors after class, turn in assignments and sit near the front of the classroom if they so choose.

The layout of other spaces on campus may not be accessible for students with physical disabilities. Members of the Editorial Board have noticed that there are tables in buildings that a person in a wheelchair would not be able to use due to chairs built into the floor. Further, accessible entrances are often located in the back of buildings, in inconvenient areas or require traversing uneven pathways.

In the words of a representative from the Autism and Neurodiversity Community from an interview with The California Aggie in 2020, “It’s really telling when, say, you have the wheelchair accessible entrance out in the back of a building along with the trash and the freight.”

The members of our community with such disabilities should not be disregarded in the classroom or anywhere on campus.

There have been multiple efforts pushing for increased accessibility on UC campuses in recent years. A UC-wide coalition for disability rights created a “Demandifesto” in July of 2020 that identified problems with the infrastructure on UC campuses and the issue of only meeting ADA standards, rather than looking for ways to create the most accessible campus possible for all students.

Last month, Senate Resolution #25, drafted by the ASUCD

Disability Rights and Advocacy Committee, was passed by the Senate table. The resolution notably demands that instructors grant students all accommodations approved by the Student Disability Center (SDC), as they must in accordance with the ADA. It is essential that our instructors and administrators listen to those advocating for disability rights. As the resolution states, students with disabilities “have worked and continued to work hard for their educational goals, [and] giving them grief about accommodations only hinders those goals and adds to the systemic ableism that is rampant in higher education.”

The administration must prioritize those with disabilities when making decisions about the UC Davis campus and include people with disabilities in these conversations. It’s critical for construction and renovations to increase accessibility, rather than to just meet ADA standards.

In terms of obtaining accommodations, the SDC serves a vital role on campus. That said, the center has its limitations. It can be difficult for students to have a record of their disability if they lacked health insurance before attending UC Davis or could not afford diagnostic assessments associated with their disability; assessments for autism, for example, can cost between $2,400$3,200.

Thus, not all students with disabilities will be registered with the center. Instructors must provide students with the accommodations they need and be understanding of each student’s situation.

It shouldn’t have to be said, but the campus environment should promote equity for all students. And though administration has the largest role in improving campus accessibility, it’s not only up to them: organizations, individual students and instructors can all contribute to making a more inclusive environment for people with disabilities.

JELENA LAPUZ Outreach Director LAURIE PEDERSON Business Development Manager

WRITTEN BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

UC DAVIS’ CHAOTIC BICYCLE CULTURE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED By not following the rules of the road, bicyclists put themselves and others at risk

BY OWEN RUDERMAN opruderman@ucdavis.edu With UC Davis reopening and with classes in full swing, it seems like there are more people than ever on campus. In some ways, this is a good thing. It’s nice to be out of the house and off Zoom. It’s nice to see friends and classmates as you walk around campus. But it isn’t nice to be minding your own business when suddenly, a fellow student on a bicycle comes speeding out of left field, seemingly bent on running you down.

I think most of us can agree that the biking culture on campus is… chaotic, to say the least.

Maybe this is because people forgot how to ride

their bikes during the pandemic; perhaps many of us forgot the rules of the road. Or it could be that many students don’t care and are determined to get from point A to point B as fast as possible.

Perhaps the most compelling reason that bicycle culture at UC Davis is so chaotic is because of the sheer amount of bikes on campus.

According to the 2020-21 Campus Travel Survey, sixty-four percent of respondents reported that biking was their primary means of transportation to and around campus at least once during the week. This indicated an increase since the prepandemic 2018-19 survey, which reported only 44%.

Don’t get me wrong. I think that the multitude of people riding their bicycle to campus

is a good thing. It benefits the environment, and it improves the health and wellbeing of the bicyclists. I just think that there needs to be a shift in the way UC Davis students think about riding bikes.

I’ve experienced the frenzied bicycle culture myself. At the start of this quarter, I stopped taking the bus to campus and switched to riding my bicycle. Since then, I’ve slowly noticed myself conforming to the campus bike culture.

Usually I would yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk, as California law stipulates. But since I started riding around campus, I’ve almost felt peer pressured into whizzing straight through crosswalks and into roundabouts without a care in the world. I feel bad when I don’t signal which

KELLIE LU / AGGIE way I’m turning or let a pedestrian pass, but I don’t want to rock the boat or stand out.

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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.

ON MY PLATE: TOAST IS COOKING, ACTUALLY! Turning simple ingredients into beautiful meals

BY NADIA ANEES nsanees@ucdavis.edu

NADIA ANEES / AGGIE

I came into this academic year feeling very confident about my cooking abilities. Last summer in my Bay Area home, I was cooking away, creating cool concoctions with fresh ingredients from the farmers market and other ethnic grocery stores nearby. Two or three weeks into fall quarter, I received a flattening reality check — the colorful dishes I was spending hours on at home over summer break would likely not happen often in my college apartment during fall quarter (or winter… or spring).

I simply don’t often find myself with the remaining energy to put into making a beautiful and exciting meal for myself. The extra time I do have on my hands is put into resting, letting my brain go numb on Netflix or doing nothing with

friends.

I started to feel bothered by my lack of creative production in the kitchen. In fact, it was impacting my ego because something I hold so close to my identity — making beautiful food — was something I was neglecting. “Yeah, I never cook anymore,” I started telling people.

On Instagram, I started to watch how people were making something beautiful even out of the most simple to put together foods — I’m talking toast!

Toast became a culinary palette for me to paint on. I started to imbue my toast with whichever flavor combinations I was craving.

When it’s warm and sunny out –- cool whipped ricotta on rye, topped with extra virgin olive oil

from my mom, cracked black pepper, ultra-ripe yellow and red heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil leaves I would pick from a nearby garden. When it was cold and dim and my sweet craving was particularly prominent, the classic cinnamon and sugar sprinkled generously on sourdough, which I’d toast on a skillet with salty butter. On a chilly spring morning — peanut butter and a dollop of Greek yogurt with strawberries, honey and mint on wheat.

I’m here to say that if your cooking skills are an area of low confidence, turn to the simplest possible foods and create art out of them. Toast is cooking. Now go be a chef!

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

HUMOR

THINGS TO DO ON UNITRANS THAT AREN’T TECHNICALLY ILLEGAL Those drivers have it too easy

BY ANNABEL MARSHALL almarshall@ucdavis.edu 1.

2.

3.

4.

Lick the side of the bus.

Enter the bus by walking backward.

Read a copy of my newest book, “100 People Who Have Died Gruesome Deaths on a Public Bus.” (Signed copies are very much available.)

Ask people on the top of the doubledecker what the weather is like up there.

Laugh before they respond.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Wear between four and seven pairs of glasses at the same time.

Talk a first-year biological sciences major out of pursuing pre-med.

Mumble 17th-century poetry and glare at other passengers in a way that implies that, as a teenager, you empathized too much with Holden Caulfield from “The Catcher in the Rye.” Tell people, “This is my first time. I’m so nervous.” Refuse to clarify.

Turn your earbuds all the way up so

that the person next to you is forced to hear Justin Bieber’s debut album, “My World,” the way they might hear it if their upstairs neighbor played it through a janky speaker.

10. Talk a third-year film major into pursuing pre-med.

11. Smell really good. Like, suspiciously good.

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

CHRISTINA LIU / AGGIE

6 | THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

ARTS & CULTURE

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE FASHION AND DESIGN SOCIETY’S 2022 ‘PRISM’ FASHION SHOW The popular Picnic Day tradition is back in person

Models showcasing students’ designs at the “PRISM” Fashion Show outside of Cruess Hall. (Coralie Loon / Aggie)

BY CORALIE LOON arts@theaggie.org In the midst of a busy, post-pandemic Picnic Day, student models and designers strutted the sidewalk runway outside Cruess Hall, showing off the creative cumulation of months of sketching, measuring, sewing and imagining. The show was an assorted mesh of student visions, all united under the theme of wearable art.

The “PRISM” Fashion Show, run by the Fashion and Design Society (FADS), was made up of 10 featured collections and 11 single garments, all created by UC Davis students.

Julia Dang, the chief of Internal Affairs and

editor-in-chief of FADS, shared that the name PRISM was chosen collaboratively.

“We chose PRISM because it’s supposed to represent shining a light on the future and finding light in darkness,” Dang said.

The show started as volunteers modeled single garments from Introduction to Structural Design for Fashion (DES 77), in which students create jackets for their final projects, as well as from other garment creators across campus.

From recycled textiles to Japanese prints, these statement pieces delivered singular visions of

fashion as a place for sustainability and reuse.

During the second part of the show, student designers of the Signature Collections class (DES 179) presented a collection of three garments, each displaying an individually chosen theme and style. Lauren-Nicole Dorsey’s collection “Threshold” combines geometric collars with white, deep purple and vibrant orange color blocks. By comparison, Maya Tirumurti’s “stale interiors” is a more organic take on futurism, in which asymmetrical and even alien garments bubble in strange and surprising shapes.

Uriel Reyes, a third-year design major, created his first collection titled “Vividity” in DES 179 after learning how to sew last year.

“It began with just wanting to emphasize the female physique, like different body types, making it very contoured to the body,” Reyes said.

His pieces emphasize bright colors, inspired from the colored buildings of coastal cities, and technical fabric manipulations such as pleating.

Charlie Fornaca, a second-year Master of Science student in computer science, modeled for Reyes in the show.

“I got to see his process every step of the way and ask him about the different techniques he was using,” Fornaca said. “Just supporting them in their process was really cool.”

While she’s modeled for different companies in the Elegant Goth and Lolita (EGL) niche, a Japanese street fashion, her involvement in the 2022 “PRISM” show was kickstarted by her joining FADS because of her interest in sewing and design as a hobby.

FADS, the only fashion club on campus, uses the publicity of the yearly fashion show to help support the Department of Design and design majors.

“When COVID hit, that was really sad, because this is how we rack in money for the design department,” Dang said. “This is how we get donors and sponsors to come and support our design community, because it is really small.”

After two years of streaming the yearly fashion show online through Twitch, the name “PRISM” seems even more fitting as an opportunity to shine a light on the future. The relief of finally celebrating in person was felt by everyone who attended the 2022 fashion show, including the designers.

“I think the highlight was just finally getting to show it,” Reyes said about the completion of his collection. “I worked so hard at trying to complete it, that finally being able to just send them out and have everyone look at it and appreciate the work going into it was a big relief for me. I was like, ‘Damn, I really did that.’”

It’s no surprise that the fashion show is one of the most popular events on Picnic Day. Its flashy, daring and diverse collection of pieces are evidence of how fashion is a collaborative and constantly evolving process.

For those who are interested in fashion, design or simply supporting student artists, check out FADS’s website or visit their Designers Spotlight page to see more from the designers who are featured this year.

UNCOVERING THE ART OF THE SONG COVER It’s a well-established tradition for artists to cover others’ songs, so let’s take a look at some of the best out there

BY ANGIE CUMMINGS arts@theaggie.org Covering an already beloved song is a risk almost every artist takes, whether they are already a household name or just coming onto the scene. While many covers are nothing special, some have truly succeeded in making something amazing out of someone else’s song. The beauty of a cover is varied, with some outshining the original and others just bringing a whole new experience to the song. Today, we will dive deep into some of the best covers out there for your listening pleasure — while this list encompasses a variety of genres and time periods, it is not at all exhaustive, but instead provides a solid footing in the world of iconic covers.

It is worth saying that this is not in any way an objective list of the world’s most iconic covers (although some are included), since that article can be found with a simple Google search. Instead, today I am providing you with a curated mix of classic covers, essential auditory experiences and some hidden gems by smaller artists (all but one are available on music streaming services). While I could have easily gone into extensive detail about each song, I’ve picked out the highlights that really deserve some special attention.

“Doin’ Time” by Lana Del Rey (2019) (Originally by Sublime)

In all honesty, this song is probably one the main reasons this article even exists. My deepest apologies to Sublime fans, but Lana Del Rey breathed new life into this 1997 hit and made it the song of the summer in 2019. Regardless of how you feel about Lana (I personally have a drought relationship with her), there is no denying that this song is basically perfect.

“Same Ol’ Mistakes” by Rihanna (2016) (Originally by Tame Impala) Thank you Rihanna for introducing me to Tame Impala. Great cover, everyone agrees.

“Africa” (Originally by Toto), “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” (Originally by Eurythmics) and “Billie Jean” (Originally by Michael Jackson) by Weezer (2019) My top three songs from their album of covers, “Weezer (Teal Album)” from 2019.

“Bad Religion” (Originally by Frank Ocean) and “White Mustang” (Originally by Lana del Rey) by Cat Power (2022) Cat Power’s rugged and soulful voice brings something you didn’t know you needed to both of these already beautiful and solemn songs. They are both from her cover album that came out earlier this year — which itself is a beautiful listen at any time.

KATHERINE FRANKS / AGGIE While her rendition of “Bad Religion” is undoubtedly amazing, “White Mustang” is the one that really stands out to me, usurping Lana’s much softer original recording.

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KATHERINE FRANKS / AGGIE

Community gatherings, music festivals and more to check out in the Davis area this May

BY CLARA FISCHER arts@theaggie.org Whole Earth Festival (UC Davis Quad, 12 - 10 p.m. on May 6, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. on May 7 and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on May 8) Originally created after the United Nations’ declaration of Earth Day in 1970, the Whole Earth Festival at UC Davis is a three-day festival showcasing arts, music and vegetarian food galore, all with sustainability in mind.

The event has five core values — acceptance, expression, sustainability, community and inclusivity — which it centers all of its activities around.

Admission is free to all, and there are even ways to get involved if you want to help support the event even more.

Block Party at the CO-OP (Davis Food Co-op, 5-8 p.m. on May 14) Davis’ most beloved locallyowned grocery co-operative is celebrating its 50th anniversary in fitting style — with a block party for the community. According to the website, the event promises live music performances, food trucks, art vendors and more. If you frequent the store for their good deals on produce and people-focused business model, then consider showing out for a fun night celebrating the business.

Admission is free to all.

UC Davis Sustainability Summit (Student Community Center, Multi-Purpose Room, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on May 20) Open to any member of the Davis community who wishes to attend, the fourth annual UC Davis Sustainability Summit celebrates the campus’ sustainability efforts and honors student champions in sustainability through awards and other recognition. The summit will also feature an interview and live Q&A with social activist and author of “The Intersectional Environmentalist” Leah Thomas.

The event is sure to be a stellar opportunity for anyone passionate about environmental issues to learn more about not only the ongoings of our own campus, but also the importance of a global intersectional approach to these topics. Those interested can register for free here.

Best Fest (Red Museum, 4 p.m. on May 21) Park The Van, a record label and management company, is coming to Sacramento’s Red Museum to present Best Fest, a mini-musical festival described on their website as a “party for the cone zone.” A variety of artists will be featured, including Sacramento-based band Best Move, indie artist Spencer Hoffman and more. Tickets are available to buy online and at the door, with presale being $15 and on-site purchases ringing in at $20.

Pence Gallery Treasure Sale (212 D Street, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 27-June 1) Described on the Pence Gallery’s website as “an art-inspired rummage sale,” this annual event is back in person this year and offers a plethora of donated antiques, vintage art, jewelry and more. Donations are being accepted from May 22-26, no call needed. This is the perfect opportunity for vintage lovers to get creative and go on the hunt for a new piece to call their very own while supporting a good cause — all proceeds made from the sale go to the gallery’s exhibits and educational programs.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022 | 7

ARTS & CULTURE

DITCH THE FILTERS, LET’S BE REAL Emerging app BeReal invites users to be authentic with their social media presence

BY SIERRA JIMENEZ arts@theaggie.org

KATHERINE FRANKS / AGGIE Amidst all the social media platforms that entice users to carefully contrive their lifestyle for the public, the up and coming app BeReal quite literally promotes the opposite — the opportunity to be real on a social media platform.

“It’s not super stylized,” said Ava Bostock, a third-year political science and managerial economics major. “Everyone gets a notification at the same time… and it’s what you’re doing at the moment. It feels more genuine than Instagram, where people really curate their posts on their feed.”

The app is designed to notify all its users at the same time at a random point every day. Upon receiving the notification, users are supposed to open the app right away and snap a picture of whatever they are doing at that specific moment without any filters, edits or likes.

What is special about the design of this app over others like Snapchat is the use of both the front and back camera at the same time. That way, your friends on BeReal can view both what you as the user are seeing from the back camera, and also what the user is doing at that time with

the front camera. In other words — you can’t fake what you are doing at the time the notification comes on your screen.

“I personally love it,” said India Markus, a second-year human development major. “It’s a super cool way to show exactly what you’re doing at one point in the day and see what all your other friends are doing.”

Markus goes on to suggest that BeReal is more, well, real than Instagram or Snapchat for example, because it is a once a day thing. Rather than having new content constantly tempting you to keep scrolling, it is a one and done activity.

“I’d say one of the better parts is seeing what everyone else is doing,” Markus said.

Instead of a fully curated feed of the best pictures specifically selected to show followers what you want them to see, people are showing off the most random everyday activities that are not typically shared on other social media platforms.

Benji Fine, a third-year wildlife fish and conservation biology major, who said he posts maybe once a year on Instagram and rarely uses

REVIEW: BEDROOM POP STAR BEABADOOBEE BLASTS OFF INTO INDIEROCK STARDOM ON ‘BEATOPIA’ TOUR Following her “Coffee” debut, the up-and-coming artist achieves success with her musical versatility

BY SUN YIE arts@theaggie.org When beabadoobee entered the stage at Sacramento’s Ace of Spades on April 22, the crowd was quick to adorn her with flowers and red paper hearts before she could even speak. She prefaced her performance by admitting that she was sick: “You guys, I haven’t been feeling well since Coachella, but, since I love you all, I’m going to do my best.” She then rode the exuberant and encouraging cheers from the audience to launch into the first song of her set, “Worth It.” The drummer and bassist’s explosive passion almost overwhelmed bea’s soft voice. At times, it was difficult to hear her sing at all — but the

crowd compensated for this by roaring the lyrics on their own. Bea’s music and the audience’s energy reverberated against the walls of the venue, and the ground itself felt as though it would give way to the hundreds of jumping feet.

“Worth It,” a song from one of bea’s newer albums, “Fake It Flowers,” demonstrates her transition from a lo-fi, bedroom pop style of music to one that leans more towards grunge and alternative rock. The polarity between the two encapsulates the expression of an artist who is still discovering her sound and even herself, as bea disclosed in an interview with Vulture. “I remember… thinking I knew myself,” she said.

“I didn’t know myself at all. It’s all in ‘Fake It Flowers.’”

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Beabadoobee at Ace of Spades in Sacramento. (Benjamin Cheng / Aggie)

Snapchat, loves the BeReal app because for him, it seems more genuine.

“I like the whole ‘be real’ idea because I can’t really get validation from it,” Fine said. “I just post a picture of whatever I’m doing and that’s it. I’m just sharing with the people who I care about, the people [who] I want to see what I’m up to.”

According to Fine, some of his favorite BeReal moments he’s taken have been slacklining with friends, when he’s outside and “being myself, truly being happy.”

Instead of picking and choosing photos out of your favorite photos album to post on Instagram for thousands of random followers to see, BeReal shows an unfiltered, unplanned authentic picture to the select people you choose to be friends with on the app.

When asked if she ever staged her BeReal posts, Bostock said, “oh yeah, of course!” — seemingly many people choose to stage their BeReal’s once in a while for fun.

Markus said her favorite staged BeReal moment was when a friend dressed up as her

with a wig and her clothes while holding her student ID in front of her laptop simply for the BeReal moment.

Not necessarily making a mockery of the app, Markus said, it more so makes the oncea-day online experience more exciting and fun.

Whether your BeReal is staged or true to what you’re doing at the given moment, BeReal is a fun, simple way to show your pals what you’re up to on a daily basis and see what they’re doing in return.

Seemingly blowing up out of nowhere, BeReal has made its mark in the Davis community and is spreading all over. Markus said how she can see her friends live their everyday lives from other colleges, keeping up with their simple pleasures and activities through the app.

BeReal, a promising app that has made its way onto our phones, has made a mark on the social media world and proves to be a lowcommitment, fun way to stay in the loop with friends and be real on social media.

8 | THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

SUDOKU Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces.

Every row, column and 3x3 square must contain each digit. Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.

Answer to previous puzzle 04/28/22

reduce. reuse. recycle.

The aggie CROSSWORD Answer to previous puzzle 04/28/22

Scan this QR code to subscribe to The California Aggie’s Newsletter!

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ATHLETICSREFERENDA

BIKINGCULTURE

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“Five student fees — including SASI and CEI — accounted for $24.9 million, or 66%, of total funding sources in 2020-21,” Blouin said via email. “This percentage of student institutional support is in keeping with other Football Championship Subdivision schools — at some of these schools, that percentage is included in tuition instead of fees.”

With the ASUCD leaders having worked on the referenda for a year and the students most familiar with the topic set to graduate this quarter, the leaders said they wanted the student body to vote on the referendum this spring.

However, the university’s referendum policy does not allow for that as there was a section added to the campus’ Guide to Creating a Student Fee Initiative last summer, indicating that student fee initiatives could only be voted on in the fall.

On March 31, ASUCD Senate passed SR #26, declaring the guide invalid, as UC Davis policy on Compulsory Campus-Based Student Fees and Referendum Elections states that “voting arrangements may be conducted by student governments according to agreed upon procedures” between ASUCD and the vice chancellor of Student Affairs, but ASUCD never agreed to the document, because it violates Article V of the ASUCD Constitution that states that at any time during the academic year, a referendum may occur through a special election.

According to Manriquez, the fee referendum that was focused on an environmental sustainability grant was on the spring 2021 election ballot, and he put emphasis on the fact that it was seen in the spring.

Chancellor Gary May told the Davis

Enterprise that upon hearing the student government’s plans to place the referendum on the spring ballot despite it not passing the campus’ fee initiative guide, he could not promote the elections with a measure that did not comply with university policy.

“UC Davis has supported the referendum process as it is laid out in policy and related guidelines, which have been followed by faculty, staff and students for years, even decades,” Blouin said via email. “We plan to work with current ASUCD leadership to review the guide, but that review process has not yet started. In the meantime, we will continue to follow the current university policy.”

Through the debate with campus administrators over election policies, ASUCD leaders have decided to place the item as a nonbinding ballot measure, meaning that if it is passed, there will be no direct administrative action to eliminate the fees. Manriquez said he hopes that the ballot measure will spark conversation regarding the university’s spending of student fees and to generate student opinion on the issue.

Wong expressed similar sentiments to Manriquez.

“I think that it’s necessary to have these conversations about the university trying to exploit the student body’s ignorance, and that’s a lot of what I’m doing,” Wong said. “Indirectly, it’s like an educational initiative. I want to inform the student body about how student fees are being used and make sure that they understand everything that has happened.”

WHOLEEARTHFEST CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “This is a community- and volunteer-run event,” Marshall said. “We are taking volunteers up until the day of the festival. Visit our website to sign up, and you can receive a free meal and WEF T-shirt. We are also taking volunteers day of. Visit us at the dome in the quad, and we will direct you to the right place.”

Emily Marillio, a first-year Native American studies major, said she was excited to volunteer at the festival this year.

“I am looking forward to giving back to my community and seeing what the festival is all about,” Marillio said via email.

RAMADAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Naziba Awrin, a second-year economics major and an international student from Bangladesh, expressed gratitude for the efforts made by MSAUCD. “Ramadan and school schedule being hand-in-hand is tiring,” Awrin said. “But such community iftars, or just having people together celebrating this holy month while you’re away from home feels good. But I wish there were more of these.”

According to Awrin, for students trying to

find a balance between Ramadan and college life, this likely isn’t the first time the issues of inclusivity and representation have suddenly become especially relevant.

Parwana Mehr might’ve not enjoyed much of her Picnic Day but is advocating for change for others and argues that just a week could have made a difference.

“This could’ve been next week, and Muslim students would have enjoyed it like others,” Mehr said.

LEGALUNITRANS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 12. Drop a massive stack of papers into a puddle just as you’re about to step onto the bus. Scream, “My research! My research!”

Get on your knees. Try and fail to gather your papers. When passersby try to assist you, cry “It’s gone! My research!” When you try to stand, fall into the puddle.

13. Grind someone else’s teeth.

14. Sit down next to someone wearing a shirt with the logo of your favorite band. Mention that you’re a fan. Watch her eyes light up as she tells you she’s going to their concert next week. Realize that, without even thinking about it, you’re flirting. Talk with her the whole ride, learn her major, that she hates the flavor of oranges, she thinks Pulp Fiction is a solidly B+ movie, she follows college baseball. She loves your favorite books and grew up just down the block from you. She doesn’t drink coffee, but she loves root beer. When the bus arrives at its destination, accidentally drop your phone and thank her when she picks it up and offers it to you. Think about asking her for her number, asking her to coffee sometime, asking her anything witty and engaging instead of standing there like an idiot. Stand there like an idiot. Get nudged by someone behind you trying to get off the bus. Realize you’ve missed your chance when she gives a half-wave goodbye. Think of her the rest of the day. Think about her when you’re trying and failing to fall asleep. Think about her every time you take the bus for a week and hold your breath when her stop comes

15.

16.

17.

18.

around like that might make her appear.

Move on with your life. Go to school, go to work. Ignore when someone brings up what a perfect movie Pulp Fiction was.

Wake up late for your morning discussion.

Run to the bus. Slide into the last available seat. Check your phone and watch the time tick as you become five minutes, six minutes, seven minutes late. Finally arrive at the Silo, dash onto the curb, nearly smash into someone carrying a brightly-colored smoothie, and end up face to face with her.

Say “Thank God” without meaning to and then, in the same breath, ask if she wants to get a root beer sometime. Watch her smile.

Get her number and practically skip to class, forgetting that you’re 27 minutes late.

Go out with her. Watch baseball games with her. Introduce her to your friends. Move in with her. Graduate, get a job, marry her.

Have no kids and two dogs. Celebrate every anniversary. Grow old together, really old, and pass away peacefully in your sleep. Her first, then you, 20 minutes later, utterly content.

Wear a full suit of chainmail.

While riding the bus, hold some water in your cupped hands. Aquafina or Dasani preferred.

Hold your feet exactly 12 inches above the ground while seated.

As you step off the bus, tell the driver, “You’re welcome.”

The bicycle culture doesn’t affect just the bicyclist, though. After I get to campus, I usually park my bike in one spot and walk around for the rest of the day. I’m getting pretty tired of having to bob and weave my way through crosswalks in an effort to dodge oncoming bicyclists. I haven’t been hit yet, but it’s looking more and more like an inevitable future.

Some might say that I should just suck it up and accept that this is the way it is on campus.

But I feel like yielding to pedestrians, signaling which way you’re going to turn and passing on the left is common sense. Riding straight through bike circles is especially dangerous, since it cuts off the entire stream of bicyclists in the

roundabout. It would probably prevent a lot of accidents and cut down on the stress associated with riding bicycles around campus if these rules were followed.

A good start to getting students to adhere to these basic rules would be some sort of initiative from the school about biking responsibly.

I’ve only been at UC Davis for a few quarters, but other than the whole “Helmet Hair Don’t Care” program, I’ve never heard any announcement from the school about bicycles on campus, let alone the chaotic culture that surrounds them. We need to end this vicious (bi) cycle. It’s time for UC Davis to do something about our chaotic bicycle culture on campus.

SONGCOVERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 “I’m A Believer” by Smash-Mouth (2001) (Originally by The Monkees) It’s from “Shrek,” everyone knows it, everyone loves it. Probably more culturally relevant than the original.

“Baby I’m Yours” by Arctic Monkeys (2006) (Originally by Barbara Lewis) While this is one of those songs covered countless times over the years, I feel very strongly about what the Arctic Monkeys made of it.

“All Along The Watch Tower” by Jimi Hendrix (1968) (Originally by Bob Dylan) Apparently, this is not an original song by Jimi Hendrix, sorry Bob. “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele (2008) (Originally by Bob Dylan) It kind of seems like Bob Dylan made songs for other people to sing them. While I can be known to enjoy listening to Dylan’s hits, his unique twang just cannot compete with Adele’s divine voice singing this beautiful song.

“Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds (1965) (Originally by Bob Dylan) Again, no denying that Dylan is an incredibly talented artist and songwriter, but for most of my life I really did believe The Byrds had ownership of this song, and many of the other Dylan songs they have covered. “…Baby One More Time” by The Marias (2019) (Originally by Britney Spears) So different from the (iconic) original, and so incredibly good. You should definitely check this one out if you want to feel cool and indie while listening to a Britney Spears song.

“Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” by Paris Hilton (2006) (Originally by Rod Stewart) This cover is so incredibly fun and perfect, it really does make you feel like a blonde, rich, gorgeous socialite. Paris somehow took a song beloved by (usually annoying) old men and transformed it into an anthem for confident cool girls who know what they want. Definitely better than the original, no doubt about it.

“Across The Universe” by Fiona Apple (1998) (Originally by The Beatles) We have finally made it to the Beatles covers, perhaps the most covered band of all time (not fact-checked, just a strong feeling). In my eyes, Fiona Apple wrote this song.

“What Goes On” by Sufjan Stevens (2005) (Originally by The Beatles) Good song, really just sounds like another Sufjan Stevens song.

“I Want To Hold Your Hand” by Al Green (1995) (Originally by The Beatles) If I was The Beatles I’d be pretty embarrassed that someone sang one of my most famous songs so much better than me…

“Because” by Eliott Smith (2000) (Originally

by The Beatles) Just admit that this song is perfect and move on.

“In My Life” by Johnny Cash (2002) (Originally by The Beatles) Again, it must be embarrassing to be The Beatles. Johnny Cash really blew those brits out of the water with this one.

“I Will” by Allison Krauss (1995) (Originally

by The Beatles) In my heart, this is an old folk song that Allison Krauss found and introduced to the world. So incredibly good.

“Oh! Darling” by Florence + The Machine (2009) (Originally by The Beatles) At this point, it probably seems like I hate The Beatles, but it just happens to be that some incredibly talented artists have covered their songs, this cover being yet another prime example. Thank you, Florence.

“Jolene” by Miley Cyrus (2012) (Originally by Dolly Parton) This cover that Miley Cyrus originally did as an acoustic performance on Youtube back in 2012 was a foreshadowing of her now-iconic covers of powerful rock and country songs of the past few years.

“Break Up With Your Boyfriend” by Lana del Rey (2019) (Originally by Ariana Grande) Sadly this is the singular cover that is only available on Youtube. Because of this performance, I would like to formally request that Lana put out an entire cover album of just Ariana Grande’s songs.

“Smooth Criminal” by Glee Cast (2012) (Originally by Michael Jackson) It was a lot of work to keep myself from including a plethora of Glee covers, let alone narrow down my favorites to just one. Every bit of the tension from the scene between Santana Lopez (played by Naya Rivera) and the loathsome Sebastian Smythe (played by Grant Gustin) is felt in every single second of this recording. Of course, it doesn’t top Michael Jackson’s original, but it comes pretty darn close.

BEABADOOBEE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 Bea’s grapple with her dichotomous selfexpression surfaces in her stage set, in which she intermits her more intense, rock-heavy songs like “Care,” “Dye it Red” and “Worth It” with her gentler acoustic songs like “Coffee” and “Tired,” which first granted her acclaim.

After bea made an unforgettable entrance with “Worth It,” the flashing and roaming stage lights dimmed, rendering her the only visible figure on stage. She was then handed a classical guitar by one of her band members and remarked, “Everyone knows this one,” into her mic before strumming the familiar chords of “Coffee.”

Though this is a stark contrast to her preceding song, the crowd seemed to enjoy this ephemeral, lulling reprieve, as they began swaying to her music. Bea’s sole voice echoed across the venue and shaped the audience’s energy so that the room felt more intimate than before. She wasn’t not alone for long, though, as the audience members raised their phone flashlights to accompany her through the rest of the song. The combination of this sea of lights

and Bea’s solo performance produced a moment that is half heartwarming and half haunting, yet wholly captivating.

Bea continued her set with “Talk,” a song from her most recent album, and a few songs from her other albums such as “Yoshimi, Forest, Magdalene” and “Dance With Me” before closing with a return to “Tired.” She ended her set by introducing her band members and bowing before the audience, which greeted the performers with astounding applause, leftover paper hearts and flower bouquets.

Bea proves her talent through her ability to deliver successful performances in both bedroom pop and grunge indie-rock — two genres of music that could not be more different from each other. In doing so, she not only demonstrates her musical versatility but also indicates her potential for even more growth; for now, though, she has already made a name for herself as an artist who can reach the hearts of teenagers and adults alike.

10 | THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THE ART OF MINDFUL TEA DRINKING A UC Davis librarian and student team up to bring together meditation and tea for university community

BY ALINA ISSAKHANIAN features@theaggie.org CHRISTINA LIU / AGGIE

While some opt for a cup of coffee for their daily caffeine fix, many benefits can come from having a cup of tea instead. Erik Fausak, a UC Davis Student Services librarian in the area of health sciences, has started weekly mindfulness tea meditation sessions with the hope to introduce more people to the world of tea and the benefits it offers.

“It was actually born out of the idea of me seeing that mindfulness seemed to be an effective tool in a lot of medical schools to deal with anxiety and stress,” Fausak said. “Having come from a veterinary professional background as a veterinary technician for close to 20 years, I’ve known the psychological toll it takes on everyone in the profession.”

With a little consistency, Fausak said he believes that tea can help people become more relaxed and mindful overall. To help students and community members wanting to learn more about tea, the UC Davis Library website has compiled a guide, including Zoom links for virtual mindfulness tea sessions, information about weekly in-person sessions as well as podcasts, self-guided videos and infographics for those looking to get into tea independently.

Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Billing Assistant

Lilia Wright is studying to be a veterinary technician and is one of Fausak’s loyal meditation attendees. She said that she has found the sessions to be a great form of self-care.

“Erik has a wealth of knowledge about tea,” Wright said. “I get to learn about different teas and explore what I like or don’t like.

What I enjoy most is taking a moment to pause a busy work week and [take] the time for self care — just to be and breathe.”

Fausak hosts two different styles of tea meditation. One is a bowl style, which is easier to participate in, since Fausak said it has less rigid equipment and requirements. All that is necessary to properly participate is loose tea leaves, a bowl and hot water. The bowl sessions are held on Zoom on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.

His other sessions, done in a gongfu style, require a more specific tea set. Gongfu is a popular Chinese mindful tea practice that utilizes the traditional teaware of a small teapot, or gaiwan, a fairness cup and a drinking cup. It is paired with breathing exercises and thought-provoking questions to create a relaxing experience.

Fausak hosts the gongfu style sessions on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. He hosts an in-person outdoor gongfu session, which is limited to four people, on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Fausak developed the program with a student who was in his first-year seminar in Global Tea Culture and Science during winter 2021. Gabrielle Tirsell, a second-year economics major, said that she met Fausak during her first year at UC Davis and has been working on the mindfulness tea program since, assisting with research and supplementary materials.

“Growing up, tea was always a presence in my life, whether that be drinking it at home, at restaurants or at the Buddhist temple I grew up in,” Tirsell said. “I always enjoyed having it as a beverage but never came to appreciate it as an experience until taking the global tea first-year seminar where I was introduced to various types of tea ceremonies as well as the meditations that Erik and I have worked on.”

Fausak accredited the mindfulness aspect of these tea sessions to Buddhist practices. Although he said that mindfulness has become more secular than religious in the Western world, it has roots in Buddhism. Having a background in meditation through Buddhism, Tirsell was able to bring a helpful perspective to the development process of the mindfulness tea sessions.

“I was taking the first-year seminar associated with the Global Tea Initiative when I mentioned the fact that I grew up doing meditations as a Buddhist,” Tirsell said. “Erik suggested that I assist him in establishing a tea-based meditation program at Davis. I had never really considered tea as a medium through which to practice meditation, but I was excited by the concept and got involved.”

After learning more about Buddhist meditation practices, Fausak moved forward researching and seeking out academic work centered around the mindful practice of tea but found that the topic was lacking in academic literature. This is when he found Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who taught Oprah about mindful tea drinking on her show.

Using this knowledge as a jumping-off point, Fasuak began researching and developing his mindfulness tea meditations.

Now, he helps those curious about mindful tea who are beginning their practice. Fausak said that UC Davis has been a leader in the growing tea education field, with the help of UC Davis’ Global Tea Initiative (GTI), led by founding director Katherine Burnett, and GTI’s Global Tea Scholars, which includes researchers, tea industry professionals and others interested in the academic study of tea.

UC Davis also offers the first-year seminar in Global Tea Culture and Science that Tirsell took, which is co-taught by Burnett, Fausak and a few other experts every winter. In this class, students learn all about tea, including, but not limited to, teaware, the origins of tea, mindful tea practices, tea’s benefits and its production practices. The class offers students the opportunity to grow and learn more about what goes into their cup of tea.

Originally a program created for the veterinary profession, Fausak’s mindfulness tea meditations, with the help of the GTI and the first-year seminar, has created a large community, with people from different backgrounds and professions.

“Taking five minutes to just enjoy being where you are, enjoying the sounds around you, enjoying your tea and engaging all of your senses — it’s not a deep mindful practice where you’re supposed to have an empty mind,” Fausak said. “It’s just enjoying that moment or taking that moment for self-care.”

SISTINE CHAPEL EXHIBIT COMES TO DAVIS The interactive art exhibit opened at the University Mall

BY SOFIA BIREN city@theaggie.org

Michelangelo’s Sistene Chapel exhibit on April 27 across the street from Trader Joe’s. (Kayla Bruckman / Aggie) The Sistine Chapel began construction 1473 and was rebuilt over an older structure called the Cappella Magna. However, the restoration of the building itself did not begin until 1477.

According to the Vatican website, the Sistine Chapel is named after Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere, who was Pope between 1471 and 1484 and commissioned the construction of the Chapel.

The Sistine Chapel is renowned for its elaborate artwork, and as a home to some of the greatest Renaissance art. Michaelangelo is the most well-known artist to contribute to the renovation of the Chapel, however other artists contributed just as much. Some of these artists include Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Cosimo Rosselli.

On April 8, a Sistine Chapel Exhibition opened at the University Mall. The exhibit solely focuses on the artwork on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel which was painted by Michaelangelo.

Special Entertainment Events, Inc. is the company responsible for the exhibit itself. In order for the exhibit to be displayed, however, a venue must offer to host the exhibit.

Erin Akamine and Berenice Ramirez-Zurita, both students at UC Santa Cruz, happened to come across the exhibit while in Davis for Picnic Day on April 23. They arrived in Davis on Friday afternoon and decided to attend the exhibit because it was in such an ordinary shopping center.

“We originally came to Davis for Picnic Day,” Ramirez-Zurita

said. “But while we were waiting for our high school friend to meet up with us, we decided to go to the exhibit. Considering it was in a shopping center I didn’t expect much of it, but it definitely exceeded my expectations.”

The pieces that Michaelangelo painted in the original Sistine Chapel were scenes from the book of Genesis that outlined the story of creation and the fall of man vis-à-vis the beginning of original sin.

Erin Akamine, a second-year English and Linguistics double major at UC Santa Cruz said that she really enjoyed the exhibit, but that it won’t ever compare to the grandeur of the real Sistine Chapel. She is currently taking Italian as part of her linguistics coursework, and will be studying abroad in Italy this summer. She says that she hopes to visit the Vatican again.

“The summer before my junior year of high school I went on a trip to Italy,” Akamine said. “I remember looking at the ceiling and wondering how he painted it. I was staring at it for so long that my neck started to hurt, and found out later on the tour that Michaelangelo had neck problems later in life because he was painting the ceiling for four years.”

The website for the exhibition writes that, “The exhibition illustrates the restoration and allows us to view the monumental paintings from a distance of only 4 meters, as opposed to the usual 20 meters. ‘Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel’ thus brings an entirely

new perspective to this work by Michelangelo and acts as a form of art in its own right.”

Akamine says that although the grandeur was gone in the exhibit, it was nice to see Michaelangelo’s artwork up close and focus on the details.

Ramirez-Zurita offered her perspective not as someone who visited the original Sistine Chapel, but as a Roman Catholic who feels a religious connection to the Vatican, and thus the work of Michaelangelo as seen in the exhibit.

“I loved seeing the scenes depicted in a way that I have only imagined,” Ramirez-Zurita said. “I find it amazing that Micaelangelo was able to bring to life a God that is so infinite and depict Him as someone we could imagine and connect with on a more visual level.”

The Sistine Chapel is where the Papal conclave is held to elect the next pope. Pope John Paul II said that the Sistine Chapel is an integral symbol of the papacy.

“The Sistine Chapel is the place that, for each Pope, holds the memory of a special say in his life,” Paul II said. “Precisely here, in this sacred space, the Cardinals gather, awaiting the manifestation of the will of Christ with regard to the person of the Successor of St. Peter.”

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022 | 11

SCIENCE AND TECH NEW HUMAN REFERENCE GENOME IS COMPLETE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2001 At the Telomere-to-Telomere consortium, researchers around the world collaborated to sequence the gaps left out by the initial human reference genome

BY BRANDON NGUYEN science@theaggie.org

KATHERINE FRANKS / AGGIE The Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) consortium, an international group of researchers focused on developing the human reference genome, recently filled in the last 8% of genomic DNA that had been left out in the initial Human Genome Project in 2001.

“Release of the first human genome assembly was a landmark achievement, and after nearly two decades of improvements, the current human reference genome (GRCh38) is the most accurate and complete vertebrate genome ever produced,” the consortium website reads. “However, no one chromosome has yet been finished end to end, and hundreds of gaps persist across the genome. These unresolved regions include segmental duplications, ribosomal rRNA gene arrays, and satellite arrays that harbor unexplored variation of unknown consequence.”

Several UC Davis investigators contributed to the series of papers recently published on the completion of the human reference genome. Dr. Megan Dennis, an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine and MIND Institute, explained the human reference genome.

“The human genome has been sequenced since 2001, and

the human reference genome represents a single example of a human genomic sequence that the community uses as a reference to be able to compare subsequent sequences of other humans against,” Dennis said. “So we use it to understand genes and proteins producing those gene regulatory elements and so forth.

The original reference genome comprises a collection of multiple different individuals in which different parts of their genomes had been sequenced and stitched together.”

Dr. Charles Langley, a distinguished professor of evolution and ecology at the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences, explained the process of filling in the gaps of the original sequence.

“The way we sequence genomes is we break it into pieces and try to read the little pieces and then notice differences in the repeats and pieces and where they overlap so we can put them back together into a whole chromosome,” Langley said. “With this T2T project and molecular technological advancements, we are now reading pieces of DNA that are 50,000 base pairs to up to a million base pairs in one read. So even if the thing is highly repetitive over that million base pairs, you will find one or two differences between another read, and then you can then line up

those differences and piece them together.”

Areas left out by the original human reference genome included centromeric regions, which are important for the separation of chromosomes during cell division and ribosomal DNA arrays, which are important for creating ribosome machinery in our cells to make proteins. These were too difficult to sequence at the time due to the large number of repeats, according to Langley. However, they now offer a new basis for scientific studies and potential explanations for genetic variations and defects.

“We were able to find a lot of new genes, and we can start to characterize variation of these genes and do comparisons across species but also actually try to take sequence samples from individuals who have disorders or diseases and see if maybe there’s variation within these genes that hadn’t been queried before,” Dennis said. “So we can get parts of the genome that we hadn’t been able to, so that was really important to us. That took about a year, and it brought in lots and lots of different folks all over the world, so it was over 100 scientists that contributed to completing the human reference genome.”

NEW PEDIATRIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSION PROGRAM AT UC DAVIS HEALTH ESTABLISHES ONE-STOP SHOP FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS’ FAMILIES The program takes a multidisciplinary approach to make the standard of care more patient-centered

BY BRANDON NGUYEN science@theaggie.org UC Davis Health has recently developed the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Program to provide a multidisciplinary approach to treating children with pulmonary hypertension, a condition that can be difficult to diagnose in children.

Dr. Brian Goudy, a pediatric intensive care physician at the UC Davis Medical Center and director of the program, described what pulmonary hypertension is.

“Pediatric pulmonary hypertension is just defined as increased pressure in the blood vessels that go to the lungs,” Goudy said. “It’s similar to if you were to have hypertension in your other blood vessels, so the blood vessels go away from the heart and toward the body, but it’s just a little bit more difficult to measure the blood pressure in the lungs the way you measure blood pressure in the body.”

It is difficult to diagnose a child with pulmonary hypertension, largely due to the numerous factors that may lead to the condition.

“The definition really is so broad that it encapsulates lots of different types of causes for that increased pressure,” Goudy said.

“Most frequently the results of increased pressure in the lungs are a result from lung injury from prematurity, where many of our patients are premature infants that have chronic lung disease, which causes blood to not flow as smoothly through their lungs. The other large subset of patients that have pulmonary hypertension have congenital heart disease, meaning they were born with some sort of heart defect and in association with that heart defect, they have developed increased pressure in their lungs.”

Due to the complexity and difficulty of the condition in pediatric patients, doctor visits often required families to spend many days per month meeting with the multiple specialists involved. However, with the advent of the program, these visits have been reduced to a one-stop shop where a family can see all of the specialists in one visit.

Dr. Payam Vali, a neonatologist at the UC Davis Medical Center, spoke on the importance of a multidisciplinary team when approaching pediatric pulmonary hypertension cases.

“The reason we developed the program is again because it’s a fairly complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach,” Vali said. “In developing this team, we can create this niche expertise that when we identify patients that have pulmonary hypertension, we can rely on this team to provide the most upto-date evidence in treating these patients so it’s a little bit more cohesive in the approach.”

The program is an example of advocating for a patient-

Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Program team of specialists work together to provide care for pediatric patient. (UC Davis Health / Courtesy) centered approach. Dr. Rory Kamerman-Kretzman, a pediatric pulmonologist, further highlighted what the team hopes to achieve in the future while improving and expanding the program.

“Number one on my list would be improving the quality of life for families, and I think that what we call patient or family-centered research outcomes are increasingly recognized but still remain under-emphasized across all health conditions,” Kamerman-

Kretzman said. “So I’m interested in getting more family input on how we can be more effective, as a team and then eventually, I’d like our research efforts to ramp up as well. Right now, we are a very clinically focused team, but I hope that we can contribute to the network of children’s hospitals and medical centers that are advancing the care of pediatric pulmonary hypertension.”

12 | THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

SPORTS

AGGIES CONTINUE SLUMP — DROP TWO OF THREE AGAINST THE GAUCHOS UC Davis Softball lose three-game series at home and are now 3-10 in the last 13 games

Sophomore Libbie McMahan hits a grand slam to top off the 10-2 win of the first game on April 30, 2022. (Claire Diepenbrock / Aggie)

BY MARLON ROLON sports@theaggie.org Consistency has been an issue in the second half of the season for the UC Davis softball team — some games the pitching is firing on all cylinders but the batters can’t seem to connect, while other games the pitching is off and the batters are hot.

“We’ve gotta come out with more people firing and more people ready to go,” said UC Davis Softball Head Coach Erin Thorpe in the post-game interview. “We’re trying to find that consistency; we’re still like some on and some off. Who’s on a good day today? We have to learn we have to be consistent as a group, and if we’re not consistent as a group, and if we don’t have all cylinders firing at the same time, anybody can take us down on any given day.”

UC Santa Barbara did just that on Friday afternoon beating the Aggies 3-2 at La Rue Field in game one of the series.

Pitcher Kenedi Brown, who leads the Big West in ERA 1.65, started the game on the mound for UC Davis. The sophomore has been sensational all season long but looked out of sync early in the game. She allowed one run with two hits in the first inning.

Brown had a runner on second and third base, but got out of trouble when she struck out Santa Barbara’s third-year outfielder Tyler Goldstein to end the inning.

Despite the consistency issues for the Aggies, in the bottom of the first senior Delaney Diaz hammered the ball toward right field and out of the ballpark, marking her fourth home run of the season.

“Delaney can come up big everytime that she comes up,” Thorpe said. “She’s working through trying to figure out how to attack each at bat. She does a really good job seeing the ball throwing a barrel at it; the biggest thing is she’s just a consistent fighter, and that keeps her as consistent as she’s been.”

Action picked up in the top of the third with the Gauchos at the plate. Brown got two quick outs but walked her batter thirdyear catcher Teah Thies. Things quickly went downhill from there — Goldstein singled to left field advancing Thies to second base.

Then, second-year Korie Thomas attempted a bunt, but secondyear infielder Bella Pahulu threw it wide to first base, recording an

error while Thies crossed home plate.

Still in the same inning, the Gauchos had their players on first and third base confuse the Aggies when they both attempted a double steal. Second-year Libbie McMahan threw it high to home plate after a rundown and the runner scored, increasing the Gauchos lead 3-1. Eventually, Brown got them out of there to end the inning.

In a move to start the next inning, Erin Thorpe pulled Brown.

Typically, the star pitcher efficiency and stellar play allows her to play the entire game but Thorpe wanted to attempt something different.

“We took her out, the score was 3-1, we haven’t been scoring a ton. We need to switch up the JuJu a little bit, I think that’s really what it was,” Thorpe said when asked why the change of pitchers.

“We could feel the energy wasn’t where it needed to be, and I think we just needed to make some changes there. [It was] nothing that Kenedi did specifically; overall, we needed to do some things and shake some things up a little bit. Ken pitched fine, she threw a few too many balls today. I think we struggled in general figuring out what the zone was.”

Second-year pitcher Sara Reineman came in relief, playing well enough to keep Santa Barbara scoreless. Sometimes a fresh arm is needed to ignite some problems for the opposing batters and Reineman did just that.

Although she allowed three hits in four innings of play, she struck out one batter and did not allow any runs.

The Aggies’ opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth when first-year Reese Mattley’s base hit bounced to left field right through the legs of the outfielder, rolling to the wall and giving Anna Dethlefson enough time to cross home plate. Mattley reached third base. Down 3-2 with a runner in scoring position the Aggies could not bring Mattley home, as second-year Tatum Wentworth grounded out to end the inning.

Reineman pitched well in the seventh, keeping Santa Barbara hitless. The defense also did their part on a stellar double play to end the top of the inning giving the Aggie offense one last chance for a comeback.

In the bottom of the seventh, third-years Alyssa Ito, Summer Kisling and Libbie McMahan were the designated batters. Ito popped a fly ball for the quick out and then Kisling hit to the

shortstop in what looked like an easy out. But the ball bounced off the glove giving Kisling enough time to reach first off an error.

However, McMahan hit the ball to the shortstop for an easy out. With two outs and a runner on base, it came down to Delaney Diaz, who homered earlier. Diaz hammered the ball down to center-field near the wall it appeared it had a chance to be a home run — but the ball did not have enough under it and fell just short to end the game.

“Runner in scoring position, but we had one to many outs before we could get it done. Delaney put a good barrel on the ball and unfortunately hit right to somebody, but if we adjust earlier and we do what we need to do earlier, we’re not put in that situation,” Thorpe said.

A doubleheader awaited both teams the following day, and Brown got another opportunity on the mound. The second-year played fantastic, looking like one of the best pitchers in the Big West.

Brown allowed two runs off six hits and struck out eight, helping the Aggies secure the win 10-2 in the first game of the double header.

In the third inning with Dethlefson on second, Mattley came up big again with a single to left field that gave Dethlefson just enough time to run past third base and slide home.

Still in the same inning with the bases loaded, first-year pitcher Grace Kilday was walked to bring Mattley home making it 2-0.

In the bottom of the sixth inning with the score 2-2, UC Davis would let the bats fly scoring eight runs in the inning. With the bases loaded, McMahan hit her first career home run — a grand slam. The Aggies would score on walks with the bases loaded, prompting the game to end at the end of six innings 10-2. With the win, Coach Thorpe would earn her 399 career win — one win shy from the 400 club.

In the second game of the double header and the series finale, UC Davis would fall short 6-2. This time, Taylor Fitzgerald would get the nod to start on the mound for the Aggies.

The Gauchos got off to a fast start scoring two runs off two hits in the second inning. In the top of the fourth, Fitzgerald would find herself in a bit of trouble; she allowed a walk, a hit and a run scored. The Gauchos were in control 3-1.

Then in the bottom of the fourth, senior Sierra Hillman smacked the ball down the right field line for an RBI, cutting the deficit to two.

In the top of the fifth, Thorpe pulled Fitzgerald from the mound for Reineman. However, Reineman allowed three hits right away and the Gauchos capitalized, scoring three runs to make it 6-1.

In the sixth inning Thorpe would once again make a pitching change. Freshman Mia Hildebrand would come in relief for Reinemen who only pitched for one inning. Hildebrand did well, allowing just one hit in two innings of play.

UC Davis would go on to lose 6-2, making it 10 losses in their last 13 outings. In game three of the series Thorpe’s team left 12 runners stranded, a problem that continues to haunt the Aggies.

“It’s one of those things where we’re in the games and it’s just heartbreaking right now that we’re losing so many close games.

But, we gotta find a way to claw through, and we gotta find a way to fight and be competitive and start turning some of those around and have the win come in our column. We’re working through trying to figure some things out right now, trying to see how we can flip that,” Thorpe said.

The Aggies fell to 20-26 and 7-11 in conference play. They have six games left on the season – three games against Cal Poly on the road and three games against Hawaii at home on May 13 to 14.

UC Davis will look to finish the season on a high note.

“I think we’re all a little disappointed and heartbroken with not being able to get the wins that we wanted to get and that we feel we’re prepared to get,” Thorpe said. “It’s about time we start figuring it out and being able to put it together.”

2022 NFL DRAFT RECAP Several teams shine with their selections, while other teams underwhelm

BY PATRICK FIGUEROA sports@theaggie.org

After one of the craziest offseasons in NFL history, the 2022 NFL Draft is now complete. While nobody knows how any of these prospects’ careers will turn out, we can still predict which teams will have future success based on the moves they made during this draft. Multiple teams had drafts that are worth highlighting, while other teams’ drafts were more questionable.

Winner: Baltimore Ravens As per usual, the Ravens had a successful NFL draft. With two first round picks, they acquired two high-end prospects — safety Kyle Hamilton from Notre Dame and center Tyler Linderbaum from Iowa. While there are concerns about Hamilton’s athleticism and Linderbaum’s size, both were elite college football players that produced on the field. They followed up day one of the draft with an impressive day two, as they acquired high-upside pass rusher David Ojabo from Michigan in the second round and Senior Bowl standout Travis Jones from UConn in the third. Ojabo was a first round talent before he tore his Achilles tendon during his Pro Day. Despite the injury, this second-round acquisition could be a steal given Ojabo’s high potential. Travis Jones was also a potential steal, as he was projected to be a second round pick. This haul was impressive, and it’s also worth mentioning some of their later picks, like Minnesota’s offensive tackle Daniel Faalele and Iowa State’s tight end Charlie Kolar, both of whom were selected in the fourth round.

Winner: Kansas City Chiefs A team that has played in the AFC Championship game for the past four seasons seemed to only get better with this draft. The Chiefs addressed two of their biggest defensive needs in the first round — selecting cornerback Trent McDuffie from Washington and edge rusher George Karlaftis from Purdue. They also addressed an offensive need by selecting wide receiver Skyy Moore from Western Michigan in the second round. Additionally, the Chiefs were able to add some positional depth in the third round with safety Bryan Cook from Cincinnati and linebacker Leo Chenal from Wisconsin. This was an important draft for the Chiefs after they traded away superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill earlier this offseason. It is safe to say that they delivered with good draft picks that should allow them to continue their success and fight for another AFC title.

Winner: New York Jets The New York Jets, amid a rebuild, were in desperate need to add starting caliber talent to their roster. After a solid free agency where they added players like offensive guard Laken Tomlinson, cornerback DJ Reed and safety Jordan Whitehead, they followed it up with a good draft class. With three picks in the first round, the Jets selected cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner from Cincinnati, wide receiver Garrett Wilson from Ohio State and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson from Florida State. They were also able to get one of the best running backs in this year’s draft class, Breece Hall from Iowa State, in the second round. All of these players addressed major needs on the Jets’ roster, and they should be able to instantly contribute to the team. Keep an eye out for some of

KATHERINE FRANKS / AGGIE their late round picks, like third-round tight end Jeremey Ruckert from Ohio State and fourth-round offensive tackle Max Mitchell from Louisiana, as well.

Loser: Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings made a questionable decision during the first round of the NFL Draft when they traded away the 12th overall pick to their division rival, the Detroit Lions. Not only did this allow the Lions to address a need, but this meant that the Vikings would move down 20 spots in the first round. As a result, they missed an opportunity to get a high-end, instant impact player. Also, the return on this trade was underwhelming, as they only moved up in the second round and acquired a third-round pick in return. With some of their picks, they reached for players that were not projected to go until later in the draft. At least they acquired cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. from Clemson, who can help their thin defensive back room.

Loser: Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals did not have a first-round pick. This was because they traded their first-round pick to the Ravens for wide receiver Marquise Brown and a fourth-round pick on draft night. The former first round pick, Marquise Brown, has been underwhelming during his NFL career. Also, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired an elite wide receiver, AJ Brown, for a first-round pick. This made the Cardinals trade look worse, but if there is any reason to be optimistic about this trade, it is the fact that Marquise Brown and Cardinals quarterback, Kyler Murray, were a

dynamic duo in college. Also, the Cardinals did need a receiver, so at least they addressed a need with their first round pick. Despite some reasons to be optimistic, this trade was questionable for the Cardinals.

Loser: Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears made solid selections with their three picks on the second day of the NFL draft. They added cornerback Kyler Gordon from Washington, safety Jaquan Brisker from Penn State and wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. from Tennessee. Despite these being good picks for the team, the Bears needed to provide more offensive support for their young second-year quarterback Justin Fields. After an underwhelming free agency that added little offensive support, the Bears needed to address their offensive needs, most notably offensive line, during the draft. Failing to do so puts Justin Fields in a tough spot. He will need to do a lot more than what a second-year quarterback should be asked to do. While Chicago acquired players who should have good NFL careers, there is uncertainty if the same can be said for their quarterback.

With the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft, the beginning of offseason training for NFL teams, like OTAs, minicamps and training camps, is right around the corner. Also, the NFL schedule release is imminent, as the full schedule is set to be released on Thursday, May 12 at 5 p.m. PT. While there are still some free agents still available to be signed, such as Julio Jones, Tyrann Mathieu and Odell Beckham Jr., the conclusion of the NFL draft signals that the beginning of the 2022 NFL season is getting closer.