Teams: UC Davis vs. No. 3 Stanford Records: Aggies, 11-8; Cardinal, 15-4 Where: Taube Family Tennis Stadium, Palo Alto, Calif. When: Today at 3 p.m. Who to watch: Desiree Stone lost Mar. 7. Ever since then, she has done nothing but win. The sophomore from North Hollywood, Calif. has captured a victory in seven straight singles matches to improve her individual record to 14-4. Did you know? The Aggies have matched up with the Cardinal twice in the past three seasons, both resulting in UC Davis losses. Most recently, the Aggies fell 0-7 to the Cardinal in Palo Alto on Jan. 25, 2007.

With Picnic Day Parade just a few days away, staff members at the Education Abroad Center are making final preparations for their group’s float. But they will have to march without their prized centerpiece: a giant papier-mâché globe, which vandals destroyed. EAC Outreach Coordinator Jake Hosier said he lives close to the EAC, located on the corner of Third and A streets, and was driving by the office on the morning of Apr. 5 when he noticed shreds of papier-mâché throughout the street. Vandals had apparently detached the four-foot diameter globe from its base and rolled it around the street, Hosier said. One side of the globe, whose structure was made out of wood and chicken wire, was completely collapsed, he said. The globe cannot be repaired in time for the parade, Hosier said. “It’s one of those things that you don’t expect … to happen in Davis,” Hosier said. “We can’t even have a float in the parade because someone goes and does this kind of stuff. It’s really frustrating and disheartening.”

Despite protests all over the world, China is keeping the Olympic torch burning as it embarks on a turbulent journey toward Beijing. From London to San Francisco and to Buenos Aires, protesters are strongly demonstrating against China’s crackdown on dissidents and the violations of human rights in Tibet. With world leaders divided on the issue of boycotting the Olympic Games, now is the best time for the United States to take a stand and show its condemnation against the oppressive Chinese rule in Tibet. Through times, the Olympics have been a symbol of peace and unity in the world. It serves as an avenue for more than 200 countries, which share the same ideals and goals, to come together in harmony to celebrate their aspirations and dreams. But how can the 2008 Olympics be a representation of peace and unity if China itself does not believe in the values of democracy and freedom?

Wednesday’s Rail Jam event, hosted by ASUCD and the Ski or Snowboard Club (SOS), has been postponed due to a breached agreement between the Rail Jam promotion company and the equipment provider. The event was scheduled for Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Aggie Stadium and was intended to showcase winter sports in a competition setup. ASUCD planned to bring snow to campus from Lake Tahoe and allow students to attend free of charge. According to ASUCD Senator and event coordinator Jesse Rosales, the equipment provider previously owed the promoting company money and planned to compensate by providing UC Davis the equipment for the event. The equipment provider then backed out of the agreement, asking instead for $12,000, which ASUCD funds could not provide.

FRIDAY Fight Club Part II An intoxicated subject was reported outside wanting to fight on Bidwell Street. Natural born killer? Individual had two shotguns, a pistol and ammunition to turn in for destruction on Fifth Street. I wanna be like Jewel Individual believes people are living out of a vehicle on West Covell Boulevard. Leave the bottles to the carnies A report was made about bottles thrown at an apartment on Drew Circle. What about the hunchback? Pitbulls in area keep getting out on Notre Dame Drive. SATURDAY Wanna take this outside? Subjects were heard fighting near the bike path on Secret Bay Street. Brotherly love A group of intoxicated males were seen on Colgate Drive. Don’t burn your bridges Individual reported receiving harassing phone calls from a former friend on East Eighth Street. Hope that’s not my boyfriend A male with a dark suit and light colored shirt was seen at the entrance of a lot watching employees enter on E Street. Talk about a tantrum Individual reported an unhappy customer in the store that was throwing things on West Covell Boulevard.

As Picnic Day approaches, local businesses prepare for students, families and alumni to swarm the campus and downtown areas. For Soga’s, there will be an increase in staff, and the restaurant will open 11 a.m. on Saturday instead of its usual 5 p.m. opening time. “It’s the Mother’s Day for the bar,” said Soga’s manager Cliff Mohr. “If you know what Mother’s Day is like for restaurants, that’s what it’s like for the bar.” Since 90 percent of customers are college students coming into the bar, business will be extremely busy, Mohr said. For businesses such as Soga’s, the Graduate, Chipotle and other bars and restaurants alike, “that’s one of the busiest days we have of the year,” Mohr said. The Davis Downtown Business Associationconducted a survey among its membership a month ago to find out more about the Picnic Day experience. “We did the survey in hopes of having an impact,” said DDBA administrator Joy Cohan. “We are having a dialogue with our members to continue to enhance the impact Picnic Day has upon downtown.”

The UC Davis men’s tennis team started strong but could not keep up the pace. The Aggies’ triple-match weekend started with a sweep over Portland State. However, after a promising start, UC Davis (9-12, 1-4) was then edged by Nevada (5-13) and Big West Conference foe UC Irvine (10-12, 3-1). Friday – UC Davis 7, Portland State 0 History does repeat itself, and the Aggies proved it Friday. UC Davis defeated Portland State by the same score as their previous meeting on Feb. 2 in Portland, Ore., 7-0. Although the Aggies swept the Vikings, match play was closer than the final scores appear. “They made us earn it, and we definitely did that,” senior Henri Landes said. The Aggies began the afternoon at the Marya Welch Tennis Center by sweeping the Vikings in doubles to earn a 1-0 lead. Domination in doubles was followed by a superior singles display, as UC Davis took all six singles matches, dropping a total of only two sets.

For the past 12 weeks, this column has attempted to avoid the appeal of commenting on global and national affairs. However, this week I have decided to step off the proverbial soapbox and reserve my endless supply of regent-bashing comments for columns to come. In the past months, the world media has been made very aware of the political turmoil surrounding the upcoming Beijing Olympics, and reports of protests and unrest have littered the route of the symbolic Olympic flame. Upon hearing such reports, some people are appalled at the way in which the Olympic Games, arguably the largest spectacle in world sports, have been infiltrated by the several political agendas of participating nations. Talks of potential boycotts only further highlight the fact that the 2008 Beijing Games will serve mainly as a political arena, rather than an athletic one. However, what some people fail to realize is that the tradition of the Olympic Games has been consistently spoiled by politics for close to 100 years.

You know, I’m really over this whole friend zone idea strictly being a boys-only club. All these movies, songs and blog entries that paint girls as shallow cockteasers with a penchant to oversight their male friends over gorgeous yet asshole guys are completely inaccurate. They fail to mention that we like them to be mind-numbingly rich too. Honestly, what’s with this “nice guys finish last” shenanigan I’m hearing about, as if guys were never guilty of committing the same crime? Some say that most guys simply aren’t. Apparently, due to some ridiculous notion roaming out there, a girl can get any guy she wants (given that she’s within a relatively appropriate spectrum of attractiveness) – especially if he’s a friend of hers. A guy who has female friends will basically whip his penis out for any of them per request, depending on when the little lady wants it. It’s a common myth that’s been numerously elaborated from Chris Rock and Woody Allen, to the ever-intricate “ladder theory.” Well I’m here to say nay! If girls can bonk whomever they want, then my unsuccessful love life means that I’m some sort of exceptional boner murderer. Girls fall into the friend zone all the time, so here’s what you can look out for:

Kurt Rohde, assistant professor and resident composer in the department of music, was awarded a prestigious fellowship for music composition from the American Academy in Rome on Apr. 10. Rohde also serves as the co-director of the Empyrean Ensemble. He will be conducting research in the Italian capital on the Venetian Puppet Orchestra for 11 months beginning this September. The Academy, known primarily as a research and arts institution, houses American scholars and artists to whom they have awarded fellowships. Rohde, who has just joined the music faculty in fall 2008, is the first UC Davis composer to win the Rome prize. “This is a hugely prestigious and well-merited award to a distinguished young composer of apparently limitless promise,” said UC Davis music professor D. Kern Holoman.

If you want some Aggie softball autographs, you need to get Jessica Hancock’s John Hancock. In the first two games of the week, Hancock (13-15) had an easy time shutting down the Titans. The senior right-hander allowed just three earned runs in 11 innings and struck out six in 148 pitches to earn a pair of wins on Saturday. For UC Davis, it was their third win in the last six games, showing a huge turnaround after going 5-16 during the month of March. Saturday –Game 1: UC Davis 5, Cal State Fullerton 2 Who is Bianca Castillo? The freshman right fielder for the Aggies belted her second home run in only her third collegiate game for UC Davis. During the stretch, the Bakersfield native is batting .500 with three extra base hits, including the two homers. “Right now, Bianca is just really stepping up and taking advantage of her opportunity,” said softball head coach Karen Yoder. “She is coming through and contributing for us in a really big way.”

The mood at Emerson Jr. High’s Carnival at Cannery Park this weekend was especially jovial in light of the school board’s Apr. 3 decision to keep the school open. In order to help make the necessary $4 million in budget cuts for next year, the school board recently considered the option of reconfiguring secondary schools, which would have involved closing Emerson and redistributing its students. At the urging of Emerson parents and students, the school board voted 3-2 to keep all three junior highs open and maintain the same 10-12 grade configuration in the high schools. “Everyone was kind of tense and stressed before the decision,” said Frances McChesney, co-president of the Emerson Parent Teacher Association. “After [the decision], people were really enjoying themselves at the carnival.”