The UC Davis men’s and women’s swimming teams were swept by UC Santa Barbara on Saturday afternoon in its first conference dual of2009. The defending Big West Conference champions made for a humbling appearance for the Aggies,winning22of28events on the day.

Haylee Donaghe is out for the season.Vicky Deely is redshirting.Lisa Peterson isn’t ready to come back yet. The UC Davis women’s basketball team only has eight players,and that’s the way it’s going to be. “We had a talk,” sophomore Paige Mintun said. “This is it.It’s no longer an excuse.“

Julie Partansky,former mayor of Davis,died Jan.9after a brief battle with lung cancer.Partansky was61years old. Partansky was famous around Davis for heading up projects such as the toad tunnel and the dark sky ordinance,projects that ultimately allowed Davis residents to enjoy the beauty of the nature around them,said city councilmember Sue Greenwald,a friend and political ally of Partansky.

Beginning fall2009,the University Writing Program will offer a20-unit Expository Writing minor. The minor will consist of four upper division writing classes and a four-unit writing internship.Courses are organized into three categories – Writing in Academic Settings,Writing in the Professions and Theory,History and Design – students take one course in each area and an additional course of their choice.

Over150people attended the Jan.13Davis City Council meeting to take part in a public discussion of a resolution calling for peace in Gaza.The resolution called for “an immediate,durable,fully respected ceasefire” and a “lasting humanitarian truce.“ Dozens of community members who attended spoke their mind on the issue,some arguing for it and others arguing against it.This public comment session took almost four hours.

If you’re like most people and resolve to lose weight and eat healthy for thenewyear,Student Health Services (SHS) aims to help you achieve your goals. “Eat Well,Live Healthy!” is a free SHS-sponsored weight management series run by Registered Dietitian RyannMiller.The program,now in its third year,is offered once per quarter.

The city of Davis has finally concluded an internal investigation into allegations that city firefighters were misusing fire department facilities. The investigation clarified findings from a Yolo County grand jury report released last summer. The original grand jury report found that some off-duty fire personnel were sleeping at the firehouse after drinking.It also found that some fire personnel were concerned about favoritism,promotional practices and a strong union influenceon the department’s operations.

TODAY Europe: Sustainable Cities of Northern Europe Noon to 1 p.m. Conference Room, Education Abroad Center, 207 Third St. Learn about a study abroad opportunity for this coming summer!

The UC Davis men’s basketball team wants to begin a new era. It wants to put the past to rest.It wants to be the next Big West Conference champion.It wants to bring the hysteria of March Madness to Davis. After the team’s recent road trip,people may want to start jumping on the bandwagon.

Brendan Chan thinks students would be safer if they were allowed to carry concealed weapons.He is in the process of founding a UC Davis chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus,a non-partisan organizationthat claims over36,000members nationwide.

Human beings,when faced with the unpleasant prospect of the truth,will often cling to feelings of cynicism and doubt rather than admitting that they are wrong.Such was the case when Galileo first claimed the sun was the center of our solar system,or when Columbus fought the notion that the earth was flat.Despite the ignorant opposition,these men stood by their beliefs,effectively showing that one stubborn man can change the minds of millions.

It all started with an artificial vagina. The newborn foals in the campus Horse Barn are a charming vision of life in the quaint Davis flatlands.They tenderly nuzzle their mothers and wave their bristled tails in the winter breeze.Every January,these tiny foals appear in the barn.And every January,the students of the Stud ManagerInternship help to create them.