Column

I’ve stopped taking lecture halls for granted    By MOLLY THOMPSON – mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu    It’s safe to say that we all pay a lot of money to be here. Granted, that funding comes from a myriad of different sources (government loans, savings accounts, sponsored scholarships, etc.). But everyone agrees that higher education, especially at a […]

The hidden benefits of listening to talk shows    By MAYA KORNYEYEVA — mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu   This summer, something both inevitable and terrible happened — I ran out of things to listen to. My “Discover Weekly” on Spotify grew steadily worse, I finished listening to the last audiobook of Harry Potter (voiced by the legendary Jim […]

Even the tiniest details matter   By MAYA KORNYEYEVA — mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu   It’s the start of another fall quarter — a time filled with optimism, a little bit of nerves and a palpable sense of excitement. A new school year also means a new you; it’s a chance to make friends, go to some school-wide […]

Exploring the emotional and physical benefits of giving and receiving hugs   By MAYA KORNYEYEVA — mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu   Hugs are my absolute favorite thing in the world. There’s a number of reasons why I love them: they’re comfy, soft, stress-reducing and generally pleasant. Whenever I give or receive a hug, it truly feels as though […]

Pumpkin as a versatile (and healthy!) fall ingredient By MAYA KORNYEYEVA — mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu Starbucks launched their famous “Pumpkin Spice Latte” (or PSL, for short) on Aug. 22, marking the beginning of the transition period away from hot, blazing summer and toward a moody, pumpkin-filled fall.  Pumpkins — whether in their plump harvest mode or hollowed […]

Is it healthy or is it advertising?   By MOLLY THOMPSON — mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu   Workout and diet fads are constantly circling the media stratosphere. The rise of the internet sped up the cycle, but we’ve seen it long before the advent of social media (think back to the jazzercise craze of the ‘80s). Recently, we’ve […]

The Middle Class Scholarship and Cal Grant provide millions for California students, and cutting them will cause students to suffer    By CLAIRE SCHAD — cfschad@ucdavis.edu    For many students, attending college would not be possible without financial aid and scholarships. Luckily for myself and many others, California has been a leader in the efforts […]

Criteria includes comfy seating, aesthetic, lighting and more   By MAYA KORNYEYEVA — mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu   Ah, a lecture hall. The setting of so many power naps, failed microphones, unexpected quiz announcements and powerful waves of midterm stress.  Beyond being the central setting for learning, a lecture hall should be designed for comfort for both the […]

The film saga is the gold standard of reboots — why is it still slept on?   By JOAQUIN WATERS — jwat@ucdavis.edu   “You might not like what you find.” These are the words spoken to Charlton Heston’s marooned astronaut in the 1968 film, “Planet of the Apes.” He is told not to go looking […]

Will RFK Jr. spoil the 2024 presidential election?   By MOLLY THOMPSON — mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu    The Kennedys — a family so quintessentially American that Olivia Rodrigo sang praises of their “class and integrity.” But the proverbial black sheep of the group, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is set to be on the presidential ticket this fall […]

Floral flavors serve to be transformative in the coffee beverage industry   By MAYA KORNYEYEVA — mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu   Coffee, as a beverage, is well-known for its versatile flavor profiles. One brew could contain notes of chocolate, spice and caramel, while the next could taste of honey, orange and plum. No single coffee bean is alike; […]

Consumerism drives much of the music industry and top artists must acknowledge the detrimental effects    By CLAIRE SCHAD — cfschad@ucdavis.edu    It is no secret that Taylor Swift’s fans are willing to do almost anything to support their favorite artist. Whether it’s spending hours in a virtual queue trying to buy concert tickets or […]