Opinion

America’s children can’t read: readoption of phonics might be a solution By SABRINA FIGUEROA — sfigueroaavila@ucdavis.edu We can’t ignore that the current level of literacy within the United States — especially among the younger generations — is inadequate. In 2024, the Nation’s Report Card found that 40% of fourth graders and 33% of eighth graders […]

We’ve spent millennia seeing spirits in nature — now we’re filling the void with Alexa By MILES BARRY — mabarry@ucdavis.edu David Hume once said, “there is an universal tendency amongst mankind to conceive all beings like themselves, and to transfer to every object those qualities.”  If you’ve ever named your car, kicked a broken vacuum […]

Calls for a salary cap are misguided at best and greedy at worst   By THEO KAYSER — tfkayser@ucdavis.edu    Many are arriving at the presumption that “the Dodgers are ruining baseball” after the recently concluded 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. Such a conclusion has its merits on the surface, especially if one were […]

UC Davis administration discusses federal funding cuts, SNAP/EBT benefits, safety initiatives, research innovations and protection of undocumented students On Nov. 17, The California Aggie’s Editorial Board met with Chancellor Gary May, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan, Associate Chancellor and Chief of Staff Carl Engelbach, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Dana Topousis, Vice Chancellor […]

How nostalgia has become our quiet rebellion By NEVAEH KARRAKER — nakarraker@ucdavis.edu Second-hand clothing, once frowned upon, has now become aspirational — the targeted style exudes nostalgic mid-90s to early 2000s vibes. Presumed iPad-raised generations have now openly adopted flip phones, along with other forms of older technology. Everything appears to have inverted. This sudden […]

Algorithmic playlists mark a further evolution of art as a commodity   By THEO KAYSER — tfkayser@ucdavis.edu    When you open your phone in the year 2025, you instantly become the subject of a competition between every possible website, app and advertiser, all of whom are fighting tooth-and-nail for your attention. Unsurprisingly, this pattern applies […]

How cartoons satirize the current social, political and economic state of the world   By ABHINAYA KASAGANI — akasagani@ucdavis.edu   To preface this article, let me start by saying that I would not question it if it turned out that my first words were, in fact, “TV;” I might as well be making my way […]

The Internet is quick to extract political implications from album covers or lyrics — but how useful is this commentary?   By GEETIKA MAHAJAN — giamahajan@ucdavis.edu   There are more than enough reasons for the general public to dislike any celebrity. Like the rest of us, they are flawed people. But an endless well of […]

Growing more fruit trees could alleviate many common college stressors   By ANJALI IYER — amiyer@ucdavis.edu   After the gloom of Davis winters, many students earnestly await the arrival of spring quarter, as the change in seasons provides a much-needed relief from the misery of 5 p.m. sunsets. Unfortunately, the rustle of a gentle spring […]

In an increasingly online political environment, farmers market stalls provide an opportunity for in-person discussion   By SAGE KAMOCSAY— skamocsay@ucdavis.edu   Picture this: it’s a cheery Saturday morning and you’re strolling through the Davis Farmers Market with your friends for the first time. You’re checking out each of the vendors — some of them are […]

Distrust of cooking oils has become a rallying cry for conservatives   By MILES BARRY — mabarry@ucdavis.edu   In January 2025, a large group of wellness influencers, biohackers and proponents of alternative medicine descended on the Kennedy Center to celebrate Donald Trump’s election with a “seed oil-free” dinner at the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) […]

I’m over it   By SABRINA FIGUEROA — sfigueroaavila@ucdavis.edu   Ah yes, Davis: the self-proclaimed bicycle capital of America. It’s also the capital of constantly almost getting run over.  One thing I love about Davis is that it’s one of the most walkable cities I’ve ever been to, which adds to its charm. Walking under […]