Opinion

How politicians shape contemporary culture    By VIOLET ZANZOT— vmzanzot@ucdavis.edu   On Nov. 5, the citizens of the United States elected a “strongman” — who, according to NPR, is “someone who represents democracy as weak and ineffectual, presenting himself as the only one who can fix the nation’s problems.” Superman, though not a historical figure, […]

A gourmet gift guide    By MOLLY THOMPSON – mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu   The hardest people to shop for are always family members. Especially the ones that are just far enough removed that you don’t really know their lifestyles, but close enough that you’re still obligated to get them a Christmas present. Like, what am I supposed […]

The beautiful meaning behind this musical’s interpretation of a beloved Greek myth   By SABRINA FIGUEROA — sfigueroaavila@ucdavis.edu   The ancient myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is a popular tale in Greek mythology. It is also, perhaps, one of the most tragic and poignant; so much so that it gives Shakespeare a run for his […]

Why would you want to eat something so sexy?    By ALLISON KELEHER — adkeleher@ucdavis.edu   To whom it may concern:   I don’t know about you, but I am tired of eating turkey every year at Thanksgiving. Frankly, it’s unoriginal and boring. Why not spice things up with a nice smoked trout? Ugh, I’m […]

The onset of winter can worsen one’s productivity; here’s how to not let it   By Abhinaya Kasagani— akasagani@ucdavis.edu   I am not being hyperbolic, nor am I laughing when I say that the onset of winter has dampened all festivities. I am one to enjoy the cold — maybe even prefer it — yet, […]

The beautiful meaning behind this musical’s interpretation of a beloved Greek myth   By SABRINA FIGUEROA — sfigueroaavila@ucdavis.edu   The ancient myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is a popular tale in Greek mythology. It is also, perhaps, one of the most tragic and poignant; so much so that it gives Shakespeare a run for his […]

What makes someone truly attractive?   By JHANA RHODES—jsrho@ucdavis.edu   In 2016, Disney released “Zootopia,” a thrilling adventure following the life of two mammals: a rabbit and a fox. While the studio likely intended for the audience to enjoy the film for its plot and characters, they didn’t anticipate the overwhelming amount of adult individuals […]

Gratefulness in a world of unhappiness   By NEVAEH KARRAKER— nakarraker@ucdavis.edu   For many this fall season, the re-election of Donald Trump for a second term does not evoke any cheerful sentiment. Social media has been flooded with posts conveying a sense of concern, rage and deep sadness from women, immigrants and others affected by […]

Navigating queer identity when going home for the holidays   By Tara Romero — tcrome@ucdavis.edu   As we enter the American holiday season, many students are going back home to spend time with family. The holidays are a time for family and cultural traditions to be shared — a time for genuine connection with the […]

The ethics of using AI in writing   By Ellie Noh — eenoh@ucdavis.edu   Since 2020, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly grown as a form of technology, making headlines due to its ability to complete tasks faster than ever. This increase in AI development occurred throughout the pandemic, largely driven by the challenges created with […]

Drawn by: Sandhya Pfile –– sbpfile@ucdavis.edu Disclaimer: (This cartoon is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and names of “sources” are fictionalized.)

Understanding how we deal with the past   By Tara Romero — tcrome@ucdavis.edu   Halloween and the time of ghost stories has come and gone, but why do I still feel haunted? When we think of the word “haunted,” we tend to imagine some sort of Victorian poltergeist moving objects around an old dark mansion […]