Opinion

Newly formed ASUCD organization ACT faced controversy last week after it became apparent that members didn’t fully disclose their intentions when interviewing students for a video to be posted online.After itwas discovered that more than one interviewee wasn’t aware the video was for an ASUCD group,ACT organizers removedit in order to get permission from everyone it featured.

Dear Aggie Readers, The California Aggie has been forced to make several mid-year budget cuts in order to try and meet our mounting deficit.The most visible of these cuts,and the one likely to affect you the reader most significantly,is the decision to cease production of Friday’s printed issue.The Friday issue will still be available online attheaggie.org.For Aggie sports fans out there,never fear,the Lineup will be moved to Thursday.

A recent discovery of a hazardous chemical near the site of the new Target store in Davis has some citizens calling for construction on the store to be delayed. The chemical,trichloropropane,is considered to be a “probable carcinogen” by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency.It has already been detected at the nearby Frontier Fertilizer Superfund Site,which the EPA has been monitoring and cleaning up since the mid-1990s.

Dear Aggie Readers, Due to mounting budget losses,The California Aggiehas found it necessary to make several mid-year cuts.The most visible of these is our decision to cease having a print edition of the newspaper on Fridays.Articles that would have run in the Friday issue of the newspaper will be posted online at theaggie.org.For those devoted readers of The Lineup,it willbe moved to the Thursday issue.

In the Jan. 21 issue of The California Aggie, the article “Recyclemania comes to Davis” incorrectly stated that 100 universities nationwide are registered for Recyclemania when actually 503 are participating. The article also stated that the competition ends March 28, but it ends March 27. Additionally, UC Davis started participating in Recyclemania in 2005, not 2004. Last year’s competition included Sproul Hall, Briggs Hall, Tupper Hall and the University Services Building, not just Student Housing as the article reported. The Aggie regrets the error.

No.11on my Cap and Gown Listmay seem like blasphemy for a psychology major.However,after class last week,I feel I must take a stand against good old Sigmund and his faithless opinion of religion.

The British Broadcasting Company has managed to put itself in a no-win position regarding the current escalation of the conflict in Gaza.Asked to broadcast a message from British charities urging citizens to contribute to aid for victims in Gaza,the BBC refused,citing a need for impartiality.

Dear Aggie Readers, Due to mounting budget losses,The California Aggiehas found it necessary to make several mid-year cuts.The most visible of these is our decision to cease having a print edition of the newspaper on Fridays.Articles that would have run in the Friday issue of the newspaper will be posted online at theaggie.org.For those devoted readers of The Lineup,it willbe moved to the Thursday issue.

There is a myth.And like the myth that Columbus had the intention or effect of showing that the earth was round,it is discredited,yet repeated.This myth holds that the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA),Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and “unnecessary government intervention“ are to blame for the financial meltdown; that government forced otherwise righteous and omniscient financial institutions to make subprime loans,and then securitize,tranche,leverage and triple-A rate those loans for sale to each other.

As mine is the last opinion column that is published each week,I assumed that everyone would be sick of hearing about President Obama– man,does it feel good to see those two words together! I considered various topics,but I found I could simply not disregard this momentous occasion and what it means for every man,woman and child in this great nation.This country is going through a major change,and the American people have a new spirit as we venture into this new chapter in our history.

As most of you are college students, by nowyou’ve probably all had the “drug conversation” with your friends. This stimulating discussion usually starts off when one of your friends just tried shrooms and won’t shut up about it. After he pontificates about how his whimsical journey with the drug made him a better person, the discussion digresses towards drugs-taking in general. Some conclude that they must try a hard drug at one point in their lives – others vow never to do so. Eventually, an interesting point is brought up: Is it bad to receive happiness solely from a drug?

President Obama at times appears less a person than a phenomenon – through a unity of acuity,poise and elegance,he captivates and inspires.For all his skills,accepting the presidency of the United States is not just accepting the toughest job in the world,but the collective weight of history and the aspirations of the world all at once.And,in reality,he couldn’t have been more prepared,because Obama embodies the character and spirit of modern America.