Red, bleary eyes stare listlessly at the red digital numbers as they tick upward at an alarming rate.
4:42 a.m.
4:43 a.m.
4:44 a.m.
Each arriving minute brings with it a sense of impending anxiety and a myriad of questions and thoughts, thus further exacerbating this cycle of sleeplessness.
Your eyes shift from the stoic clock, which offers no solace, to the comforting stucco lines undulating gently on the ceiling.
And just when your eyelids finally begin to feel heavy and the call of sleep feels like it’s whispering right into your ear, the roosters start crowing, the sun’s rays begin to peek pervasively through the blinds and an entirely new day looms menacingly at your bedpost.
From then on, the rest of the day is a shit storm. Your pants are inside out, your socks don’t match, you drank two double mocha shot espressos with light froth and ate a Pop-Tart for breakfast. You’re nodding off in lecture, sneaking into the bathroom stall at work to get some shut-eye on top of the toilet and you’re nodding off at the wheel — ahem, handle bars.
We’ve all suffered from varying degrees of sleep-related problems. These afflictions range from being unable to fall asleep, to being unable to wake up, to being unable to get anyone to sleep with you.
Why is sleep such an essential part of our lives? We sleep to forget. No, wait, that’s drinking. Well, we sleep to rejuvenate and restore our bodies. A good night’s sleep is always a beautiful thing; I think most can agree with that. And for some people, sleep comes easily. For others, even if falling asleep isn’t easy, once they are asleep, they become a veritable boulder: staunch, immovable and adamant. Those are probably all synonyms, but I like to write in threes. My apartment-mate can sleep through an air raid. I’ve even seen him do it before.
But, for others — those not blessed with clear minds and sound hearts — the act of sleeping every night can be one of dread. Personally, not only do I have trouble falling asleep, but I also have difficulty staying asleep. The double whammy. I boarded my windows up because the whisper-thin slivers of sunlight that cut through the slats of my window blinds can actually wake me up.
Incidentally, I was wracking my brain the other night trying to come up with my next column idea. I’m probably going to spend tonight trying to figure out what I’m going to bring you guys next week. It’s an endless loop of bedraggled bed sheets and askew pillows.
If I’m to fall asleep then I need to think about falling asleep, but if I think about falling asleep then I can’t fall asleep. It’s an uncomfortable paradox that I’ve realized one too many times while lying in bed during the wee hours of the night.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 to 70 million U.S. adults have a sleep or wakefulness disorder. One of the prevalent causes listed is ’round the clock access to technology. What a surprise!
I mean, first we got computers that sit on your lap, so you could masturbate under the covers without having to use your imagination any more. Then within the span of less than a decade we get computers in our palms, so we don’t even have to deal with the weight of a small brick on our laps while trying to get ourselves off. Or, I guess you could be using your computer for similar self-gratifying pursuits like Tumblring, tweeting, Facebooking, Instagramming, whatever.
Technology could be the explanation why it’s also reported that the largest proportion of people (43.7 percent) who find that they unintentionally fall asleep during the daytime are those in the 18 to 25 age bracket.
Does this mean we should cut back on our technology use? There are some people that suffer from genuinely serious and deadly sleeping disorders like sleep apnea and narcolepsy. They can’t be helped, save with actual medical attention. But for the rest of us, are we actually all suffering from some form of insomnia? Or are our lifestyle choices the real culprit behind the bags under our eyes?
ANDREW POH can’t sleep most nights, so if you’re up at 4:44 a.m. and would like to keep him company, contact him at apoh@ucdavis.edu. XXX
Column: Insomnia
Smart therapy
Much of disease treatment relies on a simple principle: find out what agents in the body are causing a problem and eliminate them. People can employ very broad-sweeping measures to eliminate these problems. A good example of this is the use of antibiotics. For diseases like salmonella and tetanus, the use of the proper antibiotics can quickly and efficiently solve the problem.
However, many diseases are much more problematic and can’t be dealt with in broad strokes. The treatments for these diseases are much more complex and require pinpoint accuracy in targeting afflicted areas. One such disease is cancer.
Cancer, the unregulated growth of the body’s cells, is difficult to treat. The difficulty stems from the fact that the diseased cells are entirely native to the body; the treatments are targeting one’s own cells. The body’s immune system is great at detecting and eliminating foreign substances, but when the troubles are more domestic, it has trouble telling healthy cells from cancerous ones. As a result, the treatment options that kill the cancerous cells have the unfortunate side effect of killing the healthy cells as well. When chemotherapeutic treatments are administered in too high of a concentration, these potentially helpful drugs could end up being lethal.
In a recent publication, professor of hematology and oncology at the UC Davis School of Medicine Chong-Xian Pan developed a way to dramatically improve the efficacy and safety of some cancer treatments.
The improvement comes from changes to the delivery of the chemotherapeutic treatments through usage of nanoparticles called micelles. Micelles are aggregates of soap-like molecules that naturally form droplets when placed into an aqueous environment. The hydrophobic (water-avoiding) side of the micelle is repelled by water and forms the center of the drop. The hydrophobic side is used to form a protective coating around the chemotherapeutic agents meant to be delivered to a specific part of the body.
The way micelles are directed to specific parts of the body is through ligands, signal-triggering molecules that bind to sites on corresponding proteins. These ligands can be artificially constructed to bind to any conceivable protein with complementary sequences of amino acids. Proteins are made up of sequences of amino acids, otherwise known as peptides.
The peptide PLZ4 has been shown to preferentially bind to a structure on the surface of bladder cancer cells. The binding triggers the absorption of the micelle into the target cell. The binding process facilitates the emptying of the contents of the micelle directly into the cancer cell, allowing for much more efficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs.
“The micelles … are stable during blood circulation and release the [medication] quickly when triggered by the microenvironment of a tumor,” said Yaunpei Li, a collaborator in the investigation. “Our micelle could prevent premature drug release [into the body].”
According to Kit Lam, professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and a co-author of the article, the problem with freely administered cancer drugs in the bloodstream comes from developed resistance.
Subjects given the high dosage took the longest time for tumors to develop and showed the longest period of tumor control. Moreover, the high-dosage treatment subjects experienced significantly longer life spans than subjects given the same dosage of paclitaxel with the absence of targeted micelles.
The high-dosage treatment with the new delivery method promoted a far greater life expectancy with fewer negative side effects.
“The prognosis for advanced bladder cancer has not changed for three decades. Our findings have the potential to significantly improve outcomes,” Pan said,
ALAN LIN can be reached at science@theaggie.org.
Culture week honors indigenous heritage
As November is Native American Heritage Month, the Cross Cultural Center (CCC) is presenting Native American Culture Days (NACD) this week on campus to spread awareness.
Johnson is a member of the Euchee tribe from the Muskogee Nation in Oklahoma.
The theme for this year’s NACD is “Honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: Power in Unity and Strength in Diversity.” Johnson said they aim to include not only Native American culture, but other indigenous cultures as well.
“We celebrate the indigenous peoples of the Americas and also put on diverse programs to reach out and touch all the bases of all the tribes, not just a specific tribe,” said Charity Hall, undergraduate program coordinator of Native American Cultural Days. “My personal goal is to overcome the visibility issue. We are underrepresented here at UC Davis; we are less than one percent.”
Though Hall considers herself as part of many different ethnicities, she said that she identifies as a Native American, specifically with bloodlines tying her to the Blackfoot, Cherokee and Creek tribes.
Native American Culture Days kicked off its first event of the week on Monday with the Sunrise Ceremony, a prayer for the week that was given on the East Quad at six in the morning. While the turnout was small, Hall was pleased to see the participants.
“I thought no one would come because it’s 6:20 in the morning, but some people did show up,” Hall said.
The Native American prayer was meant to start the week of events off in good fortune, which will be followed by a sunset ceremony at the end of the week to bring the festivities to a close.
Yesterday, among other events, was a game of stickball, also on the East Quad, encouraging non-Native American students to join the celebration.
“It was interesting and fun. I didn’t expect it to be so physical,” said Howard Tong, a first-year computer science and engineering major.
Tong came to the event initially for extra credit for his Native American Studies class but said he got more out of it than a grade.
Stickball is a traditional Native American game that is usually played during a celebration and gathering of the community. Stickball is very similar to lacrosse, and the version played on the Quad involved players holding long wooden sticks with a small indentation at its tip to act as a hook for catching a leather band that has two balls attached to it, one on each side.
Players run across the field and toss the band to their teammates in order to score a goal by touching a single goal post that has been staked into the ground.
Another participant, third-year Native American studies major Justin Deaton, is one of the undergraduate co-coordinators for the Native American Powwow, which happens in April. Deaton is a part of the Southern Alabama Cherokee tribe. His passion for his culture is what influenced his decision on his major.
“I actually majored in Native American studies because over the past three years, I’ve read several articles and books that highlight the grave injustices, misfortunes and horrendous deeds committed to the Native American population and their culture,” Deaton said. “It has been a mission of assimilation, termination, removal and basically death of the Native American and their culture.”
He said he partakes in NACD due to his deep cultural connection and desire to educate others about this passion.
“I feel that if I can educate one person who doesn’t know about native history or the indigenous people of this land, if I can help someone understand one thing that has gone wrong in our history, then I’ve done my job,” Deaton said. “To make sure that one wrong has been righted by my deeds.”
A schedule of the rest of the week’s events can be found at the Cross Cultural Center or on the Cross Cultural Center website.
MARIA MARCELINA CRYSTAL VEGA can be reached at features@theaggie.org.
Preethi’s South Indian specialities
South Indian cuisine has landed in Davis for the first time with Preethi Indian Cuisine, which opened downtown last spring.
Dosa — a crisp, thin crepe made of fermented rice flour and lentils — is a staple in South India, often stuffed with masala, onions or potatoes alongside chutneys. At Preethi, it’ll also come with sambar — a thick lentil soup with vegetables and spices — for dipping.
There’s also utappam, similar to dosa but thick, with toppings added to the batter. Other specialties: idli, soft, airy rice cakes, and vada, slightly chewy, deep-fried lentil fritters. All of which, of course, are served with chutneys and sambar.
The familiar order of chicken tikka masala with naan is still sounding better to you? Consider sharing the “special combo” of masala dosa, idli and vada for $7.95. Lentils don’t get much more interesting, or tasty.
Preethi Indian Cuisine. 712 Second St., Davis. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
ASUCD hosts Election Extravaganza today at Memorial Union
As National Election Day, today, approached this month, UC students have heard from administrative, government and student leaders for a final push to have students register to vote and to pass Proposition 30.
The proposition, on today’s ballot, will have a direct impact on UC students, as an estimated $2,400 will be added to tuition.
ASUCD senators have organized various events to rally students to vote and have hosted a forum featuring University of California Student Regent Jonathan Stein and Student Regent-designate Cinthia Flores in the ASUCD Coffee House. They spoke about the increase in student tuition and the direct effects of this year’s election on students.
Today senators are holding the ASUCD National Election Day Extravaganza, which will feature free pins, stickers and food to student voters.
“It’s sad — a lot of students actually think that the election is on November 10, or some other day, so we’re working to make sure that people realize when the election actually is,” said ASUCD Senator Bradley Bottoms.
UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi has also reached out to students and sent a letter via email to the campus community, after submitting the letter for publication in The Aggie.
Katehi stated that she hoped to see as many students exercising their right to vote as possible.
“As part of that experience, it is important that you be informed about the ballot and its consequences, cast your vote and let your voice be heard … For instance, Proposition 30, which calls for a temporary increase in the state sales tax and income taxes on high earners, could determine if higher education in California loses another $500 million in state funding. If the measure fails, it will likely result in tuition increases and further cuts to higher education programs and personnel,” the letter stated.
Students were also offered the option to register to vote on the SISWeb website, providing a convenient way for students who missed the mail-in deadline to register online.
“I think everyone that can vote should vote because I believe it is your civic duty to do so, and because there are those all over the world that do not have the right to vote and it is an incredible privilege to have,” said ASUCD Senator Kabir Kapur.
On Oct. 16, Gov. Jerry Brown offered the unique opportunity to speak with student newspaper representatives about Prop. 30 and their involvement in this year’s elections.
“The UCs may even lose more money because there’s a certain tuition buyout that might be lost so there’s big stakes in the Proposition 30 election,” Brown told The Aggie.
Kapur said that even though many students are not able to contribute money to pay for campaigns, they are able to vote in large blocks and influence elections.
“Those who serve in Washington and Sacramento only speak two languages: money to pay for their campaigns and votes to get elected,” he said.
Eddie Yoo, ASUCD director of legislation and policy, said that it is important that students take initiative in this year’s election, specifically because UC Davis is considerably close to California’s capitol.
“Being so close to Sacramento, we are the leaders for all the students in California,” he said.
The ASUCD Election Extravaganza is taking place on the Memorial Union patio from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature a DJ from KDVS, Gunrock, Aggie Pack, an a cappella group and a poll for people that live on campus, as well.
“Voting is your most basic democratic right … Students really do care, and we just have to show everyone that … There are tons of resources online [and] friends are good sources to make sure you are informed,” said Naomi Flagg, CALPIRG campus organizer and recent UC Berkeley alumna.
The polls do not close until 8 p.m. tonight. Students can go to CaiforniaStudentVote.org to find out their polling place.
A community watch night of the presidential election results will also be held tonight at 6 p.m. at the multi-purpose room of the Student Community Center. The event is hosted by the Student Recruitment and Retention Center, Cross Cultural Center and Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Commission. The event will include presentations about the propositions that passed or failed as well as raffle prizes and games.
SASHA COTTERELL can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.
Police Briefs
Dat bike is dope
A person’s bike was stolen and then that person saw someone on Olive Drive riding it and confronted him about it. The person responded that he bought it for “50 bucks and a bag of dope.”
THURSDAY
Facebook stalking
There were secondhand reports from parents with Facebook accounts that several students had posted they were drinking and smoking marijuana on Shasta Drive.
FRIDAY
No good deed goes unpunished
A person was helping a victim of a bike crash on F and Third streets,
and while she was helping the victim, someone stole her jacket with her iPhone inside.
Overly Attached Girlfriend
Someone’s ex-girlfriend was drinking, breaking his things and following him as he started walking to the police department on East Eighth Street.
SUNDAY
Trick-or-treat?
Someone tried to shoplift alcohol twice and was caught both times on Anderson Road.
Regurgitated news
Several males were intoxicated and throwing up in the bushes in front of the Davis Enterprise on G Street.
Gotta bounce
On G Street, someone was yelling that a bouncer who picked him up and threw him to the ground had hit him in the head; the guy then picked himself up and walked over to Froggy’s.
Police briefs are compiled from the City of Davis daily crime bulletins. Contact EINAT GILBOA at city@theaggie.org.
Letters to the Editor
As Aggie students, we believe that our fellow students deserve and want to hear from both candidates seeking to represent us in Congress, so we can’t help but notice that Colusa County supervisor Kim Vann has mostly avoided our campus.
Vice President of Communications for Davis College Democrats
Ask Doc Joe and Katy Ann
The discussion and advice offered in their column is not offered as a clinical recommendation or as a substitute for clinical treatment. Rather, Doc Joe’s and Katy Ann’s comments are intended to stimulate thought, often with a sense of humor. Sometimes they agree; sometimes they don’t. So, read on…
Dear Doc Joe and Katy Ann,
I’m wondering if I am being unreasonable. I’m not sure if I am being jealous, possessive or paranoid, so I need your advice.
I’m a second-year student at a large university. I have a few close girlfriends and a boyfriend, “Sean.” I have been dating Sean since school started about a month ago. I think that our relationship has a lot of potential, even though it’s fairly new. We go out for dinner, movies and long walks two or three times per week.
Here’s the problem. Sean still sees his ex-girlfriend, “Anna.” They met in a class, and went out during most of last year. I know they still see each other in class and talk after class, as I have seen them together when I meet Sean at school. Sean tells me that they are “just friends.” He says that he has no romantic feelings for her, but I think she does, for him. I know they text each other, but he deletes his history, so I have never been able to read the texts.
I don’t think they are messing around, but I have seen her touch him on his arms and hands. She laughs a lot when she is talking to him. Yesterday, I told Sean he shouldn’t be hanging out with her. I told him that I think she still likes him. Sean, of course, denied this. He said: “You are just being paranoid, and there’s no reason to stop talking to her as a friend.” He looked really irritated.
I don’t trust Anna and I think she is trying to get him back. I want to protect this relationship, but I have only known him a month. Should I press the issue?
Sue, in California
Dear Sue,
Katy Ann: Trust your instincts.
Doc Joe: Warning! Warning! Girls know that guys like it when they laugh at their jokes. Laughing can be flirtatious. Touching him on the arm is a dead giveaway.
Katy Ann: Joe, we agree on what’s going on. Some guys are pretty oblivious to this stuff.
Doc Joe: So what now?
Katy Ann: Sue, watch it play out. You don’t want a guy who is hung up on someone else.
Doc Joe: Hmm. I think Sue should take a stand. Sometimes people in a relationship need to let go of relationships with their ex-mates.
Katy Ann: But the relationship is really new. It seems too early to give ultimatums.
Doc Joe: I do agree that ultimatums are risky. So, it’s watch and wait, or take a stand. It’s up to you. This one is a tough one, because the relationship is so new.
Take it home, Katy Ann.
Katy Ann: I still say trust your instincts. I don’t think that you are being possessive or paranoid. Press the issue when you think that it’s time.
If you’d like to get Ask Doc Joe & Katy Ann advice, please contact us at askdocjoeandkatyann@aol.com. Include your name, state of residence and your question, along with a brief description of the situation.
Yolo County Animal Shelter receives new paint job
On Oct. 27, the Yolo County Animal Shelter, located at 2460 E. Gibson Road in Woodland, received an exterior paint job and parking lot re-striping by local painting contractor Brooks Painting.
“Brooks Painting staff, friends and volunteers began at 7 a.m. and [continued] throughout the day, painting the entire exterior of the cinderblock building and the interior of Puppy Park,” said the Yolo County Sheriff’s Department in a press release.
The building was initially only the cinderblock color. Brooks Painting painted it a neutral beige color and the trims were painted green.
“Every year for the last six years, Brooks Painting does a charity paint giveaway,” said Christina Juneau, business manager of Brooks Painting.
The public is open to nominate whomever they want by submitting reasons why they think their nominee deserves the $10,000 charity paint giveaway. The top three nominees this year were the Explorit Science Center, Davis Rotary’s Meals On Wheels and the Yolo County Animal Shelter.
Juneau said that the animal shelter won the charity giveaway this year with over 1,000 votes. A turnout of about 23 people from Brooks Painting showed up at 7 a.m. and worked until 3 p.m. Local businesses also helped out with the event.
The Graduate, located at 805 Russell Blvd., provided the painting staff with lunch. Ink Monkey Graphics provided T-shirts and Sherwin-Williams Paints provided the paint.
According to its website, the Yolo County Animal Shelter is operated by Animal Services of the Yolo County Sheriff.
“Animal Services is responsible for … providing animal control services to the cities, unincorporated areas of the county and to the University of California, Davis properties in Davis,” the website said.
Furthermore, Animal Services provides shelter to animals that have been abandoned, ill-treated and lost. In this way, these animals are prevented from being euthanized and the public remains safe from the animals.
The animal shelter also has the Animal Foster Care program, in which the animals that are considered “at-risk” may be put up for adoption. In addition, volunteer foster parents may temporarily keep these animals, nurturing them until they are healthy for adoption.
“Before we painted it, it was a pinkish-grey cinderblock. The new paint job now gives it a more cheerful and bright look,” Juneau said.
MEE YANG can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
Midseason report on Biggs’ final year
“He’s a great mentor for all of us players and his tenure is coming to a close, so we just want to get these last two wins for him and send him out right,” said senior linebacker Jordan Glass.
Sophomore running back Dalton Turay has similar thoughts.
“Coach Biggs wouldn’t want us to be playing for him — that’s the last thing on his mind — but everyone’s got something on the back of their mind just having two games left,” Turay said.
Even Coach Biggs sometimes has to take a moment to realize that he isn’t too far from the end of the road coaching football.
“Somebody asked me how many practices I’ve had to get ready for over the past 35 years and it’s been well over a thousand, but gosh, now there are only a handful left, but I don’t sit and dwell on it.”
It is truly a wonder how Coach Biggs didn’t know how long and successful of a tenure he would have, starting with his humble beginnings as the head tennis coach and coach of the freshman team.
“The only goal I ever set for myself coming into the position was not about the wins and losses, but that I would be upfront and honest with people — and I don’t think I’ve wavered from that,” Biggs said. “The rest just took care of itself.”
Others players can attest to the character and personality of Coach Biggs.
“Coach Biggs is a great man off the field who will do anything for you. He treats the team like his children and that’s why all the players give him so much respect,” said junior quarterback Randy Wright. “He demands a lot from his players on and off the field. He is someone you can talk to about your off-the-field issues and he is someone you really want to be the face of your program.”
Another aspect where Coach Biggs’ personality and character have shone is during the recruiting process. His honesty and sincerity have made a big impact on the players before they even arrive on campus.
“I actually wasn’t thinking about playing football in college during my senior year but he gave me a call and brought me back to enjoying football a little more. His call just sparked the whole thought of playing football in college again and he made it work out for me,” said redshirt freshman kicker Brady Stuart.
Turay acknowledges his route to his spot on the team would not have been possible without Biggs at the helm.
“As a walk-on I didn’t have much contact with Coach Biggs before I got here, but that’s what makes him special. He gave me a shot, someone who he didn’t really see film on, to make the team,” Turay said.
As the season winds closer to the end, the search for the next head coach has heated up. However, one thing is for certain: The next coach will have large shoes to fill on and off the field.
JASON MIN can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.
Measure E creates tension within community
While other counties are waiting to see if Proposition 30 will pass and how many cuts they may face next year, the Davis Joint Unified School District (DJUSD) is trying to take a preemptive measure.
The proponents for Measure E state that this is a way to safeguard against Prop. 30 failing. Opponents argue the measure isn’t a transparent process and creates new taxes that would cost residents more than necessary, especially in a recession.
There are two propositions on the ballot to increase funding for public schools. Gov. Jerry Brown and Molly Munger, an attorney, both proposed initiatives to help public schools: Prop. 30 and Prop. 38, respectively.
According to the California Voter Guide, Prop. 30 and Prop. 38 both allocate money to K-12 schools, although they propose different ways of doing it — Prop. 30 plans to tax those who make over $250,000 for seven years and increase the sales tax by 25 cents. Prop. 38 proposes a tax for incomes over $7,316 for 12 years.
Measure E replaces a current parcel tax, Measure A. However, Don Saylor, member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, said there is guaranteed money if Prop. 30 doesn’t pass.
“[The bill is to] anticipate the possibility that Prop. 30 will not pass, and to support the school system,” Saylor said.
If the proposition doesn’t pass, then there will be a supplementary tax allocated toward school children, grades K-12.
“Davis has supported parcel taxes since 1982,” Saylor said. “It’s a long-standing tradition in the community. The Davis community values education. I think it’s largely from the university’s location here.”
However, some of the support has turned into threats. Jose Granda, a candidate running for the DJUSD School Board, received a letter written on Oct. 17, referencing a “No on Measure E” sign.
“Davis supports schools. Take down your no on C [sic] sign or we will do it for you (and f— up your house). Vote Yes! on C,” the letter said.
Granda was upset when he received the threat.
“Measures are won with solid, logical arguments, not with threats and intimidation,” he said. “The fact that supporters of Measure E have resorted to these tactics is an indication of the weakness of their arguments and their concern that I may get elected.”
Granda said that he has been subject to attacks because of his stance, and that he was not invited to the Measure E forum at Cesar Chavez Elementary School.
“With intimidation, taking our signs from front yards [and] replacing others with theirs, the only thing they may accomplish is to put the Yes on E campaign on life support,” Granda said.
Supporters of Measure E deny affiliation with the vandalism.
“It’s just campaign tactics at the end of a desperate campaign,” said Richard Harris, a member of the DJUSD School Board.
Other members of the campaign expressed sympathy.
“We live in a society where diversity of opinion needs to be honored and respected. I’m very supportive of Measure E and I think it’s critical and important for the schools we treasure,” Saylor said.
Saylor, on the other hand, disagreed based on the current financial situation of Davis schools.
“The ever-increasing financial challenges that are facing school districts make Measure E even more important,” Saylor said. “The reason this is included here is that in the past, over the past several years, they’ve been too late to adjust the budget or to address new problem[s].”
Prop. 30, Prop. 38 and Measure E, in part, come after increasing anger over reduction of school teachers and an increase in prices for university education.
The latest poll by the California Business Roundtable indicates 49.2 percent in favor of Prop. 30, while Prop. 38 is behind with only 33 percent of “Yes” voters.
While Prop. 30 only needs a simple majority, Measure E needs a two-thirds vote. Yet Harris feels confident about the measure passing despite the difficulties of attaining a supermajority.
“That’s why it’s tough to adopt local funding. But we’ve always done it. We’ve never failed, and frankly I don’t plan that we’ll fail this time,” Harris said.
Randall and others plan to file a restraining order against Measure E this week.JULIE WEBB can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
Column: Ineffective punishment
I remember in middle school and high school, I had to attend yearly presentations of my school’s zero-tolerance policies. The speaker would stand before a crowd of students and tell us what we weren’t allowed to do or bring to school, going on to say that if we broke the rules, the school would suspend or expel us.
In recent times, there have been events where children as young as six were suspended, expelled or sent to reform school for having a cutting knife in their lunchboxes. Such actions have also been taken against high school and middle school students for alcohol, penknives in cars and even aspirins and cough drops.
A zero-tolerance policy is a rule system that basically says, “If you bring any banned objects to school or cause any trouble on campus, you will be punished, no questions asked.”
The most recent information provided by the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that of 767,900 serious disciplinary actions taken in 2007 to 2008 by schools nationwide such as suspension, expulsion, or a school transfer — 327,100 were for insubordination and 271,800 for physical attacks. That’s 21.4 and 31.5 percent, respectively, of all actions. In comparison, 2.8 percent of actions were for possession of a firearm or explosive, 15.3 for possession of a weapon other than a firearm or explosive, and 19.3 and 9.8 percent for drugs and alcohol.
Really? Of all actions taken, 21.4 percent are for insubordination? Isn’t that a bit much? And I have to wonder, how many eating utensils and cutting tools were classified as “weapons that aren’t firearms?”
Public attention has reached the point where the American Psychological Association formed a Zero Tolerance Task Force to study the effects of zero tolerance on students. In fact, their December 2008 publication findings countered several key arguments for the implementation of zero tolerance.
Normally, zero-tolerance proponents say that removing troublesome students creates a better learning environment. However, the study notes a “negative relationship between the use of school suspension and expulsion and school-wide academic achievement, even when controlling for demographics such as socioeconomic status,” showing that a zero-tolerance policy does not actually improve a school’s learning environment.
Proponents also frequently say that zero tolerance deters students from causing trouble, making them better behaved. The association, though, found that “in the long term, school suspension and expulsion are moderately associated with a higher likelihood of school dropout and failure to graduate on time.”
The association also discovered that zero-tolerance policies frequently disrupt the development of adolescence and have contributed to the expansion of juvenile delinquency and the “school-to-prison pipeline.”
This situation seems problematic to me. Schools should be able to create a learning environment without stunting the mental growth of students, while doing their best to retain students and guide them into becoming functioning adults.
So what are some ways to fix the situation?
A popular one is greater discretion on the part of the principal and the teachers. If something is clearly accidental or not harmful, then a brief chat should be more than enough. There’s no need to expel or suspend for minor things.
Expulsion and suspension should be reserved for the most serious cases. Colleges are often made aware of behavioral problems of applicants, and will reject people on the basis of expulsion or suspension alone. It’s completely unfair for a student to have their chances ruined for accidentally bringing a lighter or painkiller to school.
If detention doesn’t work for minor incidents, perhaps mandatory community service might help. A weekend caring for or spending time with the elderly could potentially strengthen school-community bonds and teach the student about being humane.
Most of the zero-tolerance policies for elementary school students should be stripped away. It’s not that they shouldn’t be punished, but that it’s pointless and counterproductive to suspend or expel an eight-year-old. You’re more likely to damage the child’s perceptions than make things better.
It is of crucial importance to protect children in school, especially with the prevalence of gangs, school shootings and fighting. But that doesn’t mean schools can go overboard in their actions. Zero tolerance is a policy with no leeway for reasoning on a subject matter that requires evaluation on a case-by-case basis.
End the zero thought in zero tolerance, and help the children of America truly reach their potential.
Tell DERRICK LEU your thoughts on zero tolerance at derleu@ucdavis.edu
Letters to the Editor
The Love Lab is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the HEP office on the third floor of the Student Health and Wellness Center (SH&WC), located across from the ARC. Students can “like” the UCD Love Lab Facebook page for updates on when the Love Lab will visit other campus locations, such as at the ARC on many Thursday evenings. There is also a pharmacy on the first floor of the SH&WC where students can purchase 10 condoms for only $1.50. Lastly, we recommend that students check out our condom map on the Davis Wiki (daviswiki.org/Sexual_Health_Resources) for locations they can visit even late at night or on the weekend if the need for safer sex products arises.
Sam Wall and Rosa Gonzalez
Sexual Health Student Assistants
Health Education and Promotion
Communication tastes good
In an effort to foster communication between students and the UC Davis administration, the 2012-13 Student Assistants to the Chancellor (SAC) have been inviting undergraduates to attend a breakfast series in the dining commons.
We are happy to see the administration make an effort to meet with students on a regular basis.
It’s great that students now have the chance to voice their opinions and concerns to administrators, all while remaining on familiar terrain. Since offices are intimidating, they often prevent such interactions from taking place. We hope to see these programs expand and we hope the chancellor continues to come.
The breakfasts take place from 8 to 9:30 a.m., and they are free for the selected individuals. The SAC would like to keep groups small so that all participants have the opportunity to speak, which means that not all applicants can be accommodated. However, students are encouraged to apply via ucdsac.wufoo.com/forms/fall-2012-meals-with-mrak.