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Letter to the Editor

Opinion

Opinion

October 25, 2012

I am writing in response to Adam Khan’s Oct. 23 article, “Meatless Monday comes to the CoHo.” It is no surprise that students would want “Meatless Mondays” in their dining halls: According to a study by food-service provider Bon Appétit, the number of college students who identify themselves as vegetarian has risen by 50 percent since 2005, and the number of vegan students has more than doubled during the same period.

Students are horrified to learn that cows have their throats slit while they’re still conscious and that many chickens are scalded to death in hot water. It’s simply not the kind of industry that students want to support.

From the smallest community colleges to the largest state schools, vegan options are everywhere nowadays as a direct result of student pressure. Students can visit peta2.com to get free stickers and a free vegetarian/vegan starter kit.

Kenneth Montville
College Campaigns Assistant
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
KennethM@peta2.com
(323) 210-2255

Editorial: Do us proud, Davis

Opinion

Opinion

October 25, 2012

This year, college students are in for a treat: six days of Halloween, college style. With the traditional event occurring in the middle of the week, all of a sudden the party schedule is thrown off.

Do we celebrate it the weekend before? Trick-or-treat at Linda Katehi’s house on Wednesday? Dress up in November? Not only is this stressful, but these additional party nights will serve as some of the most critically judged nights of our Halloween costume careers.

Every single year of dressing up has lead to this specific year. Perhaps we’ve been given one last chance (you know, since the world is ending this December) to prove ourselves.

Maybe all of the events that have happened in the past 12 months occurred so that we could have a costume hot enough to finally get into a frat party before it gets shut down by the police.

Think about it. The costume options are endless. And we’re not talking about yet another version of the candy corn outfit or a bumble bee … think bigger.

No, dressing up as a “cop” with heels and handcuffs is not clever. Dressing up as a specific cop, though? Pepper spray canister and SWAT team outfit? Hot.

Did you join in on the K-Pop bandwagon with PSY’s music video “Gangnam Style”? Don’t lie to yourself. You did. And now you too can wear a gold tracksuit and carry around a little Asian boy. Wow, perhaps you can actually get away with trick-or-treating with this costume.

How ‘bout them Giants? This costume might be perfect for the second weekend of Halloween, as No Shave November will have begun. You can scream “fear the beard!” and not only be in character but also scare (in true Halloween fashion) those who hate facial hair.

You HAVE to wear as little clothing as possible to guarantee your admission to Frat Row, you say? Fine. Binders full of women. Do with this costume idea as you please.

This is our chance to shine, UC Davis. If we see any “sexy” cats or banana costumes, we have no problem yelling “freshmen!” out of our car windows as we creep along Russell Boulevard on our way to the real parties.

Column: Allen Stone

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

October 25, 2012

Last year, I was handed a ticket to the Allen Stone concert so that I could review a virtually unknown artist performing in Downtown Davis.

This year, I attended the first of two sold-out Allen Stone concerts at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.

Even though I’ve seen this man perform twice, both times rank as the best concerts I’ve ever experienced. I will go as far as to say that I truly believe Jesus himself manifests in Allen Stone’s vocal chords.

The friend I went with last year joined me again this year, and we’re determined to go to every concert this man puts on within a 100-mile radius. I’ve finally found that one performer that I will pay any amount to experience for the rest of my life.

Standing there with a big, fat smile on my face as my man performed in San Francisco, I couldn’t help but feel proud. In less than a year, this performer has gone from 50-person crowds to sold-out music halls in San Francisco.

He’s been invited to perform on numerous famous late-night shows, and he’s been compared to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye by The New York Times. I would even say he’s as amazing of a performer as Beyoncé. And he doesn’t even dance.

He’s considered a soul musician, but I don’t doubt that he could outsing any famous artist on the charts. He’s able to hit notes that I don’t think even Mariah Carey can belt. He can freaking sing Happy Birthday — ask yourself: who actually CAN?

With only two self-released albums, it’s actually ridiculous how many hit songs he has. They may not be on the charts (yet), but every single person in the audience was singing along to the painfully true emotions and genius opinions he intertwines with his melodies.

One of the top comments on an Allen Stone video on YouTube is: “He looks goofy but then that voice comes out and I’m like … shitting rainbows.”

Yes, Allen prefers to keep his blonde hair in long natural curls, and yes, he dresses like an original hipster with big grandpa glasses. But it only takes two seconds to forget that he didn’t pay a stylist or hairdresser or makeup artist to make him look conventionally pretty.

Taylor Swift just released yet another full album of songs about relationships and boys, so I have to say that it is impressive and noteworthy that this man can produce beautifully powerful music that barely mention love. In fact, one of his songs is titled “Another Breakup Song,” with lyrics that state that “the world doesn’t need another breakup song.”

Throughout the concert, my friend and I kept seeing older couples dancing together, raising their hands up as if they were in a gospel church. I too looked a little silly, with my jaw dropped for a full four hours (even the freaking openers were mind-blowingly talented), but I’m positive that I wasn’t the only one freaking out.

If I could, I would dedicate my entire year of columns to Allen Stone, but I’m pretty sure my audience as well as my editors would not appreciate reading about my obsession on a weekly basis. But trust me when I say that once you listen to Allen, you won’t be able to fully respect any other music ever again.

ELIZABETH ORPINA wants you to challenge her on the topic of Best Singer Ever. All she’ll have to do is play one Allen Stone: Live video and she’ll win. Share your love for this man with her at arts@theaggie.org.

UC Davis primate center under fire for alleged animal cruelty

Campus Editor

October 25, 2012

UC Davis primate center under fire for alleged animal cruelty

On Oct. 14, members of the Sacramento Animal Rights (SAR) group protested at noon outside the UC Davis California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC) at Road 98 and Hutchison Drive.

About 20 members were present with the purpose to draw media attention against the alleged use and mistreatment of animals in CNPRC experiments.

“We have been here twice a year every year,” said Linda Middlesworth, an assistant organizer for SAR. “We go to the Quad and give students information; they have no idea that there is even a primate center and what happens in there.”

Middlesworth said that the CNPRC consistently violates the Animal Welfare Act, which regulates animal research. She also said the CNPRC is considered one of the 10 worst labs in the country.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Animal Welfare Act requires minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for certain animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially or exhibited to the public.

“We know about heart disease, but they [CNPRC] still have to do the experiments or they won’t get the money,” Middlesworth said. “We also know about smoking and what poisons hurt [body] tissues, but they have to conduct these experiments that are duplicated throughout the United States, and each one gets their own funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH).”

Andy Fell, spokesperson for the UC Davis News Service, said there are only eight national primate centers that are funded by the NIH. The CNPRC is open to research to UC Davis, other UCs and universities on the West Coast.

“There are a wide range of diseases that affect humans, such as autism and asthma,” Fell said. “The research is carried out appropriately and conducted [according] to regulations by the USDA and the NIH.”

Oscar Paz, an undeclared student at the American River College in Sacramento, was one of the 20 protesters.

“We were here about two months ago,” Paz said. “We’re trying to let the community know that this kind of thing exists. Not a lot of people know about it.”

Fell said that every year the number of animals in active protocol located on campus and in the wild has to be reported to the USDA. UC Davis is a research facility that is strongly based in biology with people who work with an array of animals in facilities at UC Davis and in the animals’ natural habitats

According to an SAR press release, UC Davis has a history of primate deaths. Documents released by Stop Animal Cruelty Now state more than a dozen animals have engaged in self-destructive behavior and several were killed by the center.

“They [CNPRC] are barbaric and cruel,” Middlesworth said. “The poor animals are stuck in cages and deprived of food and water for different experiments. Wires are put into their eyes and some are accidentally killed. One primate got into a drain pipe and got cut up in a fan belt.”

The CNPRC could not be reached regarding these allegations. Fell said that the protests have been peaceful and low-key, with minimal trespassing.

MEE YANG can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

News in Brief: Monster Bash returns for a fourth year

City News

City Editor

October 25, 2012

On Oct. 27, the Fourth Annual Monster Bash Halloween Costume Party will take place at the Odd Fellows Hall on 415 Second St. from 7 p.m. to midnight. The event is open to people ages 21 and older.
Proceeds will go to the Davis High Madrigal Singers’ outreach tour in June 2013, in which the group will sing at choral festivals in Russia and Italy. The Davis High Madrigal Singers is an auditioned 36-member mixed chamber choir that performs a cappella in Renaissance-inspired costumes.

Sacramento-area band Custom Neon will perform classical rock at the fundraiser. A cash bar, costume contest and prizes will also be featured. Although costumes are encouraged, they are not required.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. To purchase tickets, contact S. Kinkle at (530) 756-5002 or visit the Watermelon Music Store in Downtown Davis.

— Claire Tan

MUSE speaks with Good Old War’s Tim Arnold

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

October 25, 2012

Philadelphia-based folk trio Good Old War has been making waves in the indie music scene ever since their 2008 debut album Only Way To Be Alone. Formed from the breakup of the rock band Days Away, Good Old War has been described as having “captivated countless audiences with their acoustic-driven, sing-along inspiring live performances,” according to their website. Their newest CD, titled Come Back as Rain, was recorded in 2011 and released to rave reviews, being stated as having “a rousing intensity that will certainly be familiar to anyone who’s witnessed their live show.” MUSE got the chance to interview Tim Arnold, drummer and vocalist for Good Old War. Good Old War will be performing at Freeborn Hall along with NeedToBreathe on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.

MUSE: How did you first get involved with Good Old War?

Arnold: Keith and I were in a band before Good Old War called Days Away. That didn’t really work out, but we met Dan in Philly and we decided to do something simpler with acoustic guitars.

Which musicians or bands would you say have inspired you and the rest of the band?

I think everything inspires us in a good way and a bad way. Everything we’ve ever listened to is an inspiration. Of course, The Beatles, we can agree on that.

How does Good Old War’s creative process work?

Someone comes in with a song; it’s usually Keith or Dan. They’ll come in with a demo, and then we’ll sit down and make it a Good Old War song. It’s a very collaborative process. It all starts as a seed in someone’s brain, and then it grows.

How does the experience of playing live differ from the recording studio?

There’s more energy, and you’re put on the spot. It’s more of a calm setting in the studio; when it’s live, it’s being presented and you’ve got one chance to do it. They’re both fulfilling experiences, in my opinion.

In addition to the drums, you also play the accordion. What do you feel this unique instrument brings to the band’s sound?

Well, I try to play the accordion; I’m not a virtuoso in any sense of the word. But it’s a new color to add to your painting.

The band’s music has been described as “sing-along inspiring.” What part does the audience play during a live performance?

A huge part. We want it to be a party situation, where everyone is having fun and [is] involved. It’s not necessarily us just putting on a show, it’s us hosting a party.

What can we expect from Good Old War in the future?

We’re probably going to start our new record in the winter. We’re also going to tour as much as we can, but anything can happen.

To hear some of Good Old War’s music, visit goodoldwar.com. Tickets are available at the Freeborn box office for the Oct. 30 concert.

BRETT BUNGE can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Former campus police officer sues University for alleged discrimination

Campus News

Campus Editor

October 25, 2012

Nearly 10 years ago, Calvin Chang, the first openly gay and Asian American officer on his force, allegedly faced racist and homophobic slurs during his time with the UC Davis Police Department. He filed a discrimination lawsuit in 2009. The case is still active.

“Chang’s lawsuit seeks a reinstatement to his position as a UC Davis Police Officer, and damages for the loss of his career and retirement benefits,” stated a press release from the Luti Law Firm.

According to Chang, there will be a civil jury trial in Sacramento County that is expected to last about a month. They plan to summon UC Davis police as witnesses, including former police chief Annette Spicuzza.

“They do not have to produce her since she is no longer employed, but we plan to look for her,” Chang said.

In 2002, when Chang was first employed with the UC Davis police force, he was excited to be working for his alma mater after working on the City of Davis police force.

Chang said he is most frustrated with the University’s inability to take action.

“This is a continuous pattern. They have policies, but do not follow them,” Chang said.

Over 300 documents were filed with the court and there were six denied attempts by the University to have the case dismissed. Ultimately, there has been a jury trial date set for Nov. 5.

“I’ve been asking for reinstatement. I have not been hired since 2008. My only option is to [be reinstated] as a police officer for UC Davis. I want individuals to be held accountable,” Chang said.

According to Claudia Morain, news service manager at University Communications, Chang resigned from his position in 2009.

“This month the court threw out those claims, with prejudice. ‘With prejudice’ means that these complaints cannot be brought back to the courts,” Morain said. “With this latest victory for the university, 90 percent of Mr. Chang’s complaints have now been dismissed. Only two minor complaints related to the handling of his personnel file remain. He will now have to persuade a jury that he was wronged.”

Chang said that shortly after the lawsuit was filed in February of 2009, an officer and sergeant posted degrading comments on the internet. The internet access was traced to a UC Davis computer. Spicuzza was confronted, but no action was taken, Chang said.

For the Nov. 5 court date, the witness list states, “1. Annette Spicuzza (Defendant previously agreed that they would produce this person for trial).; 2. Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef.; 3. Chancellor Linda Katehi.”

This list also includes current Police Chief Matthew Carmichael and former UC Davis Police Lieutenant John Pike.

Chang is being represented by Hollywood Civil Rights Attorneys Anthony Luti and Dennis P. Wilson.

DANIELLE HUDDLESTUN can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Women’s soccer preview

Sports Editor

October 25, 2012

Teams: UC Davis vs. Cal State Fullerton; UC Riverside

Records: Aggies, 7-8-2 (2-4-1); Titans, 8-8-0 (5-2-0); Highlanders, 6-9-3 (1-5-1)
Where: Aggie Soccer Stadium
When: Friday at 2 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.
Who to watch: The women’s soccer team’s offense has been plagued with sluggish first halves lately. UC Davis has been falling behind early and playing catch up for most of their games. In order to be first on the scoreboard the Aggies will need senior Allison Kelly to connect early and often.

The Sacramento, Calif. native was the Aggies’ most productive offensive player last year. This season she’s still among the top scorers for UC Davis. These two home games could be her last as an Aggie and she will need to utilize her speed and footwork to ensure a pair of victories.

Did you know? UC Davis kicks off the weekend against Cal State Fullerton. The TItans are fresh off their big win over top-ranked Cal Poly. The Mustangs were undefeated until their trip to Southern California resulted in a 0-4 loss to Fullerton.

Preview: UC Davis is playing for pride. Their seventh place ranking means they will most likely not be invited to play in the Big West Conference championship tournament. However, this is a young squad and these games are crucial for setting the tone for next season.

Kicking off against Fullerton will be a challenge. The Titans are ranked fourth in the conference and they will be desperate to hold their top-four ranking so they can make the conference championship.

Fullerton’s offense had a field day against Cal Poly last Sunday and it will prove to be a challenge for the Aggie defense.

The Aggie offense also needs to find their legs early. They have struggled to produce in the first half, which has dug them into some holes they could not score their way out of later on.

Head Coach MaryClaire Robinson is aware of the consequences of these slow starts.

“[In past games] it took us a bit to get our legs and we found ourselves in [holes] early.”

UC Riverside will also be a tough game to win. Highlander goalkeeper Jessica White was named conference Defensive

Player of the Week for her incredible performances in last week’s tie against Cal Poly and 1-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara.

The Highlanders are also playing for pride as they close out the season. Sunday’s match against the Aggies will likely be both teams’ last game of the season and neither will want to close it out on a loss.

These games will be determined by which team is willing to fight harder. The Aggies have plenty of resiliency and hopefully the home crowd will give them the extra boost of energy they will need to close out the weekend with two wins.

— Kim Carr

Guest Opinion

Opinion

Opinion

October 25, 2012

Last week, I, along with many members of the ASUCD Senate and The Aggie, received word from Yara Zokaie that she would be officially resigning her post as a member of the Senate.

I appreciate the fact that Miss Zokaie has decided to move on, as greater endeavors await her during and after law school. Finally, ASUCD can close the book on this sideshow and continue working for our fellow Aggies.

While overinflated theatrics and rhetoric are part of Miss Zokaie’s repertoire as a disgruntled and long-distance Senator, there are a few charges that she leveled in her resignation that I believe ought to be set straight:

Zokaie stated that I refused to appoint an impartial replacement for the seat she vacated when leaving for law school.

I would have been more than happy to include Zokaie in the hiring and appointment process of the new senator who would have filled her position.

Unfortunately, she told to me that she would not question whether I would include her, or take her opinions into consideration, because she did not trust me. Her trust is her decision, but I did not refuse any measure of cooperation and never did we discuss even what an “impartial replacement” would mean.

Zokaie stated that I made policy decisions that were catastrophic for ASUCD.

I have never put the Association in a catastrophic situation. Rather, I have worked throughout my term to counter the threat of situations that indeed could have been catastrophic for the Association. These include writing a fiscally responsible budget, negotiating down the Association’s Direct Cost Agreement, preventing the Association from joining the Shared Service Center, negotiating down the amount of the UC Office of the President Tax on our units and negotiating beneficial MOUs for ASUCD with other campus departments.

Zokaie stated that I refused to cooperate with the legislative branch.

This is simply inaccurate. I attended every Senate meeting during Spring Quarter 2012 to update the Senate on the goings on of the executive office, the progress of the Association’s taxes and the writing of the annual budget, among other issues.

Our ASUCD Executive Office has, and will continue to, focus on advocating for UC Davis students while the state continues divesting in the UC, and the UC Regents continue proposing tuition increases and shrinking class offerings.

Column: TV’s best character

Opinion

Opinion

October 25, 2012

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Don’t teach a man to fish, and you feed yourself. He’s a grown man. Fishing’s not that hard.”

The world is cutthroat. The pursuit of independence naturally lends itself to a more self-centered existence, and as life goes on, we have less and less time for other people. There will always be people who can theoretically help us, but social economics makes it increasingly difficult to justify going out of our way for other people.

“Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing.”

Pretty straightforward.

“Friends: one to three is sufficient.”

Also straightforward.

“The important thing is the dam is never happening, and your dream has been crushed.”

Human instinct is to go for self-preservation, but it’s often best to be direct with unpleasant news, or to be honest with yourself if you think you’re wasting your time. Resolutely finishing a plate of shit just because you bought it helps absolutely nobody.

If you’re in a shitty relationship, don’t hesitate to say “I’m not romantically attracted to you anymore, and there are other people I’d rather be boning.” People are stronger, more capable and more adaptable than they often seem. Nobody likes getting jerked around by the bureaucracy of life.

“I enjoy government functions like I enjoy getting kicked in the nuggets with a steel-toed boot. But this hotel always served bacon-wrapped shrimp. That’s my favorite food wrapped around my third favorite food. I’d go to a banquet in honor of those Somali pirates if they served bacon-wrapped shrimp.”

It’s impossible to be 100 percent true to your convictions. Compromise and concessions are the only way to get things done, and you just have to take the bad (government functions) with the good (bacon-wrapped shrimp, holy shit).

“You’re on a desert island. What’s the one thing you bring with you?”

“Silence.”

Small talk is one of the most important smokescreens in life, but it’s also one of the most irritating. We’ve all been on that awkward car ride where the driver/passenger refuses to shut up, and you lose out on two hours of sleep and introspection. Silence is golden, and more people should understand that. The stars never shine brighter and the world never seems more poignantly wondrous than when the sound of silence settles in.

When silence falls over a large group and that one guy ruins it by chuckling “Tee hee, this sure is an awkward silence,” my first instinct is to rip his intestines out and snarl with savage fury, because silence has come and gone and left humdrum reality in its wake. Former President Lyndon Johnson said it best: “Only talk when it improves the silence.”

“When I walked in this morning and saw the flag was at half-mast I thought, ‘Alright, another bureaucrat ate it.’ But then I saw it was Li’l Sebastian. Half-mast is too high. Show some damn respect.”

For those who aren’t familiar with Parks and Rec, Li’l Sebastian is a miniature pony who embodies the underdog spirit of Pawnee. His death sends shockwaves reverberating through the community, and Ron Swanson is visibly affected by his passing.

Even emotional tanks like Ron Swanson have things they care deeply about and truly believe in, and it’s that implicit compassion and tenderness that keeps humanity from collapsing in on itself. After spending most of this column asserting the shittiness of humanity, it’s only fair to acknowledge the inherent goodness that most people not named Mitt Romney have.

BEN CHANG will engage you in awkward conversation at bcchang@ucdavis.edu.

News in Brief: Pumpkin Smash Bash, Monster Bash on Oct. 27

City News

City Editor

October 25, 2012

The First Annual Pumpkin Smash Bash, hosted by the Heidrick Ag History Center, will be on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1962 Hays Lane in Woodland.

The fundraising event will feature adult trick-or-treating (beer tasting), a pumpkin smashing contest, costume contest, a raffle and other festivities.

The winner of the raffle will get to take a helicopter ride donated by Joe Heidrick and smash a pumpkin 100 feet in the air.

Included in the price of admission are four complimentary beer tastings, a free pumpkin and one food serving.

The Heidrick Ag History Center contains over 300 farming and transportation implements and vehicles.

Tickets for the event are $30 for members and $35 for the general public.

— Claire Tan

Football Preview

Sports Editor

October 25, 2012

Teams: UC Davis vs. Portland State
Records: Aggies, 3-5 (2-3); Vikings, 2-5 (1-3)
Where: Aggie Stadium – Davis, California
When: Saturday at 2 p.m.
Who to Watch: This week the defensive line will be asked to do a lot to set the tone for the defense. The Aggies will face a team that has only given up three sacks this entire year in.

Junior defensive tackle Andrew Benjamin and sophomore defensive end Nick King who share the team lead in sacks (4.5), will face the issue of getting pressure on the quarterback while staying gap sound to prevent big holes for the opposition.

Did you know? The Aggies have played Portland State several times throughout the years. The series record leans toward Portland State 7-4. However, UC Davis has won three out of the last four meetings between the two teams.

The last three games have been offensive showcases, with each game accumulating over 60 points between the two teams. This week may turn out to be no different, as many expect another high-scoring game between these two teams.

Preview: This week the Aggies return home to play the Portland State Vikings after playing two consecutive weeks on the road. Both teams are coming off tough losses last week and are seeking redemption.

The Aggies are coming off a 21-7 loss to Northern Arizona where they had a tough time capitalizing on their drives. The offense was able to move the ball down the field, however they crumbled close to the end zone.

“We moved the ball consistently against Northern Arizona, the best defense in the Big Sky. It’s just about capitalizing on those opportunities. Last week we missed a chip shot field goal and we were stopped at the five yard line on the last drive,” said head coach Bob Biggs. “We just have to do a better job, maybe mix in some play action and screens. We have to make the plays that we couldn’t last week.”

Quarterback Randy Wright and the passing game will be looked upon to have a huge game, as Portland State’s passing defense ranks amongst the bottom in the Big Sky.

Wright will seek to return to a performance similar to two weeks prior when he threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns compared to last week, throwing for under 200 yards and two interceptions.

As mentioned before, the UC Davis offense will go up against Portland State’s formidable pistol offense. Currently, Portland State is third in total offense in the Big Sky, averaging 442.3 total yards and 34.6 points per game.

“Portland State runs a pistol offense which is very deceptive so we have to be aware of a lot of misdirection plays and counters. Their deception puts a lot more pressure on our defense,” Biggs said. “We just need to stay at home and make sure we are gap sound.”

However, the records show that it is always a shootout when these two teams meet up. The Aggies will focus on stopping Portland State’s running back DJ Adams, who is currently ranked third in the Big Sky in rushing. They will also have their hands full with true freshman quarterback Kieran McDonagh.

This week the Aggies will be playing at home during Parent and Family weekend. The Aggies are currently 2-1 at home while Portland State is 0-4 on the road.

“So far the students have been fantastic and have left their marks on the games,” Biggs said. “Like we always say, we don’t play for ourselves but for the student body as well. Seeing a big crowd out there will definitely motivate our players to hopefully get back on the winning track.”

— Jason Min

Campus Judicial Report

Campus News

Campus Editor

October 25, 2012

Hard-knock life
A first-year student was referred to Student Judicial Affairs (SJA) by the police for an alcohol violation in the dorms. The student had multiple previous offenses of the same type, and this time, the drinking resulted in hospitalization. After talking with a judicial officer, she agreed to deferred separation status and was removed from the dorms along with being referred to Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Intervention Services (ATODIS). Deferred separation is an agreement whereby the student waives their right to a formal hearing should they be referred again, knowing that they will be suspended if found in violation once more.

Liar, liar
A student was sent to SJA after furnishing fabricated information to his dean’s office in an attempt to retroactively drop a class. He claimed that a friend had died, but it was uncovered that this was not the case. It was not the student’s first violation, so after meeting with a judicial officer, he was suspended and received community service.

Time’s up!
A graduate student was sent to SJA after continuing to work on an exam after time was called and even after being asked to stop. He claimed that there were others who also worked past the time limit but understood that this was still a violation. He received a censure due to the fact that this was his first violation of the Code of Academic Conduct. A censure is a strong warning whereby the student is notified of the University policy he violated and advised that if referred again, he would receive more serious sanctions.

Aggie Digest

Sports Editor

October 25, 2012

The UC Davis cross country teams have had a couple weeks of rest after an intense fall season, but will need all the energy they can get at this year’s Big West Championships.

The meet will take place on Saturday in Riverside for the fifth year in a row, with both the men and the women competing at the UC Riverside Ags/Ops Course.

The Aggie women took the championship last year, averaging a 20:59 through their top five runners.

Current junior Sarah Sumpter placed second with a 20:33.7 time and is the top returner from last year’s field.

Sumpter was followed by juniors Alycia Cridebring in eighth place and Shannon Harcus, who placed 28th.

Sumpter and Cridebring have been consistently pacing the Aggies and will almost definitely be some of the top performers in the field.

With a 12th-place finish at the Pre-Nationals meet in Louisville, Ky. Sumpter secured her place as one of the elite runners in the nation and will be a strong force for UC Davis at the Big West Championships.

UC Davis is the sixth-ranked team in the west region and even received votes for the national rankings after their 10th-place finish at the NCAA Pre-Nationals.

The UC Davis men will be competing with a lot of first-timers at the Big West meet. The Aggie men placed sixth last year at the meet, with Jon Peterson (class of 2012) placing fifth as an individual.

Current junior Nathan Strum was the highest finisher for UC Davis that is returning this year. The San Jose, Calif. native finished 36th overall.

The Aggies have been led by sophomore Trevor Halsted at most of the meets this year, and are looking to make a push to surprise the conference with their young roster.

The women’s 6K run will start off the day and the men will race afterwards.

— Matthew Yuen

Program offers students and staff chance to create productions

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

October 25, 2012

Institute for Exploration in Theatre, Dance and Performance (ITDP), a program aimed at helping develop research in the aforementioned fields for Aggie students, faculty and staff, is brand new to the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance this year.

According to the ITDP website, the main goal is to “further research through practical exploration and application.” This allows ITDP applicants to put on a wide range of productions, whether it be dance performances or comedic plays.

The ITDP department supplies applicants with rehearsal space, costumes, furniture and other basic necessities in order to produce a production.

In addition, an effort is made to promote each new production with the help of Facebook posts, placements on the ITDP website, newsletters and flyers. Beyond that, each project is handled according to the respective scale and format — no tickets are sold and spaces for each performance are not delegated in advance.

Undergraduate student Kevin Adamski has looked to ITDP to help with the upcoming December production of Dead Man’s Cell Phone, a comedy by playwright Sarah Ruhl that deals with a technology-obsessed world. Adamski commented on ITDP’s helpfulness and how it’s allowed him to put more effort into his directorial duties.

“As I’m still learning and honing my craft, I greatly appreciated the assistance and learning opportunities from working with a faculty adviser,” Adamski said. “I also appreciate the resources the department generously provides to the project, something I would struggle to find outside of the university environment. Without having to worry extensively about resources, I can focus on directing and research.”

Adamski also talked about how ITDP handles its main goal of furthering research in a particular field. In this case, the program helped develop his honors project on directing.

“I’m using my ITDP project to help inform my honors project on the craft of directing,” Adamski said. “Having already taken both directing classes offered through the department and directing short works through The Dead Arts Society and the department’s Edge festival, developing my craft through working on a full-length show was the next logical step.”

Although Dead Man’s Cell Phone is one of many intriguing performances scheduled this quarter for ITDP, there have already been successful productions with the help of the program. Among them is Today I Live, a play written by MFA candidate Susan-Jane Harrison. It’s a tale of an isolated Persian woman and an Irish mapmaker from another era and their emotional struggles as themes of foreign culture and displacement are tackled.

Harrison highlighted ITDP’s assistance in the promotion of Today I Live as a bright spot in her collaboration with the program.

“One of the most helpful things we received was publicity support which was undertaken by the publicist in the department,” Harrison said. “They did a really nice flyer and an email blast which ensured that we had a good-sized audience.”

The production of Today I Live, which took place earlier this month, was cited as an overall positive experience by Harrison.

“I was very happy to have had the opportunity to share my work and receive feedback from professors and fellow students, professionals in the theater world,” Harrison said. “Their input was invaluable, as well as what I gained through performing and experiencing the play from the inside.”

Although the season for Fall quarter is lined up at this point, ITDP is still accepting submissions for Winter quarter from anyone on campus through Nov. 19. The submission forms can be found at theatredance.ucdavis.edu.

ANTHONY LABELLA can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

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