The Daily Meal, an online culinary news site, examined dining programs at every four-year university in the nation (over 2,000). The large-scale project spanned the majority of the summer months. The study included the mess halls of small, private liberal arts colleges to big-time university campuses. UC Davis made the cut, ranking No. 18 on the Daily Meal’s 52 Best Colleges for Food in America.

“We used several sources to compile our list. We reviewed the National Association of College and University Food Service Awards (NACUFS) and we looked at lists like the Princeton Review. We also read news stories about college dining, and explored the dining services websites. In addition, we interviewed chefs, dining staff and food management companies to get an understanding of what food is being served and where it comes from,” said The Daily Meal editor Nina Fomufod.

The focus of the study remained on the aggregate: the school’s dining program as a whole versus the individual food items provided. A variety of factors were taken into consideration when determining which colleges made the cut, with many schools receiving a failing grade for the following: unsanitary conditions or health code violations, lack of variety and missing service.

For the schools that did make the cut, they were graded on a five-point scale on the following factors: healthy food, events, local, sustainable, accessibility and service and the X factor. Fomufod noted that the deciding factor rested on the food itself, dining services creativity and students’ general opinions of their respective school’s dining experience.

“Our goal was to present well-rounded programs, and UC Davis made the list because we felt it fit that description. We wanted to highlight schools that not only served quality food, but also hosted events. It was equally important to us that local and sustainable food was used on campus — these factors are why UC Davis made the list,” Fomufod said.

Additionally, UC Davis was recently ranked as the nation’s “Coolest School” by the Sierra Club’s official publication for its continued efforts in sustainability and climate change prevention and education; the University’s dining services are no exception in maintaining a clean, “green” image.

“From purchasing local food items, to composting, water and energy conservation, to purchasing produce from our Student Farm and Russell Ranch right here on campus, our commitment is to sustainability and all that encompasses the program. We also have educational programs for the students on food waste reduction,” said Brenan Connolly, general manager of Resident Dining.

Among the UC Davis dining commons’ food choices include honey-nut pancakes, dosas with sambar and chutney, and falafel lentil cakes, all unique takes on the standard college dining experience.

“Our commitment [is] to the students and University to bring them a quality dining program. It is all about the student experience. We strive to make sure our students have a great dining experience all day long, no matter what dining room or retail or catering operation they are dining in,” Connolly said.

GHEED SAEED can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

“We offer all sorts of services. Most people know us for being a repair service but in the last couple of years we have become a bicycle retailer,” said Basile Sensei, business manager of the Bike Barn and fourth-year economics major. Sensei said that the Bike Barn does over 12,000 repairs annually. “We can fix anything that doesn’t require frame repair, like welding,” he said.

It is also suggested to practice riding your bike, because if you haven’t been on it since elementary school, you may be a bit wobbly at first and the first day of school is not the time to test your round-about riding abilities. Lastly, beware of squirrels; they do not yield for bicyclists and are far from afraid of them.

“We offer a variety of resources [where] students can get information and advice on campus and off campus on a broad range of topics like how to support a friend with an eating disorder and how to party safely. Our library is a great resource to get information on any sort of gender lens,” Evans said.

For more information on these and many more resources, visit the Student Health and Counseling Service homepage on the UC Davis website. As a residence hall resident, the area service center also has resources available including tutoring, a tech hub and even 250 pages of free printing per quarter. Also, with a swipe of your ID card, you can rent kitchen supplies, board games and sports equipment.

“Be more open with communication,” she said. “A lot of times problems occur because roommates don’t talk to each other and it turns into a conflict later on.”

Also, when living in the residence halls and using communal bathrooms, always wear shower shoes — you never know what you are stepping in.

SolarKindle Lighted Cover
The Kindle, arguably the most popular of the many new e-readers, makes reading easier and more convenient than ever before. It’s a relatively simple product and pretty light on energy consumption itself, but some may be interested in taking it to the next level. Those with a Kindle 4, especially those who enjoy reading outside, can stop worrying about charging their Kindle altogether, thanks to SolarFocus’s SolarKindle Lighted Cover. The SolarKindle will be constantly charging when exposed to not only direct sunlight but also outdoor shade. And the efficiency of the product is nothing short of impressive; an hour of charging in direct sunlight can provide up to three straight days of reading. All in all, at $79.99, the SolarKindle is a bit pricey, but it’s a useful option for anyone looking to maximize their Kindle’s energy efficiency.

Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750/K760

Smart Strip Power Strip

LG Viper 4G LTE

Communication
The number one most important thing is to establish good communication between all the roommates — regardless of the number. Doing that from the very beginning helps make the situation more comfortable.

“Starting from when you move in, really take the time to sit down and set up some ‘rules’ for your room. When you don’t know someone and you live with them, all of a sudden, it takes some time to become comfortable. Really talking about stuff helps speed up that process,” said Deep Singh, junior mechanical engineering major and former resident advisor.

For first-years just moving into the dorms, this is a key piece of advice. And communication is the ideal way to establish a friendship with your roommate.

By asking these questions you can find a roommate who shares common interests or has similar habits.

Friendliness
But the most important thing to remember is to try and become friends with your roommate.There are a number of things you can do to bond.

PAAYAL ZAVERI can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

I’m here to provide you with a guide to getting through these four years, straight from the Queen’s mouth.

Queen B, that is.

In my two years here at Davis, I have discovered that a Beyoncé music video can get you through almost any shitty situation. Maybe it’s the sparkles. Maybe it’s the voice. Either way, it’s real. Beyoncé will save your life.

So pull up YouTube and get ready to change your life.

“Start Over” is pretty straightforward. You’re in a new place and you’re allowed to be whomever you want to be. This could involve a $7.99 box of hair dye from Rite Aid (word of advice: splurge for the $14.99). Maybe it means adopting a British accent for the first day of school, or dying your entire wardrobe black. Just remember that this is your chance to figure out who you really are, and it’s OK if that’s a different person than your high school self. Actually, I really hope that it’s a different person than your high school self.

And that person you choose to become? It’s all about them, as Bey points out in “Ego.” This is a time for you to focus on yourself. Be proud of who you are. Post mirror pics on Facebook.

College is all about you. A time to be completely selfish and not depend on anyone. Because they will probably just disappoint you.

But don’t think that you don’t matter in the big picture. As scary as it may seem, we are the future, and one day, we will run the world. Unfortunately, it probably won’t be just the girls, as suggested in “Run the World (Girls).” But that’s a feminist column for another time.

But seriously, we’re going to be in charge. Luckily we go to a top university, where you can find resources for ruling the world and the professors really do want to see us do well. While classes may seem like a pain in the ass, try to learn as much as you can before you get to the adult world. We’re all depending on you. I also suggest reading up on zombie apocalypse literature.

And while college may be all about you, don’t forget to give back. Go watch the music video for “I Was Here.” Then sign up to volunteer, go change someone’s life and get a meaningful job (at The Aggie!).

Probably the best advice you’ll get from Mrs. Jay-Z is that college is a “Countdown.” To finishing school. Getting a job. To having a child who’s more famous than you are. Real life. Just like Beyoncé and baby Blue Ivy.

Make the most of this awkward in-between stage when you have little responsibility and lots of opportunity. Let Beyoncé’s beautiful music remind you to do something meaningful with your time here, like writing for The Aggie.

So, Class of 2016, welcome to Davis. And don’t forget to be the best Beyoncé you can be.

HANNAH STRUMWASSER is happy to discuss the possibility of a Michelle Obama/Beyoncé Knowles 2016 presidential ticket anytime, and can be reached at managing@theaggie.org.

Yeah, your lifestyle changes, I admit that. You no longer live with mommy and daddy, you no longer get your lunch packed for you and you no longer have a curfew, or hardly any rules at all. But is that really change?

Packing my own lunch and not having a curfew hasn’t changed me. On average, I may be a bit more tired than when I lived at home and my health is sub-par to what it was back home, but how has that changed who I am as a person? So I yawn in class more often and I get the sniffles every once in a while. Oh, no, I changed so much!

As much as this goes against the grain, I don’t think college has changed me at all. I have the same personality and outlook on life. I still have the same interests and disinterests. I enjoy the same hobbies and have the same motivation to do them. My grades look the same as they did in high school and my priorities around my academics are nearly identical to when I was in the fifth grade.

But, I have undergone a change that is quite major this past year — now I eat my pizza with ranch dressing. By definition, yes, that is a change. But it isn’t this magical transformation of self that everyone is talking about. I am still Devon Bohart, I am still the same moderately intelligent yet goofy person — I just found something else to put on my pizza, and it’s damn good too.

People think that this culture shock, this sudden U-turn, in a person’s way of life brought on by college, is going to change who they are as a person, but I can’t see that as being true. If anything, one may find that they are developing into a perhaps more defined version of themself, but not changing. Never changing.

As adults, legally anyway, we have already mostly defined ourselves. It may be a bit elusive in some areas, but we have the skeleton of who we are. We just have to fill in the meaty parts. And I am not talking about careers. That is an entirely different idea that may never be clear to some.

But as far as who you are as an individual, filling in those gaps in your persona isn’t change, it’s development, and based on my experiences, college is the epicenter of development.

To clarify, I like change, and see it every day. I like to rearrange my furniture just to feel like I have undergone some change. But just because you go to college doesn’t mean you have to change. It’s possible, nearly anything is possible, but this definite fate of morphing into a new person is not real.

You may pick up a few new quirks during your time at Davis, or feel more strongly about something you have become more educated about, but that isn’t change. It’s character development, a healthy process for anyone. Except for me; that extra ranch on my pizza is anything but healthy.

DEVON BOHART can be reached at features@theaggie.org.