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Column: Les Mis

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

May 31, 2012

It only takes 13 seconds into the Les Misérables teaser trailer to get a musical fanatic to tear up. The beginning notes of “I Dreamed a Dream” dominate the montage of extremely famous people, leaving whoever the audience member is drained, excited and a little shocked.

When the announcement that Les Misérables was in the works to become a Hollywood adaptation, the musical world was in uproar. Usually, movie adaptations ruin and taint the magic that is Broadway — sure, Hairspray, Chicago and Dreamgirls were great … but you can’t help but die a little on the inside when you realize that the general public will now fall in love with the stage performance you dedicated your heart to so many years ago.

Slowly, the cast list was revealed. Anne Hathaway as Fantine? Alright, she seemed to be talented at the Tony Awards. And with Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier, Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier, Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean and Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, you know this film adaptation can’t go wrong. Especially when they brought Samantha Barks as Éponine onto the list. She did no wrong, in my opinion, on Broadway.

There WAS a huge upset when Taylor Swift was in talks to be Éponine. I do like me some Swift every once in awhile when I’m sad and lonely, but in a Broadway adaptation of an extremely famous musical? Hell to the no. I was almost as upset when I realized that George Bush might be president again years ago.

When the announcement that Samantha Barks would be assuming the part, most of the Broadway community and its fans sighed a breath of relief. You don’t do that, Hollywood. You don’t do that.

Now, I own the Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary DVD, have tickets to see the show in San Francisco this summer and am eagerly awaiting the movie release. To be completely honest, I was surprisingly blown away by Nick Jonas’ rendition of Marius Pontmercy. People may say that he was amateur and not strong enough … perhaps it wasn’t his beauty and surprising talent that landed him the role of J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying?

But let’s get back to the film at hand. During the time I’ve spent writing this column, I’ve played the trailer at least 10 times. Sure, Anne Hathaway’s version doesn’t hold the notes as long as you expect, but remember that this IS Hollywood and sometimes the face is more important than replicating the talent of the original cast. You gotta make everyone (Hollywood and Broadway) happy, right?

Let’s just be real. Even if you don’t follow Broadway like a sports team, have tickets to every show in every major city and only have Original Cast Recording as the only artists on your iPod, this movie looks pretty damn good. And if you are that person who has Broadway musical tattoos, then this teaser trailer most likely surprises in how much it doesn’t suck.

I’ve heard rumors that Wicked might become a movie in the future … God, let’s hope not. That is one of my all-time favorite musicals, and if the rest of the plebeians who don’t dedicate their paychecks to Broadway get to enjoy a movie version for $12.50 at the local movie theatre, I’m going to die.

Let’s keep Broadway on stage. And a note to Hollywood: Stop stealing stories from the stage and from books. Get your own damn writers.

ELIZABETH ORPINA is an angry person and will probably be listening to the Spring Awakening soundtrack when she bikes home. Let her know how much you enjoy her rants at arts@theaggie.org.

Proposed budget plan takes a toll on Cal Grants

Campus News

Campus Editor

May 31, 2012

Under a newly proposed budget plan by California Governor Jerry Brown, many students would be left with little or no Cal Grant aid.

In Brown’s revised budget plan, known as the May Revise, about 37 percent of students who plan to apply to a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) in the fall of 2013 will be affected.

“Student eligibility toward Cal Grants would be based on Pell Grant eligibility,” said Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) Diana Fuentes-Michel.

The revision proposes that Cal Grants, which has provided over $1.6 billion in aid to students, be connected to Pell Grants. This would make the amount that a student qualifies for in Cal Grants about the same in Pell Grants.

Many oppose this, as Pell Grants eligibility considers familial factors such as income and family size, while Cal Grants considers a student’s grade point average. This year, the maximum award that can be received in Pell Grants is $5,500, a $690 dollar increase from last year. The maximum Cal Grant that can be received for UC students is $12,192 and $5,472 for students at a CSU.

“This proposal changes the way we determine financial need and the governor is proposing in addition to the proposal he made in January to change GPA requirements as well as changing which institutions are eligible to participate in the Cal Grant program,” Fuentes-Michel said. “The Commission was concerned with other ways the budget problem could be addressed and basically feels that there are other options that should be considered.”

According to Fuentes-Michel, the University Office of the President (UCOP) explained that the changes would affect less than 500 UC students who are currently in school as well.

CSAC announced that the commission had voted to oppose the proposed revision in a May 18 press release.

“Cal Grant students whose families incomes are $50,000 a year for a family of four would lose their Cal Grant award. This proposal would eliminate access for nearly 25,000 students,” stated commissioner Michele Siqueiros of the Campaign for College Opportunity in the release.“These students are the most financially needy students who, without Cal Grant aid, would not be able to attend college.”

The Commission announced that they are working toward opposing the proposal to align the Cal Grant program with federal methodology, the proposal to raise GPA requirements for students for Cal Grant eligibility and the proposal to reduce the amounts of Cal Grants for students at private colleges and universities.

“We agree with the Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS), if we are going to make this major change, we should do so looking very carefully at all the issues that are affected in terms of… what their [students’] reward levels are and how it will impact their financial aid package,” Fuentes-Michel said.

TICAS has announced that if the revise is implemented, six percent of students would no longer be eligible and 31 percent would have their eligibility reduced.

According to UC spokesperson Brooke Converse, UCOP is opposed to the change.

“These latest proposals represent a real threat to students and to the university. In the past, UC has adopted a ‘share the pain’ approach, whereby those who suffered cuts in grant money would not be disproportionately burdened. All financial aid recipients, in other words, would have to work a little more, for example,” Converse said in an e-mail interview.

Fuentes-Michel said that CSAC is concerned with affecting the least number of students possible if budget cuts are necessary.

“The proposal is counterproductive and we need to look into ways that will be the best way to invest in education and students.”

The legislature will decide on Brown’s budget by June 15.

MUNA SADEK can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

News in Brief: Davis BeerFest is this weekend

City News

City Editor

May 31, 2012

Citizens Who Care will host the eighth annual BeerFest Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. There will be tastings of more than 100 microbrews from over 30 breweries at 2001 Second St., Sudwerk Restaurant and Brewery.

Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door and $10 for designated drivers. For tickets, call 758-3704. You can also get them in person at Sudwerk or at the Woodland Citizens Who Care office.

Editorial: Consistency, please

Opinion

Opinion

May 31, 2012

Next Friday, Peter J. Shields Library will be filled to the brim with students celebrating their dead day. While the lack of classes in favor of study time is appreciated, the Saturday finals are not.

For college students, Saturdays are sacred territory that shouldn’t be messed with. To take away a Saturday is to take away precious time where, well, we could be studying.

It makes zero sense to make Friday a dead day, install exams on Saturday, have no exams on Sunday and then resume finals on Monday. Why not just give us our Saturday back and then begin finals on Sunday? The stop-and-go and stop-and-go is disorienting, destroying our momentum, with our grades falling to “failing” in the process.

If the main argument against holding final exams on Sunday is for religious reasons, then we both understand and don’t understand. We understand because UC Davis should respect all students’ religious freedom. At the same time, leaving Sunday open is completely arbitrary, since some groups consider Saturday to be a religious day.

More than anything, though, we want consistency. This quarter students are facing this weird Friday dead day to Saturday finals situation. In the fall, we’re dandy: We have the whole weekend to study with exams lasting from Monday to Friday. In the winter, we’re frustrated: no dead day, with a final day of class on Monday, and then exams Tuesday through Saturday.

This is a serious problem that merits attention — but don’t look to us for a solution. We’re too busy studying for finals.

Column: Touchy topics

Opinion

Opinion

May 31, 2012

People are different, and those differences are interesting. That’s what I’ve been trying to convey in my columns the past eight weeks. This column will cover issues that are more sensitive than usual, but it will still continue to explore how different American society is, and how other exchangees and I try to adapt to or simply understand it.

Anywhere you go, discussions on the topics of religion, race and sexual orientation are not common and always awkward. But after I arrived in the U.S., I noticed that I desperately need such discussions since these concepts are understood very differently here than in Lithuania or the UK.

Consider religion. I come from a country where the majority of people call themselves Roman Catholics. The truth is that for most of them it doesn’t mean much; they go to church once in a while, but only to keep the grandmothers happy. I myself admire churches from outside, but I found the inside too stuffy and stale.

Here, religion is a whole other story. I’m surrounded by so many deeply religious young people, and that’s completely new to me. It would be very easy to say that it’s weird and silly, and that some people take religion way too seriously. But I also find it intriguing, all these young faces in a church really wanting to be there. I admit that it’s still hard for me to understand it. But as long as there are no attempts of conversion, which actually happened on campus once, I’m trying my best to be open-minded.

That doesn’t always work, though. Back in February, I participated in one of the Meals with Mrak events. At the very end of the breakfast, someone raised a question about having exams on Saturday. I didn’t see this as an issue at all and proclaimed that the university, just like the state, should be separate from religion.

While I still believe that, I could have been more understanding. Afterward I was ashamed of being such an ignorant ass, over-praising us Europeans with our “rational” ways and “judgment” unclouded by religion. In reality, nothing is simply black or white, and we’re all entitled both to our opinion and to the ways we observe (or don’t) religion.

The question of race is another thing that I’ve never known how to talk about, mostly because I grew up in an entirely white society. Yet even without the presence of other groups, prejudices still existed and were somehow imparted to me. How else could you explain me not having a single close black friend even after moving to more diverse countries? Of course, this isn’t some kind of game, you know, collect friends of all colors. But I wish I had taken the opportunity to expand my social group.

I had never experienced that tension that exists here between different groups, which I find to be very apparent. Being here now, I struggle with not knowing how to act or what to say so that not to offend anyone. These are things I never even had to think about before I came to the U.S.

Since coming here, I’ve also definitely learned more about people of different sexual orientations. I’m amazed how open this society is to gays, especially considering how prevalent religion is. Maybe in Lithuania it’s only so different because it’s a Catholic country. Sexual orientation is definitely a touchy topic, but at least now people are talking about it, which I think is only for the better.

As for myself, I didn’t even know a single gay person before I came to Edinburgh to study. Now I’m much more comfortable with the notion of homosexuality, but I definitely still need some growing to do. Despite that, I think that everyone has a right to be what they want and with whomever they want. California, in particular, is a prime example of how this is becoming more of a non-issue. Hopefully, we’ll have that in Lithuania someday, too.

I have to admit, this was the most difficult column to write — trying to be honest, both to myself and everyone else. Tackling these sensitive topics wasn’t easy, but in the process, I learned a lot, and it was worth it.

You can contact KRISTINA SIMONAITYTE at ksimonaityte@ucdavis.edu.

Campus Judicial Report

Campus News

Campus Editor

May 31, 2012

Just don’t even joke about it

A junior in a science class was referred to Student Judicial Affairs (SJA) after allegedly paying another student to take an exam for him. Another student in the class alerted the professor to the possible misconduct after overhearing the reported student discussing his future plans to cheat. Upon meeting with a Judicial Officer, the reported student said he was “only joking” and that he took the exam without help. The student claimed that he was “never planning to go through with it.” The professor was able to confirm that the student did in fact show up and take the exam himself by examining the student’s handwriting. The reported student was issued an Administrative Notice. An Administrative Notice serves as a formal notice of University policies regarding student conduct. Because the student was not found in violation of the UC Davis Code of Academic Conduct, he will not have a disciplinary record.

Be your own manual!

SJA received a referral for a sophomore physics student who had supposedly submitted a problem set that contained answers that were directly copied from the instructor’s manual. The professor had explicitly stated that students were not permitted to refer to the instructor’s manual for answers. It was evident to the professor that the student had simply copied the answers because his problem set had the same layout, formatting and particular steps taken as the ones in the manual. In addition, one of the answers that was listed in the instructor’s manual was incorrect, and the student had the same incorrect answer. The reported student admitted to copying from the instructor’s manual and agreed to be placed on Disciplinary Probation through Winter Quarter 2013. This means that if he is found in violation for academic misconduct again, he would likely face suspension or dismissal from the University.

Authentic work is better work

An anthropology major was reported to SJA for allegedly submitting a written assignment for a lower division sociology class that was nearly identical to another student’s work. The TA for the class noticed the striking similarities between the two students’ work and referred both students to SJA. The first student explained that he and the other student had worked on the assignment together in the library. He admitted that rather than doing his own work, he had simply copied off of the second student’s paper. The second student insisted that she didn’t know that her friend had simply copied her work. The first student agreed to Disciplinary Probation through Spring Quarter 2013 and 10 hours of community service. The second student was issued an Administrative Notice.

Where and how trees are used affects greenhouse gas emissions

Science & Technology

Science Editor

May 30, 2012

The volume of greenhouse gas released when a forest is cleared depends on the part of the world where the trees are grown and how they will be used, according to a new study by UC Davis researchers.

In the study, lead author and doctoral student with the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies Jeffrey Mason Earles, along with Sonia Yeh and Kenneth E. Skog, found that when trees are felled to create solid wood products such as furniture or lumber for housing, the wood stores carbon for a longer period of time.

However, when the trees are used for bioenergy or paper, almost all of their stored carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gases.

“If the wood is put into products like lumber (e.g. 2-by-4s) and wood panels (e.g. plywood), the carbon is stored until they are sent to the landfill where decay begins or they are burned,” Earles said. “As wood decomposes, or when it’s burned, carbon is released to the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas, typically carbon dioxide or methane.”

The researchers looked specifically at comparing the amounts and endurance of carbon in trees that are burned on-site versus those that are removed and used as wood products.

“We tried to follow the lifecycle of the wood once they left the forest and the fate of these products that they are turned into,” said Yeh, research scientist with the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies.

The results of their study could hold implications for biofuel incentives in different regions. The researchers found that wood products in tropical countries stored very little carbon in comparison to temperate forests.

“In countries with predominantly temperate forests, such as the U.S., Canada, and many European countries, we found that between 30 and 40 percent of carbon is still stored as wood products 30 years after deforestation,” Earles said.

What this means for the global environment is that the American biofuel industry may change its methods of outsourcing. For example, if the U.S. decides to provide an incentive for corn ethanol, less-profitable crops like soybeans may go to other countries. In the process, the new country will have to clear out forests to provide room for the new crops.

“The biofuel policies [of the U.S. and E.U.] greatly expand the demands for biofuel feedstock, sometimes by displacing forest land or existing agricultural land, which in turn lead to more conversion of forest land for the displaced agricultural production,” Yeh said.

According to Skog, the supervisory research forester of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, greenhouse gas emissions have been decreasing since 2005.

“Scientific research is continuing to better identify what the smarter choices are concerning use of natural resources to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions,” Skog said.

The destination of the displaced agricultural production and the way the wood from that forest land is used would impact how much carbon would be emitted into the atmosphere. This information could help reduce the overall possible emission of greenhouse gases from these global crops.

RACHEL KUBICA can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

News-in-brief: Charles Setchell to speak about disaster assistance

Features Editor

May 30, 2012

Charles Setchell, who graduated from UC Davis in 1975, will visit campus today and Thursday to speak about his work with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. He has been their senior shelter, settlements, and hazard mitigation advisor for 14 years, responding to everything from the 2010 Haiti earthquake to ongoing turmoil in Afghanistan.

Today, Setchell will host an information session at the Internship and Career Center from 2 to 4 p.m., and from 5 to 6:30 p.m. he will meet with the Engineers Without Borders Club in Ghausi Hall. On Thursday, he will attend an open Peace Corps event at the International House from 7 to 9 p.m.

His specialty is disaster risk reduction, which requires a systematic and immediate approach to assessing and avoiding potential risks to disaster. Although Setchell initially fell in love with cities by visiting San Francisco with his parents once or twice a month, he said UC Davis’ undergraduate program set him on a path toward a career in urban planning and crisis management.

“I’m really looking forward to getting on campus again and speaking to current students and faculty. I kind of wish there had been someone when I was an undergrad with the kind of background I have now, that I’ve developed over time, to provide a bigger picture of the world than I recall ever having. Hopefully I will spark someone to join the Peace Corps or get involved with international development,” Setchell said.

— Chelsea Mehra

The science and practice of composting

Science & Technology

Science Editor

May 30, 2012

As a student at UC Davis, one of the most prominent agricultural universities in the country, you are probably well aware of the practice of composting. However, other than throwing away your decomposable garbage in the designated “Compost Bins” at the MU, you may not know much about it.

But many students and UC Davis professors argue that composting is not only vital to our soil and environment as a whole, but also fun, easy and doable no matter where you live.

In simple terms, composting is the decomposition of plant materials and other once-living organisms into a stable, dirt-like composition known as humus. However, the science of composting can also be very complex.

“Composting requires four main [ingredients] for it to work effectively: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and water,” said Natsuki Nakamura, a junior environmental science and management major and piles director at Project Compost, a student-run and -funded unit dedicated to composting.

As Nakamura explained, each of these four ingredients has a specific purpose for the microbes that decompose the once-living organisms in the compost pile.

Carbon is specifically needed for energy and high carbon materials tend to be brown and dry. Nitrogen is needed for building proteins, which in turn would help grow and reproduce more microorganisms. Oxygen and water are added to speed up the decomposition process.

Oxygen is especially important because most microorganisms in the compost pile work in an aerobic, or with oxygen, environment.

“Oxygen is what accounts for the heat in compost piles. The oxidation of carbon by the microorganisms produces heat. Often, it can get hot enough that the compost pile begins to steam, which is pretty cool,” Nakamura said.

Science aside, composting is most importantly a simple means to help the environment.

“Compost is a viable resource for gardening and agriculture. Any diversion of the waste we produce would be beneficial to prevent detrimental effects to the environment and to humans,” said Alisa Kim, student unit director at Project Compost.

Composting is important to the environment in many ways, but mainly it helps restore soil to its most ideal state.

“Adding compost to soils has one very important benefit in that it returns organic matter to soil. [This] organic matter has many positive benefits to soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties,” said Michael Singer, a professor emeritus in the department of land, air and water resources at UC Davis.

A major factor contributing to this loss in organic matter is that much of what is taken out of the soil is not put back in. As Nakamura explained, instead of composting, people often send decomposable waste to a landfill, where it becomes compacted with waste that is not decomposable, keeping the natural process from occurring.

But despite the complexity of the science behind composting, Kim said the practice of composting is actually quite simple and that anyone can compost. While putting plates from the MU into the compost bin is a good start, students can also do it in their own apartments or homes.

Both Kim and Nakamura agree that the easiest way to compost in a dorm or apartment is by using vermicomposting, a type of composting using a specific species of worms called red wigglers. The red wigglers do most of the breakdown process, so that the compost needs less bacteria and fungi.

Using this method, students can keep their compost inside in a confined bin.

“[Vermicomposting] is ideal for apartments because it’s confined, small, and basically the worms do all the work for you. All you have to do is feed them the decomposable material,” Nakamura said.

Project Compost holds free workshops throughout the year giving an in-depth tutorial on how to practice vermicomposting and starting participants off with their own worm bins. Other workshops are held throughout the year as well on other ways students can incorporate composting into their lives.

Project Compost’s next workshop is on June 2 in front of the Tri-Co-ops.

Kim believes the most important aspect of composting for students is that it makes them aware of the state of today’s environment.

“It brings people closer to the earth, gives them more understanding about the impacts of living the way we do and is a great start to learning about the environment,” Kim said.

CLAIRE MALDARELLI can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

Column: Space invasion

Opinion

Opinion

May 30, 2012

This past weekend, I deactivated my Facebook profile. Not because finals week is coming up — I’m not one of those people who quit social networking before major tests. Why give up my preferred method of distraction and primary means of procrastination? No, I was just tired of basically everything on my newsfeed. Social networking gets overwhelmingly underwhelming sometimes. You have to dig through so much junk to find that one attention-worthy update.

But last week something did come across my newsfeed that actually provoked some kind of thought in me. It was a link to a video of Will Smith at the Moscow premiere of his new movie Men in Black III. Smith was making his way down the red carpet when he came across this very enthusiastic male reporter.

The reporter excitedly hugged the actor, then proceeded to kiss him on the cheeks multiple times. Yes, Will Smith is one of the most successful actors in the industry and, yes, he has traveled the world. However, at the end of the day, he is still a black man from Philly. You don’t just come up to a black man from Philly and start kissing him. You don’t come up to anyone you don’t know and start kissing them. Talk about an invasion of personal space!

In reaction, the visibly disgruntled actor shoved the overzealous reporter away and gave him a smart slap to the side of his face with the back of his hand. He didn’t hit him hard enough to make lasting damage, but a clear message was sent nonetheless. Will turned to a shocked member of his “people” (his publicist, perhaps?) and said, “He tried to kiss me on the mouth!” He also let it be known that if the cameras hadn’t been rolling, he would’ve sucker punched the guy.

My initial reaction to the video was uncontrollable laughter. How hilariously awkward! Even worse, the reporter had the most innocent look on his face and it was clear that he didn’t understand what had happened. After doing a little research, I learned that greeting stars with a kiss on the cheek was the reporter’s “thing.” There was no malice behind his act.

The research result was a confirmation of something I had suspected from the very start. This was a clear case of cultures clashing. Having been born in France and spent time in Europe, I know firsthand that the American standard and the European standard when it comes to personal space are very different. Americans are all about their personal space. Europeans are a little more … friendly, so to speak.

The funny part was that, although I understood where the reporter was coming from, I totally identified with Will Smith. I like my personal space. I don’t know if it’s because of my individual preference or the influence of American culture. It’s probably a bit of both, but I really don’t like my immediate space to be infringed upon.

Some of the most uncomfortable moments of my life occurred due to personal space invasions. From sitting on an airplane or a crowded bus, to having a conversation with someone who is standing a little too close, there have been times that felt way more intimate than the occasion required.

The key to space violations is context. The who, what, when, where and why totally matter. When the five W’s are all working in your favor, getting close can actually be a good thing. That unexpected hug from someone that you’d love to be friends with, or when the person you like finally makes a move. Have you ever seen a male professional sports team celebrating a big win? They’re jumping all over each other, slapping each other’s butts, giving each other congratulatory punches, etc. If Will Smith had just won the Super Bowl and his teammate kissed him on the cheek, I don’t think he would’ve reacted the same way.

Next time you enter someone’s personal space, think before you act and put yourself in their shoes. You’ll save yourself a slap, or much worse.

Contact PAMELA NONGA NGUE at pamnonga@ucdavis.edu.

Q&A: Matt Carmichael

Campus Editor

May 30, 2012

Serving in his new role for nearly a month, UC Davis Police Chief Matt Carmichael has begun implementing changes within the police department.

Carmichael has signed with Lexipol, a public safety risk management company, that charges $6,000 per year to routinely update policies. He said that he enjoys working as a team in the police station and being a member of the UC Davis community.

Carmichael and consultant Paul Harman will hold their first Town Hall meeting on Tuesday to get input from students before summer about what changes they would like to see made.

The Aggie: How do you feel about being the new police chief?
Carmichael: I am extremely excited and very encouraged. It is an amazing opportunity, one I am not willing to squander. I will make good changes.

What are some of the changes you plan to make?
Policy. Some of our policies are out of date by eight years. Policy is the foundation of organization and definitely in need of a change. I signed a contract with the risk management company Lexipol. Basically we are going to take every policy and it’s going to be new. Good policy has to stay updated. If you ask me how often my policy is updated, I would say that it is routinely updated. Lexipol is used for large organizations, from the California Department of Justice down to the West Sacramento Police Department. We are the ninth UC school to sign with Lexipol. The UC Davis Fire Department is currently using it. In order to do it, I have hired Paul Harman, a retired lieutenant from L.A. County, also with 14 years of experience on the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. He still has connections and will be here for six months. At that point, the post-audit will be done.

How are you planning to move forward?
I’m really focused on moving forward, from Nov. 20 to now. The changes that we’re going to make together, getting to work in an amazing campus that is internationally recognized, it is really cool stuff. Now that I am the boss, I am going to make the hiring process more community-based. I don’t think there is anything too similar in any other department. In the future, the panel up front will be based 20 percent law enforcement officials and 80 percent being community members. In the end candidates will reflect interest from the community. We currently have made three conditional hiring offers to add to our staff.

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

Tech tips

Science & Technology

Science Editor

May 30, 2012

Want to read the classics without shelling out the cash? Project Gutenberg has you covered. As the largest online collection of free e-books, Project Gutenberg has everything from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine.

How does Project Gutenberg work? Is it legal?
The website is easy to use; it provides a top-100 list of popular books for those who might want somewhere to start, as well as a search function for those who are looking for something specific.

Project Gutenberg is able to provide e-books for free because it compiles material with expired copyrights. Certain material may be copyrighted, but in those cases, Project Gutenberg has received permission from the copyright holder to distribute for non-commercial worldwide use.

Do I need an e-book reader to use Project Gutenberg?
Project Gutenberg publishes their books in a variety of formats, so owning an e-book reader is not a requirement. You can read from the browser (online) or download the plain text formatted book and read from a file on your computer (offline). In addition, many mobile phones have free e-book reader apps that allow you to read these books on the go, provided you download the appropriate format for e-readers.

Project Gutenberg can be accessed at www.gutenberg.org.

RACHEL KUBICA can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

Aggie Digest

Sports Editor

May 30, 2012

Former Aggie basketball players Alex Tiffin and Mike Kurtz announced their departure from UC Davis earlier this quarter, and their destinations have now been confirmed.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Tiffin will be crossing the Causeway to play for Sacramento State next year.

The Thousand Oaks, Calif. native started 14 of the 30 games he played and posted an average of 3.3 points per game.

Tiffin contributed one point and one rebound against his future team in the Aggies’ 61-69 loss to the Hornets this season.

It was previously rumored that Tiffin was considering Chaminade University in Honolulu in addition to Sac State.

Kurtz will take his talents down south to Biola University. The seven-footer red-shirted the 2011-12 season after seeing substantial playing time his freshman year, when he posted 2.4 points per game and a .323 shooting percentage from three-point range.

Biola is an NAIA institution and Kurtz will have three years of eligibility remaining.

In addition to Kurtz and Tiffin, sophomore Harrison Dupont and freshman Tyrell Corbin announced earlier this spring that they will not be returning to the Aggies’ roster next year.

— Matthew Yuen

UC community members to comment on campus protest report

Campus Editor

May 30, 2012

UC community members to comment on campus protest report

The University of California has extended the deadline for members of the UC community to comment on the Robinson-Edley draft report from May 25 to June 8, with the hopes of encouraging more input.

In their report, UC General Counsel Charles F. Robinson and Christopher F. Edley Jr., dean of the UC Berkeley Law School, provide 50 recommendations in nine categories including: civil disobedience challenges, relationship building, role definition and coordination, hiring and training, communications with protesters, response during events, documenting activity during demonstrations, post-event review and implementation.

“This report highlights the responsibility, shared by all members of the university community, to ensure that the rights of free speech are respected — in fact honored — and that peaceful, lawful protests exist on our campuses,” Robinson said in a UC press release. “At the same time, it is important to recognize the role that civil disobedience may play in such demonstrations, and the attendant consequences.”

The report states that their goal is to identify practices that will not only facilitate free speech, but will also protect the health and safety of everyone involved.

“For some campus administrators and police, this will require a substantial shift away from a mindset that has been focused primarily on the maintenance of order and adherence to rules and regulations,” the report states. “For some protesters, this will require taking more responsibility for their activities as well, including educating themselves about protest-related rules and considering the impact acts of civil disobedience can have on others in the campus community.”

University staff, faculty, alumni and students are encouraged to make thoughtful and constructive comments about how the report’s recommendations might be strengthened.

“We think it’s important to include the campus community. The University of California tries to have an open and inclusive environment, and we want to make sure that the campus community, not just students, but staff, faculty, everyone, has an opportunity to weigh in on things that affect them,” said Brooke Converse, media specialist with the Office of the President.

According to Converse, 33 people have commented on the draft so far with a mix of students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members contributing.

After all the recommendations come, they will be reviewed and assessed on how they might affect the current draft report. The final report will be posted by late June, then forwarded to the UC President for processing.

After the president receives the report, the recommendations will be reviewed and some will be implemented across UC campuses. The UC Office of the President did not have a specific time frame for this process.

According to Katheryn Kolesar, civil and environmental engineering graduate student and chair of the UC Davis Graduate Student Association, it is essential for students, staff and faculty to have a say in how the policies are changed, since it is the UC community who is directly affected by the changes.

“I am an optimist, and I have seen where students and faculty have been listened to by kind of the upper administration. Yeah, it doesn’t always happen, but that shouldn’t stop you from at least speaking your thoughts with the hopes that they will listen,” Kolesar said.

To review the draft report and make a comment, visit campusprotestreport.universityofcalifornia.edu. All comments must be submitted by June 8.

MICHELLE MURPHY can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Les Jeudis de la Francophonie brings together an international community

City Editor

May 30, 2012

During the springtime, every Thursday night at Delta of Venus is bound to have at least one French-speaking individual present. Delta of Venus has become an ideal location for many foreigners to gather and socialize, especially the Davis French Club.

Among this sea of diversity is the French Club called “Les Jeudis de la Francophonie.”

“‘Les Jeudis de la Francophonie’ means ‘French speaking,’” said Fred Vincent, an active member of the club and associate staff researcher. “It is a very informal club because people show up at different times; we eat, drink and have a good time just talking.”

The club is made up of all different types of age groups such as undergraduate students, graduate students, Ph.D candidates, community members, working people and others. The different nationalities of the people who speak French also help enrich the social gathering.

“The coolest thing was that over the years, we’ve had Belgian, Swiss, Senegalese, Asian, North African and more Europeans who all spoke French,” said Richard Day, co-founder of Les Jeudis de la Francophonie.

Today, the majority of participants speak fluent French. Occasionally, a few people who would like to improve their French speaking skills also attend.

The atmosphere of the French Club is similar to a family unit, said Pauline Maillard, a frequent attendant of the club and a post-doctorate student at the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience.

“When you leave France, you [have] ‘lost’ family and friends,” Maillard said. “Here, you rebuild your social environment.”

For Maillard, it was comforting to be among familiar faces and to receive help on how to navigate through Davis or through American life — such as how to obtain a phone, a driver’s license and other necessities.

Sometimes there can be as many as 20 people and as little as four people, Day said.

“It is very informal and really depends on who you are chatting with,” Day said. “I think the majority of the native speakers are willing to speak slower and converse with people who are learning.”

At the beginning of the club about 20 years ago, the club’s purpose was to give French people an opportunity to come together and relate their experiences and adaptations to Davis, Day said.

The number of people who show up varies, Vincent said. During the summer and winter, very few people show up due to summer travels or bad weather. The club generally sees a large number of people during the fall and spring when everyone is back from their adventures, and when the weather is full of sunshine.

The club has its roots back in the early 1990s when Day, who is half French, was active in the international circle and worked in the French department, began the club and deemed it “Le Cercle Francophone.”

The French Club first met at Café Roma, located on Third Street. Upon the closure of Café Roma in 2007, the club was moved to Delta of Venus and has remained there. Since then, there have been many people in and out of the club.

“I love Delta of Venus,” Maillard said. “Its patio, food, the people working there, the music; I feel like being in the backyard of a friend’s house.”

“What I like best is the connection that I make and meeting new people,” Vincent said.

Everyone is welcome to the club, which meets every Thursday at Delta of Venus at 9 p.m.

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

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