At the end of this week, UC Berkeley students will officially end their Spring Semester, welcoming graduation or summer break. Meanwhile, here at UC Davis, students still have six more weeks left to slave away in Shields while spring weather and potential naps on the Quad beckon ever so temptingly.

Undoubtedly, as we stress over our second round of midterms and the onset of finals, UC Berkeley students will be starting summer internships and jobs, many of which they snatched away from talented, qualified Aggies simply because they were able to start sooner.

Boasting one of the most prestigious reputations of any local university, UC Berkeley students already pose stark competition to Davis students, especially when it comes to local jobs and internships. However, Berkeley’s academic calendar gives Cal students yet another distinct advantage in garnering summer work, as many positions advertise a starting date in late May.

So, what’s a distraught, job-seeking Aggie to do? Unfortunately, the options are limited and largely ineffective — either have a resume that is so fantastic the employer will willingly wait for you, or scour the internet for the few jobs that actually start after the end of Spring Quarter. If the latter is achieved, students should be prepared to be rushed into positions that start only days after the end of finals, allotting only the bare minimum of much-needed and well-deserved relaxation time.

UC Davis’ academic calendar is additionally detrimental to those graduating, who cannot fill the void of summer by taking additional classes.

This year will end the latest due to the added week during winter break.

In April, the unemployment rate for workers under age 25 was 16.4 percent while the overall unemployment rate was 8.1 percent. It is hard enough already for anyone to get a job in the current economy, but UC Davis’ academic calendar puts students at a unique disadvantage.

The solution is simple: UC Davis needs to change its academic calendar to match those of top-tier universities in order to make students more competitive. Whether or not this requires a shift from a quarter to a semester system is uncertain, but the change must be made regardless.

All university students are feeling the pinch of tough economic times. Sending in resumes simply to be ignored and getting rejected from unpaid internships are not exactly self-esteem boosters. Under these circumstances, the suggestion of ending school five weeks sooner may not seem to be very consoling. But you never know — a changed academic calendar could mean the difference between landing a great internship and spending another summer waiting by the phone.

I have been on this campus for four years. Never have I been scared or hesitant to state my opinions, despite many of them being in the minority on campus. However, one of my personal views is a common one around town, yet you would not know it.

I support the state of Israel and so do most of my fellow peers, but many of them are scared to voice this opinion. One reason for this is because of activities that occur on campus like those taking place this week. Various groups demonize Israel to the point of accusing the state of committing genocide, amongst other absurd accusations including it being an apartheid state. In an apartheid state, do all citizens have the right to vote no matter what race, religion, gender or beliefs? Does everybody have equal access to public transportation, health care and education? I don’t think so, yet in Israel every citizen does have these rights.

With Israel being demonized so often on campus, many Israel supporters on campus are hesitant to show their opinion. Freedom of speech is a core right in the U.S., as well as in Israel, but students are scared to voice their opinion because they have seen other supporters get their freedom of speech revoked. A recent example of this is a couple of months ago when two Israelis came to campus to speak about their lives growing up in Israel. They consistently were interrupted and unable to finish their presentation. Is their freedom of speech being diminished to the point that they cannot even discuss their innocent childhoods?

I do not only advocate for Israel supporters to use their freedom of speech, but those who question and disagree with the state as well. Dialogue is important as it is in any issue. However, when one side does not allow the other to voice their opinion and may not even recognize their right to exist, what are you supposed to work with? The first step to resolve a conflict is to admit the other side exists. Once this step takes place I know that dialogue will become a lot easier. I support a dialogue and am willing to take part in it any chance I have. Last year, I attended an event in which I suggested an idea of having groups from both sides write and sign a document recognizing the other’s existence. This document would state that they would be willing to engage in dialogue and try to somehow reach agreements on at least some issues on our own campus. If we cannot agree on anything on our own campus, how are agreements going to be made on an international level?

My idea was turned down, but I still hope for future dialogue. Everyone has the right to criticize Israel because they have freedom of speech. Just make sure that you let the other side use their right of freedom of speech, as well. I hope in the future students are not scared to voice their opinions on any issue, especially those that are near and dear to their heart.

Alexander Wold
Senior, political science and economics

When I was younger, I was taught by my dad that it’s important to “appear presentable” at all times. I barely understood it then and it kinda irritated me for a while, but it has definitely come in handy. Can you imagine the mortification of seeing someone you’d like to impress while you’re in yesterday’s PJs with eye boogers dangling from your lashes? That was gross and brought me off topic. Give me a sec to get back on track …

Yes, people! The clothes we wear and the style we maintain is important. In college we get away with wearing sweatpants and flip-flops every day and walking around with weird pant straps on our jeans from riding our bikes. But we’re no longer trekking to class on a windy October afternoon and shouldn’t look like it.

In L.A., it’s worse. So much worse. I’m still trying to fathom how big of a deal fashion is out here. Women and men are dressed to the nines whenever they step out of their houses. Plus, getting a job here only happens in three ways: have the position given to you through a connection, have an employer attracted to the way you look/dress or be extremely qualified for the job, in that order. Hell, if you can wrangle a combo of all three, why not use it to your advantage?

I learned something important from watching Top Model, which will probably kill my limited credibility as an advice columnist, but I don’t care because Tyra’s words of wisdom are gems that everyone should enjoy. The first step starts with asking ourselves what our “brand” is. Not our favorite designer, but the combination of the assets we possess that make us stand out from others. If being charismatic is your brand, use the way you dress to enhance that feature with relaxed looks that are inviting and not divisive. A.k.a., don’t dress like a gothic girl straight out of a Marylin Manson video. We should tailor how we dress to be an expression of our most desirable traits.

It matters the most in job interviews. Your employer doesn’t want you to walk in looking like Brad Pitt, but they need someone who looks well-polished and takes themselves seriously when it comes to their profession. The boss doesn’t have to know how many bowls you smoke in the evening or how many raves you went to last weekend, but don’t let them see your party-rock lifestyle in the way you dress.

It’s the men who scoff at taking what they wear seriously that I’m mostly speaking for. They don’t know it’s a lot easier for us to be just as fashionable as women if we utilize a few basic closet essentials. Every guy needs a three-piece suit that fits to their body correctly. A timepiece is a great accessory that people are foregoing nowadays thanks to the big clock on their iPhones. It doesn’t need to be a thousand dollars, but it’ll attract the eye of your boss or your date like catnip.

As far as dating goes, who wants to go after someone who dresses like Mark Zuckerberg? Actually, I could think of a couple billion reasons why someone would want to stick it to him, but those who take notice of what they wear will probably get more attention, dates and sex than the hipster with a beanie on in 80-degree weather. No one’s saying you have to drop racks on racks on designer labels. Take pictures of the outfits in magazines or online and take them to lower-end department stores. Do your best to make a match or undershoot it a little and pay the extra for tailoring.

To silence the nay-sayers, there is nothing wrong with caring about the clothes you wear or how well-kept you appear. Some think the only people who should care this much about what they wear are either gay men or folks that are shallow and materialistic. Keeping your closet situated does not mean you have to be an airhead. Be an intellectual first and foremost. Read, watch the news, stay up to date and ahead of the curve in your field. At the same time you can also keep your slacks pressed, know the importance of gingham and appreciate suede wingtips. Why not be the “full-package” people say they’re looking for?

If you contact JAZZ TRICE at jazztrice526@gmail.com or twitter.com/Jazz_Trice, he’ll give you free coupons to Banana Republic!