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Five-year water rate increase not yet finalized

City News

City Editor

August 22, 2011

Woodland and Davis are looking to deviate from their current groundwater situation in favor of a regional surface water supply project, according to the city of Davis website.

According to the site, Sacramento River water will be treated at a regional facility and will be piped to the citizens of Davis and Woodland. The project, which is due to be completed in 2016, will guarantee more dependable, higher quality water, allowing the city to comply with the increasingly rigid state and water quality regulations.

If the proposed project is approved by the City of Davis City Council, water rates will increase incrementally over a five-year period. This cost hike has been reason for concern for Davis citizens and business owners alike. With the proposed plan, water rates could nearly triple between now and 2016. The city of Davis site provided an example of a single-family currently paying $29.50 a month on their monthly water bill. With these changes, by next year this same family could be paying as much as $41.72 a month and as much as $99.64 per month by 2016.

Last week, the Davis Downtown Business Association (DDBA) hosted a brown-bag lunch presentation on the proposed increases to city’s water rates at the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. Among those in attendance were citizens, business owners and city councilmembers. Jacques Dubra, the city of Davis utilities manager, was present to answer questions and describe the project and proposed rate increases.

“It’s going to be a sloppy process because most businesses don’t know what their current water rates are,” said Michael Bisch, owner of Davis Commercial Properties and co-president of the DDBA. “Out of 100 tenants, none have inquired about the rise in rates. I believe the city should bypass the landlords and inform the tenants themselves.”

Most of the concern with the proposed project was the price increases effect on local business and homeowners.

“Will there be any exemptions for small businesses contributing to the economy?” asked Thomas Miller, an employee of Sudwerk Restaurant and Brewery. “Between the restaurant and brewery we are [already] paying $100,000 a year on water.”

While these concerns were present, the public was assured that not only is this the best option for the citizens and business owners. Dubra explained that there are hidden costs in our current water system. According to Dubra, the Davis community spends $6 million for its hard water supply, to pay for things such as having to use more soap.

On the other hand, treated water allows appliances to last longer and lowers heating costs.

“If you look at studies that started in the 1980s, this is the most cost effective,” said Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza. “This is the smartest, most efficient way to get clean water to the community.”

Among other hidden costs presented to those in attendance is the element of the unknown when drilling wells into the aquifer.

“When drilling holes, you don’t know if the water is going to be adequate or will need treatment,” said Councilmember Stephen Souza. “For example, it was $2.2 million to drill Well 32 and another $1.7 million to treat it. [Compared to the current system] this would [be] twice the cost and not even close to the quality.”

A public hearing on the proposed water rate increase is scheduled for 6:30 p.m on Sept. 6 in the City of Davis Community Chambers at 23 Russell Blvd.

ELLIS CLARK can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Police Briefs

City News

City Editor

August 22, 2011

THURSDAY

He just has a lot of feelings

A male subject in a park on N Street was making loud noises. The reporter was concerned he was unable to care for himself.

And?

A driver of a vehicle on East Eighth Street was going eight miles per hour when he slammed on the breaks.

Don’t get the door

Two women on Oyster Bay Avenue were going door to door in Domino’s Pizza uniforms putting flyers on residences.

FRIDAY

Expert level stalker

Someone who lives on Audobon Circle reported getting annoying phone calls from different numbers.

Charge it on the cell

A subject at Thai Nakorn on G Street was using an outlet to charge his cell phone and the restaurant asked him to order food. He did, and then refused it.

Deals on wheels

Suspects were selling clothes out of a vehicle on the corner of the Shell Station on Richards Boulevard.

Police Briefs are compiled from the city of Davis daily crime bulletins. Feeling punny? Contact ANGELA SWARTZ at city@theaggie.org.

Bikers may be fined for cell phone use

City News

City Editor

August 22, 2011

The California State Senate passed a bill that increases the fines for drivers and motorists using handheld cell phones or texting while driving. Senate Bill 28, passed on Aug. 15, was proposed by Sen. Joe Simitian (D- Palo Alto) and would add a point against a person’s driver’s license for subsequent offenses.

The bill also includes fining bicyclists using handheld cell phones, as well as texting while biking. At press time, the bill is still awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature.

The newly amended bill would increase the fine for a first offense for drivers from $20 to $50, while subsequent offenses would increase the fine from $50 to $100. For bicyclists, the first offense and subsequent offenses would be $20 and $50, respectively. Bicyclists would not receive any points against their driver’s licenses.

According to Press Liaison and Legislative Aide to Sen. Simitian, Melissa Figueroa, the governor has 12 days to sign or veto the bill.

“Bicycle coalitions, the Highway Patrol and local law enforcement have all spoken for the bill in committees,” Figueroa said in an e-mail.

The California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) said it is behind the bill 100 percent.

“We support SB 28 because we also supported the earlier legislation that enacted the ban on handheld cell phone use and on texting,” said Communications Director of CBC Jim Brown. “It’s clear the penalties in the existing law have not provided enough deterrence.”

According to Brown, the current penalties for using a cell phone while driving are ridiculously low. The base fine for handheld cell phone usage while driving is $20. By contrast, the base fine for littering is $100.

CBC also backs the bill because of additions that involve bicyclists in the ban against handheld cell phone use and texting.

“Distracted drivers are a serious threat to everyone on the road, especially to bicyclists, because they’re more vulnerable than drivers,” Brown said. “For those reasons, we’re glad to support the bill.”

The current SB 28 bans all cell phone usage for drivers. Previous laws Sen. Simitian has authored, such as SB 1613 and SB 33, prohibit drivers from talking on their cell phones without a hands-free device and prohibit drivers under the age of 18 from using any type of communication device while driving, respectively.

UC Davis is notorious for its biking community. If the bill is signed into law, UC Davis students will not be able to text or call while biking.

“We have been preparing for the new school year,” said UC Davis Police Lieutenant Matt Carmichael. “Our biking community increase is huge, so we always have a major education component the first few weeks of school.”

According to Carmichael, there is a certain logic applied to any new violation.

“It’s always our intent to educate first,” Carmichael said. “We would be forthright with the education, getting it out to our students, faculty and staff. Then an enforcement would follow.”

SB 28 was also amended to be more uniform with existing bicycle codes.

“This is really, according to [Simitian], an effort to clean up the current law and make it consistent with other aspects of the law that apply to bicyclists,” Brown said. “For instance, driving under the influence is also applied to bicyclists.”

This year, UC Davis will be implementing a new program that allows students to choose their options for biking citations.

“We will have our own online traffic school for bicyclists,” Carmichael said. “There will be a set fee for a bicycle citation. You’ll have the option to attend the traffic school; you pay the fee, which is substantially less than a citation, to go to the school and once you successfully complete it, the citation will be dismissed.”

In general, Carmichael said the main goal of the new program is to keep the biking community safe. He said he believes a massive fine given by a citation does not seem consistent with what the university is trying to accomplish.

“The thing to remember is, the rules of the road that apply to motorists also apply to bicyclists,” Brown said.

CLAIRE TAN can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

News in Brief: UC Davis ranked in top 50 best colleges

Campus News

Campus Editor

August 22, 2011

UC Davis was ranked 27 in a ranking of the 50 best universities in the United States, published by The Best Colleges on Aug. 8.

The Best Colleges board of editors decides the methodology and criteria. For the 2011-12 year, the rankings were based on the economic value of a school and the quality of life offered.

“We decided this in light of the current economic situation of the country, in which people are especially budget conscious as well as the present state of higher education, in which tuition costs are on the rise and students are taking longer than ever to graduate,” said Jeremy Alder, managing editor of The Best Colleges, in an e-mail interview.

UC Davis scored very well in both economic value and quality of life, Alder said.

“With the school’s generous financial aid policy, UC Davis students end up with a really good deal, especially in light of the school’s track record of producing graduates who go on to well-paying careers,” he said.

Alder added that the city of Davis’ fairly youthful and well-educated population, with a relatively low cost of living, also helped secure its spot in the top 50 colleges and universities.

“[This ranking] means UC Davis is one of the very best universities in America in terms of economic value, quality of life, academic quality, and student satisfaction,” Alder said.

Mitchel Benson, associate vice chancellor for University Communications, said that while most students, staff and faculty do not base their decision to attend UC Davis solely on rankings, the rankings do help place Davis into consideration for some.

“UC Davis is a world-class research university that does attract some of the best and brightest students, staff and faculty not just from across the country but also from around the world,” Benson said in an e-mail interview.

In addition to UC Davis’ acclaim for academic breadth and collaborative approach, UC Davis is known for innovation when it comes the world’s most pressing challenges, including food, water, health, society, energy and environmental issues. In addition, UC Davis has a beautiful campus, a loyal alumni base and is located in a vibrant college town in Northern California, one of the most technologically advanced regions in the world, Benson said.

“All those factors, taken together make UC Davis worthy of the attention, laurels and awards that it receives,” Benson said.

– Akshaya Ramanujam

News in Brief: UC announces faculty pay raises

Campus News

Campus Editor

August 22, 2011

UC President Mark Yudof announced last Wednesday that UC faculty would be receiving their first pay raises in over 4 years.

In a letter to the UC Chancellors, Yudof explained the raises could only be given to faculty who make less than $200,000 a year. The pay raises will be given based on merit, and professors will be evaluated this coming Fall. The UC system will spend $140 million on these raises.

In the letter, Yudof explained his reasoning behind providing pay raises during this economic crisis.

“One purpose of this pool is to give you a tool in your efforts to recruit, and most importantly, retain leading faculty members, who increasingly are being courted by competing institutions,” Yudof wrote.

Yudof also said that the faculty deserved these pay raises as they have been forced to pay more and more of their health insurance.

“In addition, because of the new benefit reforms we have put in place, all non-represented employees will see their take home salaries diminish as their contributions to health and pension plans ramp up,” Yudof wrote.

Yudof and 400 other UC employees who make more than $200,000 a year are not eligible for the raises.

According to Steve Montiel, UC spokesperson, money for these raises will come from recent student fee hikes, general fund money and other sources from the university, such as medical centers and grants.

As the UC system faces an economic crisis, some wonder where this extra money is coming from. However, Yudof said that he feels the employees of the UC system deserve this raise, especially as they take on more work and pay more toward their retirement funds.

“Fairness dictates that we take this step,” Yudof wrote.

– Hannah Strumwasser

Budget cuts cause reduced mail delivery on campus

Campus News

Campus Editor

August 22, 2011

Recent budget cuts at UC Davis have reduced mail delivery provided by the Mail Division on campus.

Historically, UC Davis scholastic and administrative departments have always had daily mail services. However, due to recent budget cuts, mail service will be provided either two or three times per week, based on the geography of departments.

“It is one of the many areas where funding has gone away, we cannot afford to do business as usual,” said Phillip Lacey, assistant director of the material management office. “There were very few options; one cannot cover the same amount of territory daily with reduced people and vehicles.”

The mail service was one of various departments that faced budget reductions. Beginning Aug. 1, funding was reduced by 33 percent, a total of $180,000, Lacey said. Student Housing, the Chancellor’s Office and the Tri Co-ops are among the groups that face mail delivery reduction.

There are no new additional costs to customers, Lacey said.

“Any department, whether they are large or small, that are dependent on mail for business and work flow have been affected by this reduction,” Lacey said.

Departments such as the Office of the University Registrar have been reduced to receiving mail three times a week instead of daily mail, said Ali Cordone, assistant registrar.

“We cannot see any negative effects at this time,” Cordone said. “We will not change student delivery service at all.”

One change that the Office of the University Registrar has instated is that they will allow rush delivery service for transcripts. Official transcripts will now be taken to same business day delivery service at 2 p.m. outside of Mrak Hall, Cordone said.

“We were not affected greatly by this reduced mail service,” said Lesley Byrns, MSO of the social sciences department. “Almost everything done by the department is done by electronic mail now.”

The feedback to the reduced mail service has been broad. Departments have voiced concerns of basic impacts of delayed incoming mail for research, grants, gifts, etc., Lacey said.

“We have not received any ‘high fives’ from cutting mail services,” Lacey said.

Due to this reduction, several new collection boxes will be installed on campus. Outgoing interoffice mail and U.S. mail in the new boxes will be collected on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 2 p.m. for same business day processing, according to the UC Davis Directive #11-002.

Departments are encouraged to use electronic documents whenever possible.

“If there was going to be a [budget] cut, this was not a bad one,” Byrns said. “Everything was going in the direction of electronic mail service even before the reduced paper mail.”

Visit maildiv.ucdavis.edu for a full list of the new delivery schedule.

ALICIA KINDRED can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

SF musician Meklit Hadero brings soul and R&B to audiences

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

August 22, 2011

Sometimes the most passionate singers and musicians stem from their surroundings and various cultural influences. In the concert to come to Sophia’s Thai Kitchen this Thursday, Mekilt Hadero will be bringing a unique soulful and R&B vibe to the stand.

Meklit’s fascinating life has heavily contributed to her style of music. She was born in Ethiopia and lived there until she was one and one-half years old. After that, Meklit moved to Germany and eventually to the states. Meklit has lived in places such as Brooklyn, Florida, Seattle and finally San Francisco, which have all greatly influenced her life in music.

“There’s really no one place I call home,” Meklit said. “I sort of live in this constant state of home and also this state of discovery. So when you look at that kind of life it’s hard to imagine making one kind of music, because imagine being in every place and having such different people and such different types of music being played. I find that my own music is just a reflection of that life.”

Meklit’s musical influences range from jazz to soul, favorites she listened to while growing up. Other genres included hip-hop, rock and folk traditions from both America and East Africa. Because of this, Meklit’s sound is unique to only her.

“It brings those three together to create a sort of present-time music that reflects this sort of interesting, crazy life that I’ve had so far,” Meklit said.

Although she has been interested in music since the age of three, moving to San Francisco was when Meklit started to truly pursue music. She came to San Francisco in 2004 and started working hard to achieve her goals in music. She began taking voice lessons, started songwriting and playing guitar. Shortly after, she began performing in the Mission District in San Francisco through the Mission Arts Performance project. From there, she slowly developed an audience.

Meklit has even performed in Davis before at the N Street common house in the cooperative housing community. Due to its close proximity to San Francisco, she feels that there is no reason she cannot be present in Davis regularly.

“I met a whole community of artists who were deeply in their craft from all over the world,” Meklit said. “I was just really inspired to make music and to try and grow themselves artistically and creatively and I just got swept along in this community.”

As for her performance this Thursday, Meklit is not the average indie rock and folk bands that usually perform at Sophia’s.

“It’s great to have an artist like Meklit out and offer something a bit different than what you usually see here,” said Kevin Wan, booker and owner of Sophia’s Thai Kitchen. “Her music is definitely more on the jazz-world side than what we normally do. I think the crowd will dig it. The typical Sophia’s show-goer has a pretty high music IQ and enjoys everything-from old-time string bands to electronic pop. So, the African flourishes she puts on her jazz beats will go over real well, especially with our large international student crowd.”

Meklit’s voice has been compared to the great Nina Simone, who she considers to be an inspiration. According to NPR music, “Meklit’s sound is a unique blend of jazz, Ethiopia, the San Francisco art scene and visceral poetry; it paints pictures in your head as you listen.”

So far, Meklit has released an EP in 2007 and her first album in 2010, entitled On a Day Like This. As a result of this, she has been touring extensively over the past year and a half, performing everywhere, from little clubs to arts centers to universities and outdoor festivals.

In May, Meklit spent a month in Ethiopia traveling and performing with the Arba Minch Collective-a group of Ethiopian artists in Diaspora devoted to nurturing ties to their homeland by collaborating with artists there. They performed 10 shows in Ethiopia and one show in Nairobi, Kenya.

Two towns in Ethiopia stood out from her tour: Gondar and Harrar. In both places, the Arba Minch Collective performed free shows for the residents. They were received with excitement and openness. They also performed at an orphanage for HIV positive children. Needless to say, Hadero’s music has reached numerous places.

“Students are the most open music listeners,” Meklit said. “It’s cool to play in towns that have lots of students where you can connect with folks who are just expanding their worlds. That type of environment of openness is just so cool and I’m really excited about connecting with the Davis students.”

Meklit’s show starts at 8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door; it is a 21+ event.

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

Computer-aided mammography not helpful to radiologists

Science & Technology

Science Editor

August 15, 2011

In a new UC Davis study looking at 1.6 million mammograms taken across 90 facilities, Joshua Fenton and his co-authors found that computer-aided detection (CAD) in mammography actually increases false-positive readings, without significantly increasing detection rates of invasive breast cancers.

“The reason there is interest in having a second reader is because mammography is clearly an imperfect test. Twenty percent of the time when a woman has breast cancer, the mammogram is read as negative, as normal,” said Fenton, lead researcher and assistant professor at the UC Davis department of family and community medicine.

The detection software’s job is to analyze the mammograms and locate suspicious spots for radiologists to study more closely. However, it was found that radiologists were able to detect invasive breast cancers most of the time without the assistance of CAD.

The study, published in the August issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, utilized test results that came from over 684,000 women from seven states, from 1998 to 2006. Of the 90 facilities that were examined, 25 had adopted the use of this new technology. Fenton found that after the detection software was installed, the rate of false positive readings increased from 8.1 percent before CAD to 8.6 percent after CAD.

Fenton noted that in the United Kingdom and other European countries, mammograms are typically read by two radiologists so that the second physician may catch suspicious signs that the first physician might have missed.

“The goal of having CAD would be that we might somehow automate a second read, and make mammography better than when a single reader does it,” Fenton said.

The technology was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when some smaller studies showed that CAD utilization in addition to the radiologist’s reading could potentially locate more cancers without unacceptably raising false-positive readings. But Fenton’s study revealed that CAD was not associated with higher rate of breast cancer detection, or with earlier stage, size or lymph node status of the invasive cancer.

The current findings follow up on Fenton’s previous CAD-related study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007. Critics of the previous study had argued that the findings were based on the use of the older CAD technology and didn’t accurately reflect the effectiveness of the newer CAD. This spurred Fenton to study the new technology from a greater sample, over a longer period of time.

“Conceivably, you could make a CAD program that works really well. But the actual technology that is widely disseminated in the United States, those that are currently FDA approved, don’t appear to work as well over practice as they seemed to have to work in the pre-marked studies for the FDA,” Fenton said.

In an accompanying editorial, Donald A. Berry, a biostatistician from University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, agrees with Fenton’s conclusions.

“Researchers and device companies should work to make the software ever better,” Berry wrote. “But this should happen in an experimental setting and not while exposing millions of women to a technology that may be more harmful than it is beneficial.”

EVA TAN can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

Tech tips

Science & Technology

Science Editor

August 15, 2011

Every time my phone lights up with a text I have to be careful not to actually open the text.

“The text plan costs $50,” my mom reminds me every few days.

This changed for me about two weeks ago with Whatsapp.

“Can’t wait to see you tonight!” stated a text from my friend from India, halfway across the globe. We were talking about a Skype session over Whatsapp.

What is Whatsapp?

The application allows users to use their pre-existing data plan in order to chat over phone. The app allows text messages to be sent without any extra charge, besides the cost of the data plan, to any other Whatsapp user anywhere across the globe.

You can even edit your “Whatsapp status” to warn people against calling or texting if you are in a midterm or a meeting.

All you need is a phone with a data plan and you can enter a whole new realm of text messaging.

The app works with iPhone OS 3.1 and up devices, Blackberry OS 4.5, newer Nokia phones and all Android phones.

SASHA SHARMA can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

Q&A with James Hildreth

Science & Technology

Science Editor

August 15, 2011

James Hildreth, immunologist and former professor at Tennessee’s Meharry Medical College, started his post as the new dean of the College of Biological Sciences this month. As a prominent AIDS researcher, Hildreth’s work focuses on how HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, penetrates the cell and promotes infection.

Prior to directing the Center for AIDS Health Disparities Research at the historically black college in Tennessee, Hildreth served as a chief of research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). At the NIH, his research team made the discovery that cholesterol is active in HIV’s ability to enter cells, and that eliminating the fatty matter from a cell’s membrane may stop infection.

With this discovery, Hildreth’s team has been able develop topical microbicides, generally known as “chemical condoms,” to block the sexual transmission of the virus.

Hildreth’s academic background includes graduating from Harvard magna cum laude in chemistry, studying at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar for his immunology doctorate and earning his medical degree at Johns Hopkins, where he became a faculty member after graduation.

Hildreth sat down with Aggie science writer Eva Tan to discuss his research and goals at UC Davis.

You hail all the way from the eastern U.S. How are you adjusting to California?

Hildreth: It’s been quite good to be closer to my relatives. Certainly, one can’t help but enjoy the beautiful weather. The people here are very friendly and welcoming. It’s been a really nice transition.

Why UC Davis?

There is such a rich, diverse, and strong group of researchers [here]. One of the things I hope to do is be a bridge-builder, bridge people together so that the research is enhanced and so that the training and education of students can be enhanced.

Well, the way I like to explain is: in the last century, physicists and their research transformed the lives of humans – for energy, communication, weapons, you name it. They solved some really big problems. And I believe that life science research will do the same thing – in terms of food, health, the environment and energy. And that’s only going to happen if life science researchers are cooperating across disciplines with physicists, engineers and others. And I believe that, here, on this campus, one can do that.

Besides research, you seem to be a large advocate of reducing health disparities. Any plans for this in Davis?

My interest in doing medicine in the first place began when I was a little boy of 11 years, when I lost my father – and that was really an access of care issue. Access of care was really determined by poverty and race, and the same two issues are present in disparities today. In a way, my life has come full circle, because I started out being interested in medicine dealing with disparities, and what I am doing now is to using the power of research to try to bring an end to them.

How can undergraduates get involved in your work with HIV research?

Well if they contact me or the lab director, I will tell them a little about what we are doing and we can try to put together a project or idea they can work on. I’ve always enjoyed having [undergraduates] in the lab. I look forward to them, and hopefully we can make a rich and rewarding experience together.

What are you going to miss most from the Tennessee?

I like building things, physically, with my hand. I drive a pick-up truck, and sometimes I get an urge to get a load of lumber and build an extension or modify something in the house. I really enjoy those activities. And of course being here in the green California, it might not be easy. But there will be other joys, I’m sure. Just being here, part of this team, is very exciting.

EVA TAN can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

Column: Water safety in Davis

Science & Technology

Science Editor

August 15, 2011

I was probably one of the few people to closely read the City of Davis 2010 Annual Water Quality Report. The front of the report presents a chart full of numbers, units and initials. Down the left side of the chart is a list of possible contaminants of drinking water – arsenic, chloroform and uranium made the list.

The raw data of water contaminant levels is collected by the Information Center for the Environment (ICE), contracted with the California Department of Public Health since 1999. They use a system called GIS, which is a geographic information system. The ICE uses a GIS to analyze information, in this case concerning water safety, about different geographical locations.

The director of ICE is James F. Quinn, a professor in the department of environmental science and policy at UC Davis.

“ICE is a laboratory that does very applied GIS and database projects,” Quinn said. “We work with almost all the publications supporting public decision-making policies.”

The drinking water in Davis is safe, in case you were held in suspense. Decoding the displayed chart is easier than it first appears. Several cells of the chart are full of “ND” for “not detected,” and even the contaminants that were detected are below the maximum allowable levels.

One example, arsenic, illustrates the difference between maximum allowable level and the public health goal. One column is labeled “MCL,” defined as maximum contaminant level. As the name implies, this is the highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.

The city tries to set this level as close to the PHG, or public health goal, as is “economically and technologically feasible.”

So, what are these numbers for arsenic? The maximum contaminant level for arsenic is 10 parts per billion. This is quite a small fraction (10/1,000,000,000) but not as small as the ideal. The public health goal is 0.004 parts per billion.

The labs testing the water found 5.1 parts per billion of arsenic in the city of Davis groundwater; the water from the university in particular fared slightly better, with 4.3 parts per billion of arsenic.

This is not to say our water is filthy with arsenic, just because it is above the absolute ideal level. The city has to balance possible health effects of low levels of arsenic against the cost of removing every trace of it from the water. Davis has the money to keep the levels of arsenic and other contaminants low, but not every city has the ability to do so.

“Drinking water, at least in public systems, they’re very safe,” Quinn said. “Much of the problems [in poorer communities] are due to crumbling infrastructure that probably needs to be rebuilt … these communities may not have the money to fix things.”

Quinn and his colleagues also do research in nitrates, contaminants that come mostly from agricultural runoff and fertilizers.

“[Nitrates] aren’t that toxic, but it’s difficult and expensive to treat,” he said. “If you can solve the nitrogen problems, which are widespread, you have other groundwater problems solved in the process.”

Quinn did want to give credit where credit was due, saying that the public health community has done a good job in getting water sampled and giving the public correct information about water safety.

He also wanted to stress the point that the best thing the city can do about infrastructure and water problems is to “put in the resources to take care of the people that need to be taken care of, and you employ a lot of people in that process.”

AMY STEWART can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

Inside the Game with …

Sports

Sports Editor

August 15, 2011

UC Davis baseball is rebuilding, and that process begins with new head coach Matt Vaughn.

While Vaughn has been a member of the UC Davis coaching staff for nearly 20 years, the former associate head coach will look to bring a new image to Aggie baseball.

Vaughn sat down with Aggie Sports Editor Trevor Cramer to talk about his love of UC Davis, his experience coaching on the international level and the future of UC Davis baseball.

What are your feelings on the job former coach Rex Peters did with UC Davis baseball?

I think he did a tremendous job. He took over a pretty good Division II team and he took us to the Division II College World Series the first year. Then he took us through the process of transitioning to Division I, which is a tough task for any coach.

You’ve been a part of UC Davis baseball for a long time. What does it mean to you to take over as head baseball coach?

It means everything to me. When I first started coaching there wasn’t much help, just one head coach and a volunteer. I love UC Davis and I love the student-athletes that we get. I’ve wanted this job since we started coaching.

How did you feel when you found out you would be the next head coach?

It was a combination of relief and excitement. When I started coaching at UC Davis, I knew that I wanted to get the [head coach] job. I spent 10 years coaching with [former coach] Phil Swimley, and I put all my eggs in the UC Davis basket. I passed up some other opportunities to make sure I would be here when Swimley retired, but when that time came they gave the job to Peters and that was hard for me. I felt like I was prepared for the job nine years ago, so when I finally got the job it was a lot of relief.

You played and coached under Swimley. What lessons did you learn from him that you can carry into your new role as head coach?

I learned a lot from him. He showed me how to run a practice and how to manage the number of personalities you have on a baseball team. [Swimley] was really good at dealing with players as individuals, and that was a big thing I learned from him. When I first started coaching I thought I could treat all the players the same way, but he taught me that each person is different and they need to be handled in different ways.

One of Swimley’s big accomplishments was improving UC Davis’ baseball facilities. What are your goals as far as facilities are concerned?

The first thing I’d like to do is get a covered batting cage facility so that we can practice in inclement weather. At the beginning of our season we deal with a lot of rain, so that would be big for us. We’d also eventually like to get a clubhouse-like locker-room, so that we could have a place to put our stuff and to bond as a team.

What kind of advantage does your experience with UC Davis give you over a coach who was hired from outside the program?

I think there’s a big advantage. The department could have hired from outside the program and there are tons of qualified coaches, but UC Davis is a unique spot. Some of the things we do at Davis are different from other programs, and no one knows about that better than I do. There’s no one more qualified to take this job than I am. There are a lot of nuances to UC Davis athletics that people from the outside don’t know about, and I think my experience gives me a jump on someone hired from elsewhere.

Are there any major changes you want to make in the UC Davis program?

There are some changes we will make, and some of them were already in progress before Coach Peters left. We’re trying to be more thorough in our recruiting process. We’re also looking for new and more innovative ways to communicate with out student-athletes. One of the things I’ve noticed is you need to find new ways to communicate and motivate this generation.

How do you feel about the 2012 baseball season?

Last year was a very disappointing year. We felt we were a better team, and we would win more games. We thought we were a 30-win team and we fell 12 short of that. We need to study that and we need to get better. I feel like the returning team is very solid. We have a lot of players returning. We will miss Scott [Lyman] on the mound, and we’re still finding out how many guys will be returning, but I think it looks good for us to have a good year. If nothing else we’re definitely going to turn this thing around.

TREVOR CRAMER can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

Women’s soccer preview

Sports

Sports Editor

August 15, 2011

Teams: UC Davis at San Francisco; vs. Seattle UniversityRecords: Aggies 0-0; Dons 0-0; Redhawks 0-0

Where: Negoesco Soccer Field – San Francisco; Aggie Soccer FieldWhen: Friday at 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.

Who to Watch: Senior defender and captain Aisha Lott is ready for the Aggies to start playing games.

The Milpitas, Calif. native has put in a lot of work this off-season and she feels more comfortable working with her fellow defenders and handling the ball in pressure situations. Did you know? The Aggies are kicking off the 2011 season in good shape.

“I feel like we’re more physically fit,” Lott said.

The Aggies are happy to welcome back several key players who have struggled with injuries in the past.

UC Davis is also returning 10 of 11 starters from last year’s squad.

The team aims to use their improved fitness to help them win more games this season.Preview: Intra-squad scrimmages can only do so much for the UC Davis women’s soccer team. The Aggies are ready for actual opponents.

These games will give the Aggies a chance to play as a unit and evaluate the progress they have made in the off-season.

Lott hopes that the Aggies will compliment their physical fitness with improved mental toughness. Many of UC Davis’ losses came by a single goal last year and Lott believes they can win more of those close games by staying focused and capitalizing on more opportunities.

“We can make chances, we just need to finish more of them.” Lott said.

Coach MaryClaire Robinson also mentioned the close losses the Aggies suffered last year.

“We were very competitive last year but we underachieved in [Big West Conference play],” she said. Robinson believes that the Aggies have the ability to win more of those close games and has higher expectations for her team this year. “We want to raise the standard,” Robinson said, “It’s about raising the standard in everything from practice to conference play.”

The Aggies have worked hard to improve this off-season and both Lott and Robinson believe they have all the tools necessary to win more games. Now they just have to finish them.

“It’s all about the finishing,” Robinson said.

– Kim Carr

Football season preview

Sports

Sports Editor

August 15, 2011

Last year, win or lose, the focus was on the Aggie football teams’ youth and inexperience.

Not anymore.

With 2010 behind them, head coach Bob Biggs and his staff are hoping that this still relatively young UC Davis squad is ready for another grueling 11-game season.

“I’m optimistic because so many of our players got so much experience last year. There’s no substitute [for that],” Biggs said.

Starting quarterback Randy Wright, now a sophomore, may have benefited the most from last year’s playing time.

Wright was the surprise starter last year, but struggled to begin the season, losing three of the first four games. As the season progressed, Wright settled down, upping his completions and finishing the campaign with three straight wins.

After a summer of hard work, Wright is ready to continue his development as a Division I quarterback.

“Better decision making, more accurate throws, move the chains, and we’ll have a better year,” Wright explained.

A revamped running game, led by an experienced offensive line, should help the Aggies move the ball more effectively this year. Senior Ray Wilburn, one of the team’s four captains, will anchor the line at center.

In the backfield, UC Davis will have multiple options, with a combination of experience and young speed.

On one side, the Aggies will get tough nose running from senior captain Josh Reese and junior Nick Aprile. Joining the two upperclassmen will a trio of redshirt freshmen with game-changing speed in Colton Silveria, Jonathan Maricic and Austin Edmonson.

“Any time they can break a play for big yardage,” said Biggs of the new backs. “We’re already seeing signs that we’re going to be able to run the football better.”

One of the soft spots on the offense is at the wide receiver position. With the departure of Sean Creadick and Dean Rogers, UC Davis is without an established receiving threat. Last year Rogers and Creadick accounted for nearly half the Aggies’ receiving yards and 11 of 18 receiving touchdowns.

The bulk of the pass-catching load will now fall to junior Anthony Soto and sophomore Tom Hemmingsen.

“That’s going to be the test, what the young receivers do,” Biggs said. “They’re very talented but that’s the one position we don’t have much experience.”

Defensively, the Aggies have had to revamp their line, and will be hurt by the loss of Eric Sacotka, last year’s leading sack-getter. Leading the defensive charge will be junior captain Bobby Erskine and seniors Victor Lee and Tommy Grillo.

“Our returners have played a ton for us and have really developed themselves. We’re expecting a lot from our veterans and we have some young guys who have popped up and impressed us,” said defensive coordinator Mark Johnson.

Playing behind the defensive line will be a powerful linebacker and defensive back core. According to Biggs, this group will be one of the best he’s had in nearly 20 years at UC Davis.

The group will be lead by senior captain Jordan Glass and junior Byron Gruendl.

“We’ve got much more team speed on defense,” Biggs said. “When you’ve got that type of speed you can run to the football and you have a chance to be pretty good.”

Regardless of who is on the field, offense or defense, seniors or freshman, the expectations for this UC Davis team are unchanged.

“We want to win every game,” Wright said. “No matter who we’re playing, that’s the expectation, to win every game.”

The head coach was more diplomatic. “We want to be better than [last year],” he said. “6-5 is not the goal this year. Our goal is to get better in every little thing we do.”

For the second year in a row the Aggies will face a Pac-12 opponent – this year traveling to Arizona State on Sept. 1 to open the season. The demanding schedule also includes an away contest against Hawaii, and the annual rivalry games against Cal Poly and Sacramento State.

“{The schedule] is challenging, no doubt about it,” Biggs said. “We’re a more competitive football this year. We’re going to go out and compete.”

The first chance for fans to see the Aggies in action will be the annual Blue-Gold Scrimmage on August 25 at 7:05 p.m. at Aggie Stadium.

CAELUM SHOVE can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

Mr. Avalos goes to Washington

Features

Features Editor

August 15, 2011

As an incoming first year student hoping to become a pediatrician, Edgar Avalos knew he wanted to help people. But after a brief stint taking lower-division biology classes, the now-senior international relations and English double major realized his future was closer to his roots.

Out of 800 applicants, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) selected Avalos as one of 30 students to participate in its Congressional Internship Program (CIP). The program is an eight-week paid work placement in Washington, D.C. for promising Latino undergraduates interested in pursuing politics.

The CHCI placed Avalos in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Labor. During his internship, Avalos attended conference meetings with senior advisors to the secretary who discussed labor worker rights, safety and health issues, wage laws and statistics of people in the workforce.

“I had the chance to see into the background of what the Department of Labor actually does and insight into the different agencies,” Avalos said.

Avalos, who is the first member of his family to attend a four-year university, got his first taste of public policy from his Mexican-born parents. Avalos’ father is part of a labor union, and his mother is a social worker who often told him stories about her work.

“I remember her telling me when she met a man who was dying of AIDS and she helped him apply for Medicare. I saw how engaged she was with her work,” Avalos said.

At UC Davis, Avalos joined JusticeCorps, a collaborative program that recruits and trains students to intern in overburdened self-help centers and community service providers.

Through JusticeCorps, Avalos earned an internship with the UC Davis School of Law Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic (FPLAC). It was here that Avalos realized he wanted to be an advocate for the Hispanic community by getting involved in public policy and social services.

“I was touched by how the women were taken advantage of and by the fact that so many people didn’t have access to help. They don’t have the money or even the language to represent themselves,” Avalos said.

Krystal Callaway Jaime, supervising attorney for the FPLAC, was impressed by Avalos and described him as empathetic and patient. Jaime pointed out one instance in which a client would not stop speaking over the phone.

“He was just listening to her and letting her talk, even though he already told her we wouldn’t be able to help. And afterwards, he was kind of laughing about it and said, ‘That was a good learning experience,'” Jaime said.

Jaime, one of the Avalos’ references for the CIP, firmly believed he was an excellent candidate for that program.

“Because we work with victims of domestic violence, I was really eager to have someone of Spanish-speaking ability. The work we do can be sensitive, and it’s not for everyone,” Jaime said. “He has the qualities [the CIP] was looking for, which was a strong commitment to the community and strong leadership skills. Edgar was just that kind of student.”

Avalos’ second reference, UC Davis associate history professor Omnia El Shakry, said Avalos is the only student to seek her advice for an in-depth project for another class. Shakry said his ability to show initiative and ask for help was perfect for the CIP.

“It was very clear to me, whether it was about a paper or whether he wanted feedback, that asking for help wasn’t an issue,” Shakry said.

During the CIP, Avalos also met head Hispanic officials, participated in leadership and career building, practiced public speaking and helped build a house for Habitat for Humanity, in addition to his work with the Department of Labor. After volunteering for a lunch event priced at $650 per ticket, Avalos even got the opportunity to shake President Barack Obama’s hand.

Although Avalos said his experience in Washington, D.C. was positive, the most challenging part of the internship was meeting people with vastly different views.

“People would completely slam my views. It felt like they were putting you down for what you believe in. As hard as it was, it was kind of an eye-opener, and it also made my political viewpoints stronger,” Avalos said.

In the future, Avalos hopes to earn his Master’s degree in social welfare and public policy and eventually earn a law degree in international or immigration law. He hopes to emulate one of his role models,

Harvey Milk, in his efforts to reduce inequality and discrimination of

minorities.

“[Milk] was a minority in his respect and he didn’t let anyone put him down. I think he really changed the direction for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community,” Avalos said. “He was a good role model for any minority because he really started a movement.”

GRACE BENEFIELD can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

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