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New resident garden comes to Segundo

Campus Editor
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Resident students can now enjoy a new garden located between the Segundo Dining Commons and Bixby Hall.

Created in Fall 2010, the student initiated garden aims to provide leadership opportunities while educating the community on care for edible plants and hands-on experience, officials said.

“The goal is to provide students with a space for hands on experience and to get their hands dirty on how to maintain plants, especially after graduation,” said Danielle Lee, sustainability manager for the UC Davis Dining Services. “Students will learn about seasonal harvesting and time and effort for better understanding of where their food comes from.”

Students of the Segundo resident halls wanted a place to grow their own food in their residential environment, Lee said. The garden is designed specifically for students in the participating resident halls. However, students that are not residents of Segundo are free to venture into the garden.

“The project introduces sustainability to the larger freshmen population,” said Tessa Artale, junior sociology major and unit director for the UC Davis Campus Center for the Environment. “Many freshmen come to Davis without knowledge of sustainability or how to practice it in their daily lives.”

Design and building for the resident garden took place during the 2010-11 academic year by students William Klein, Tessa Artale, Andrew Carstans and Molly Bernstein. Departments such as the Campus Center for the Environment, Student Housing and Dining Services among many other groups participated in the development and management of the garden.

Dining Services provides funding for supplies, materials, plants and maintenance, Lee said. Initial funds for the garden came from Student Housing.

Participating residents of the class of 2014 chose and planted all the plants as a group, Lee said.

Some varieties of plants grown in the garden are red amaranth, which is a grain that contains edible leaves, Kentucky wonder beans and spirit pumpkins, which will be big for the fall season. The plants are being grown organically, but they are not certified.

According to officials, although students are growing the plants, they are not permitted to sell them. All fruits and vegetables are only available for student consumption. The edible plants will not be used in the dining commons.

“The garden provides an experiential learning opportunity for self-sufficiency,” Lee said. “Students are able to learn another way to connect with how and where their food comes from.”

Students and the community participated in the Segundo garden’s inaugural planting celebration on June 7.

Management of the garden hopes to have future bi-weekly and monthly garden parties, Lee said.

Students can get involved with the garden team by attending a brief garden orientation to obtain a “Gardener Card.”

For more information, contact the garden coordinator at garden.coordinators@gmail.com.

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

Summer of series and cinema

Arts Editor
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For those of you who are still on the grind and taking summer school, a novel might be the only vacation you’ll be getting. There’s nothing quite like immersing yourself fully into a great fiction or non-fiction novel. Here’s a list of recommended books and novels to propel you into an alternate reality this summer:

Fiction

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling

I know, this is definitely not new and clearly not the first installment of the seven-part series that defined our generation. But, seeing as how the final movie hit theaters mid-July, an upsurge in Harry Potter fandom has occurred around the world. Now, I am sure that most of you have read this or seen the movie but I highly recommend going back and re-reading this last one to put the book down to rest and say goodbye.

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Seems like Hollywood is starving for another thriller/sci fi series, and The Hunger Games is super filling with large servings of twisted plots and fabulously rich characters. According to Nicole Hart, a senior human development major, “Diving into a world that doesn’t follow any of the very popular teen fiction fantasy rules is really exciting, you never know what will happen in this series.”

3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

In this sassy throwback to the early ’60s, with the ever prevalent backdrop of rural Mississipi, The Help chronicles the lives of three women, two black maids who refuse to accept their circumstances and the woman whose brave voice liberates them all, despite of and because of her ethnicity. Debbie Lucas, a junior communication major, suggested that, “If you feel like feeling good at the end of a book, you absolutely have to read this.” Plus, like almost every other bestseller, it has been transformed into a summer flick.

4. Love the One You’re With by Emily Griffith

It may not be Jane Austen, but Griffith’s latest novel is yet another classic tale of love and friendship, delicately observing the intricacies of friendship in the 21st century. Yasi Sahely, a senior English major, explained that, “I was addicted to this. Once I started I had to know what happened to these characters-it felt like I really knew them.”

5. Dresden File Series by Jim Butcher

Feel like reading a mystery thriller with a touch of magic to it? The Dresden File Series brilliantly explores the world of Harry Dresden, a wizard who thinks like a detective. Combining gothic elements and a slightly alternate universe, the 13th installment has just been released, but these novels read so fast you can probably finish them all before school starts again!

6. A Song of Fire and Ice Series by George R.R. Martin

Time is literally of the essence in this literary renowned series. In a fictional world where seasons have no natural rhythm anymore, the politics to restore balance to this universe are as complicated and compelling as the adventure, romance and mystery. Game of Thrones was the first part of this seemingly never-ending series, which just released the latest installment: A Dance With Dragons. In fact, this series is so addicting, HBO has just premiered the first season this summer.

Non- Fiction

7. A Stolen Life, a Memoir by Jaycee Dugard

In 2009 the world watched in horror as Jaycee Dugard was finally released from the captors and abusers who kidnapped her as a young child. Now, she has put down in plain and simple prose what exactly she has been through, sharing her pain with the world in hopes to educate those who may have been through a painful experience. Despite the disturbingly graphic portions of the book, it will reiterate in the most profound way how lucky we are. Partial proceeds of the memoir go to her charity foundation, J A Y C.

8. The Naked Roommate by Harlan Cohen

Cohen’s exploration of everything college life hits home in every way. From sharing your privacy to class notes, The Naked Roommate is a guide to surviving college, with tons of crazy but truthful anecdotes from college students nationwide.

9. Bossypants, by Tina Fey

If you are in the mood to laugh, giggle, cry or pee your pants, please pick up Tina Fey’s self authored, Bossypants. Its hilarity all stems from the queen of “Saturday Night Live” herself, and never tries to pretend to be anything other than pure entertainment. Fey proves once again that her comedic genius lies in her wit, intelligence and pure nerve. Brenna Weingus, a senior English major said, “Tina Fey perfects the art of self-deprecation and manages to capture the general awkwardness of life with her signature wit and sharp sense of humor. It’s also the most hilarious thing I’ve ever read. Ever.” 

10. An Anatomy of Addiction by Howard Markel

Despite being one of the most dangerous of illegal substances, Markel uncovers the vital role cocaine played in the careers of infamous scientists and philosophers, including Dr. Freud. Louie Franklin, a senior philosophy major said, “Even though it’s a hard read, it is so interesting that you force yourself to go on.”

BRITTANY PEARLMAN can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Harry Potter takes over the Internet with Pottermore

Features Editor
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Thousands of dressed-up Harry Potter fans stood in line for the midnight premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two, simultaneously excited for the movie and distraught over what many considered to be the “end of an era.” Fortunately for her fans, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has a little something more up her sleeve.

Pottermore, an online project created by Rowling in partnership with Sony, will open to the public in October. Pottermore will be a “unique and free-to-use website which will build an exciting online experience around the reading of the hugely successful Harry Potter books,” stated a Pottermore press release.

Although most information about Pottermore is being kept under wraps, Rowling said in a prepared statement that she has “brought to life both the Sorting Hat and Ollivanders experiences from her books,” and that users will also be able to visit Diagon Alley, mix potions, cast spells and compete for the House Cup.

Laramie Taylor, assistant professor of communication, is intrigued that the focus of the site is on the original text, rather than on newly created stories.

“What will be interesting is if fans who have thus far organized their fanship around the movies, avoiding the books because of a reluctance to read or an orientation towards electronic media, find the interactive site to be an appealing way to engage the text,” said Taylor in an e-mail interview.

People who are already fans of the novels have something to look forward to, as well. Pottermore will feature never-before-seen background material written by Rowling regarding the characters, places, and objects that Potter fans have come to know and love.

Pottermore is intended to be a place where Harry Potter fans can come together, united in their passion towards series, Rowling said in a June 23 press conference.

Allison Callow, a junior international relations major and organizer of the Davis chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance, believes that the fans’ ability to unite is one of the most unique aspects of Harry Potter fandom.

“We congregated in conference halls discussing the series, we wrote our own stories based on the characters, we created a special genre of music, thousands of pieces of art, and started a non-profit organization,” said Callow in an e-mail interview. “And most importantly, we made friends and carried on some of the many messages of the series: friendship and love.”

Fans flocked together once more on July 31, as Rowling launched an as-yet-unknown online challenge. The first million people who completed the challenge and registered for the site will gain early entry into Pottermore.

Though many are hesitant over Rowling’s use of the Internet for her next Harry Potter project, Thomas Reeder, a senior biological science major and a member of the Davis chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance, is a fan of digital distribution.

“The Harry Potter community will only grow larger as a result. It is a fandom that has had a strong online presence for a very long time,” said Reeder in an e-mail interview. “This is just going to become an entry-point for those less familiar with the internet, such as younger children, as well as a repository for new content.”

While some fans may be skeptical about seeing their beloved series in an online format, many are excited about Pottermore and place their trust in Rowling’s decision.

“Rowling began this incredible phenomenon that encouraged millions of people to pick up a book and to tap into their own imaginations and discover more about the world around them,” Callow said. “That, I think, is truly the incredible part about the entire phenomenon.”

RACHEL RILEY can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

Davis looks into expanding downtown parking

City Editor
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Davis City Council voted 3-2 to continue discussion about building a new parking structure downtown at its July 19 meeting.

The City of Davis’ Redevelopment Agency is looking into the possibility of construction of a five-level structure with ground floor retail and adjacent mixed-use development downtown. According to the city’s current project details, the adjacent mixed-use development could include retail, office and housing.

The proposed site at Third, Fourth, E and F streets is already home to a public parking lot. The Redevelopment Agency is hoping that with the help of the local land development and property management company, Yackzan Group, they can turn the current parking lot into a five-story parking garage with 350 spaces and 12,000 square feet of retail on E and F streets.

The prospective $14 million project would allocate $11 million toward the parking garage itself and another $2.5 million going toward the retail portion.

Parking spots would be free of charge for visitors.

The Yackzan Group is no stranger to Davis parking structures as they designed the garage located on Fourth and G Street. The Fourth and G garage however is not owned by the city of Davis and is instead being leased on a 30-year contract with close to 20 years remaining on the said contract.

Many citizens of Davis have protested construction of this new garage, claiming there is little need for more parking as there is plenty of street parking and two other garages located on First and F Street and Fourth and G Street.

Among those against the garage is the Davis cycling community, claiming in the city council meeting that the garage is unnecessary, stating what separates Davis from other cities is its bike friendliness and alternative transportation.

According to the Davis Vanguard, the Davis Bicycles! Advocacy group has been conducting surveys over the past five months, collecting data on available parking spots in the two existing structures. According to the article, during those five months, “Several dozen surveys were conducted at different times of the day, on different days of the week, with UC Davis in session and on break, and in different weather conditions from cold and raining to dry and extremely hot.” The results of the survey state that on average, there are approximately 300 available parking spaces between the two structures.

Others who have expressed concern are the owners of local businesses, who will be directly impacted by the construction.

“I don’t know how it’s going to affect [my business],” said Casey Goode, owner of Swanson’s Cleaners said. “I have been here for 12 years and the lot is never full, especially now with the no re-parking law. I have a very good business and this construction will probably keep people from coming.”

Davis residents weren’t completely opposed to the idea, as some supported the construction.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Miles Hadley a senior community and regional development major. “I’ve had a lot of foot surgeries in my four years [in Davis]. Being able to park as close to my destination as possible is really helpful when crutches are your only way of getting around.”

While the proposed garage is far from a done deal, it has become a hot topic throughout Davis.

ELLIS CLARK can be reached city@theaggie.org.

EDITOR’S NOTE: “Of” has been removed from the original headline. 

Aggie Daily Calendar

Features Editor
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FRIDAY 

Be a Medical Student For a Day

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

UC Davis School of Medicine, 4610 X St., Sacramento

Tour the medical school, talk to faculty and learn what it’s like to be a medical student. Pre-med students aged 18 and over must register at http://www.amsaarc.org/events/be-a-medical-student-for-a-day-at-uc-davis-school-of-medicine/ by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, or until event is sold out.  

Folk Music Jam Session

Noon to 1 p.m.

Wyatt Deck, UC Davis Arboretum

Musicians of all ages are invited to participate in an informal jam session. Bring fiddles, mandolins, guitars, penny whistles, or just listen under the redwood trees. All skill levels welcome.  

SATURDAY 

UC Davis Arboretum Guided Tour: Plants From Down Under

10 a.m.

East end of Arboretum, at the edge of parking lot behind Borders

California and Western Australia have similar climate and environmental conditions, so many Australian plants are well-suited for Central Valley landscapes. Learn about garden plants from down under during a free guided tour of the Arboretum’s Australian Collection. 

To receive placement in the AGGIE DAILY CALENDAR, e-mail dailycal@theaggie.org or stop by 25 Lower Freeborn by noon the day prior to your event. Due to space constraints, all event descriptions are subject to editing, and priority will be given to events that are free of charge and geared toward the campus community.

News-in-Brief: Price of parking increases on campus

Campus Editor
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The UC Davis Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) raised the daily visitor rate and monthly permit rate by $1 on July 1.

Visitor parking now costs $7 a day. Monthly permit rates depend on the type of permit and can be found on the TAPS website.

TAPS has not raised the daily visitor parking rate since 2003, and the monthly parking permit rate was last raised in 2009.

Director of TAPS, Clifford Contreras, stated in a letter to parking patrons, that while TAPS has been working hard to keep parking costs constant, this year it was necessary to raise the prices.

“Rate increases are necessary this year to offset increases in represented staff salaries, employer retirement contributions, campus service assessments and increased parking facility maintenance expenses,” wrote Contreras in the letter.

– Hannah Strumwasser

News-in-Brief: Davis hires new city manager

City Editor
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The Davis City Council unanimously selected Steve Pinkerton as city manager at their July 26 meeting.

Pinkerton, 51, has been serving as Manteca’s city manager for three years and has nearly 30 years of government experience. The council chose him out of a pool of 84 applicants.

Pinkerton succeeds Bill Emlen, who served as Davis’ city manager for over four years and left for a position with Solano County last September. Paul Navazio served as the interim city manager.

“He stood out in a field of exceptional candidates,” said Mayor Joe Krovoza at the meeting. “His experience in budget and organizational issues will serve us well, as will his expertise in planning, water, economic development and establishing partnerships with public and private entities.”

Pinkerton officially takes the position at a special city council meeting held this morning. In Manteca, he turned the city’s budget deficits of over 35 percent of total revenues into one with a balanced budget.

“As the son of a professor of urban sociology, I grew up in a college town and have always wanted the opportunity to work in the unique environment of a host city for a large, world-class university such as UC Davis,” Pinkerton said. “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to serve the citizens of Davis.”

– Angela Swartz

Page turned Davis bookstores

Campus Editor
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Downtown Davis’ Borders Books, Music, Cafe will be closing as soon as the store has liquidated its inventory. The national chain, which has a store in Davis Commons, announced last month that it would be going out of business. Some locations will be open until September.

This leaves downtown with several locally owned bookstores, including The Avid Reader, Logos Books and Sweet Briar Books.

– Becky Peterson

Department of applied sciences shuts down

Campus Editor
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UC Davis’ department of applied sciences was shut down this summer, due to the recent cuts the UC system faced in the California budget.

“The department of applied sciences was a strong interdisciplinary department with the opportunity to cross traditional barriers between basic research and engineering,” said Walt Harris, a professor within the department. “This was never fully exploited, but we had less than 10 years at the main campus to develop and implement a strategy.”

The program began in the early 1960s in Livermore, where most of the original faculty members were nuclear physicists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. There they worked on nuclear weapons.

The scientists were interested in participating in graduate education and found a home within the College of Engineering at UC Davis. Though the original members were based in Livermore, over time much of the department migrated to Davis, said Associate Dean Bruch Hartsough.

Hartsough added that faculty had moved away from just the nuclear weapons aspect to a number of different fields, including biophysics, material science, electrical engineering and computer science. They explored new ways of studying nuclear weapons.

“If you explode a nuclear weapon, you’ve got fallout and all sorts of negative effects,” said Hartsough. “Instead of exploding a bomb, a good computer model will explain what is going to happen and how it will behave if you modify it. You don’t have to conduct the actual experiment.”

Due to the cuts, the College of Engineering was asked to reduce their faculty by 9 percent over a three-year period. The budget pushed the closing of the department of the edge, Hartsough said.

Two faculty members retired, and since tenured faculty cannot be laid off, the remaining faculty members were accepted into other departments within UC Davis.

“In the short term we are saving almost nothing,” Hartsough said. “The needs of the faculty don’t change. If we kept eight departments we wouldn’t be able to replace those who retired, but once we hit the target, we can maintain the numbers in the remaining department versus having to cut everyone by 9 percent.”

In addition to a graduate program, the department hosts two undergraduate majors: computational and applied science, and optical science and engineering. The students who are already in the programs will be allowed to finish their degrees with limited resources, but no new students will be accepted.

Any courses formerly taught through the department of applied sciences will be available at the discretion of the faculty member that taught the course, said Harris, who has been accepted into the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Faculty member Atul Praikh will split his time between two departments, the department of Biomedical Engineering and the department of Chemical Engineering & Material Science.

“Academic needs of the students currently in the program will most certainly be met,” said Parikh in an e-mail interview. “But the reduced support structure, the absence of cohesive environment such as provided by departmental activities, seminar series, etc. will no doubt prove hurtful.”

AKSHAYA RAMANUJAM can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Picnic Day death resulted from “freak” neck injury

City Editor
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The death of 22-year-old Scott Heinig, a graduate of Davis Senior High School and a UC Davis baseball player, resulted from a rare, “freak” injury to a neck artery after being punched by one of his friends, according to authorities.

The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office will not press criminal charges against the person who delivered the punch, even though Heinig’s April 17 death has been classified as homicide-death by human hands. The alignment of events “occurred as a result of accident or misfortune, as opposed to an intentional killing,” said Lt. Paul Doroshov of the Davis Police Department, citing a joint Police Department and DA’s Office press release.

Although Heinig’s relatives could not be reached for comment, Michael Cabral, assistant chief deputy district attorney, told the Davis Enterprise the family is “completely behind us on this decision. This was a lifelong friend of Scott’s, and they didn’t want charges filed.”

Doroshov said Heinig was with a group of longtime friends attending an April 16 post-Picnic Day gathering at a home on Fifth Street, where the injury occurred. Near the end of the party, some of the attendees went into the house, while Heinig, who had been drinking alcohol, stayed on the driveway with a few of his friends.

“During this time, Heinig was insisting that his friends punch him in the face,” behavior common among Heinig and his friends, according to Doroshov. The police interviewed a number of Heinig’s friends as part of their investigation.

“They attend Picnic Day events earlier in the day, but the death occurred at a private gathering,” Doroshov said. “There’s no evidence it was directly related to Picnic Day. This absolutely could have happened any other night.”

According to Doroshov, Heinig’s friends repeatedly refused to hit him, and when he was met with additional refusal, he struck one of his friends in the face twice. In response, the friend punched Heinig one time in the face.

The movement of Heinig’s neck following the punch ruptured his vertebral artery, a major artery that runs along the spinal column and into the brain, according to Cabral.

“He was likely not going to survive once that happened,” despite attempts by friends and emergency personnel to perform CPR, Cabral said. “It would have been very difficult for a medical professional to find it in time.”

Heinig’s injury caused him to fall and strike his head on the driveway, but Cabral said the ruptured artery, not the fall, caused his death. The cause of death was listed as blunt-force head and neck injury, and coroner’s officials noted there were no signs of multiple injuries or severe trauma.

Doroshov said this is a very rare occurrence and that the friend who delivered the punch was pretty devastated.

Cabral said his office considered a range of possible charges in the case, from involuntary manslaughter to murder.

“We looked at all of that, but their key component is an intent to kill or some unlawful act, and we didn’t feel either of those were involved in this case,” Cabral said. Prosecutors also looked at battery, “but it’s kind of hard to file battery [charges] if the person asked to be hit,” he said.

Heinig’s blood-alcohol content, recorded five hours after the incident due to the priority given to lifesaving efforts, was measured at .11, above the legal level of .08.

“Obviously, there’s a lesson to be learned out of this,” Cabral said. “People tend to think nothing’s going to happen when you’re horsing around with a group of friends. It’s a terrible situation.”

Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven said the DA’s office does get incidences of homicide that do not meet the legal requirements of a crime.

In terms of Picnic Day though, he said the office mostly deals with charges of public drunkenness, minors in possession of alcohol and resisting arrest. 

ANGELA SWARTZ can be reached city@theaggie.org.

UC Regents vote for 9.6 percent fee increase

Campus Editor
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In a UC Regents meeting on July 14, the regents voted to increase tuition by 9.6 percent in order to offset the recent $650 million cut to University of California funding from the state.  

The 9.6 percent increase, along with the 8 percent increase already signed into law for this fall, will mean that the total tuition will increase by about $1,890-from $10,302 to $12,192. This does not include individual campus student fees.

At UC Davis, the fee increase coupled with UC Davis student fees will mean that students will be paying approximately $16,094.86.

The 14-4 vote came after an ongoing discussion about how to keep the UC system afloat during the current state budget crisis. While many regents said they did not want to increase tuition, they felt that this option was the best choice for the UC system.

“Faced with enormous financial cuts forced on us by political leaders, we only have a handful of options open to us, and all are horrible options. As much as I hate voting for this increase, I hate even more letting this institution slide into mediocrity,” said Regent Bonny Reiss.

The four regents who voted ‘no’ on the increase were Eddie Island, George Marcus, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Alfredo Mireles, UC student regent.

“The biggest threat to our democracy is income inequality, the loss of the middle class. And here we are once again, putting the nail in the coffin of the middle class,” Newsom said.

The UC system could face another $100 million cut in funding later in the year if state revenues do not reach the expected projections.

Faced with these budget issues, regents also discussed long-term options at the meeting. Regents are considering raising fees for international students, increasing the amount of online classes offered and consolidating and eliminating programs at the different UC campuses. In addition, the UC system is working on ways to expand financial aid.

However, many students have come out to express their feelings about the new fee increases.

“This is a sad day for the University of California,” said Claudia Magana, University of California Student Association president and senior at UC Santa Cruz, in a statement. “Once again, the regents have refused to consider alternative options, and chosen the easy route of placing the entire burden on students and their families.”

HANNAH STRUMWASSER can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Editorial Board: A year in review

Opinion
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Editor 1: So, what are we writing our last editorial about?

Editor 2: I want to write about the shitty weather. Does anyone
else think the weather sucks?

Editor 3: Who doesn’t think the weather sucks? Is that really a
matter of opinion?

Editor 4: We can always write an editorial complaining about
ASUCD. I’m sure they’ve misallocated money somewhere.

Editor 3: Does anyone really care if they spend a little bit more
or less than they say they will?

Editor 5: The only problem I can really see is in their
fake-fake-fakeness.

Editor 3: And their incessant bickering through comments on our
website.

Editor 1: To quote Gary Stewart, sometimes our best just isn’t
good enough.

Editor 6: We always complain about ASUCD. I think we need to write
something positive … about the awesome new power outlets in the library. An
editorial congratulating André Lee on his accomplishments? Maybe discussing our
undying love for <BOLD?

Editor 2: Okay, fine, but make sure you include a complaint about
the lack of power outlets at Delta of Venus.

Editor 4: A task for the City-UC Davis student liaison commission,
maybe?

Editor 2: They’re too busy trying to stop college students from
drinking on Picnic Day.

Editor 5: Not that there’s anything worth drinking with Four Loko
off the market.  

Editor 1: But seriously, back to the outlets. Nobody cares about
Delta of Venus but the Domies.

Editor 3: Well, they have nowhere else to go.

Editor 4: That’s a good point. Where will the Domies live next
year? If they live in a normal, square structure are we even allowed to call
them Domies? Will they start wearing shoes or learn to suffer with glass in
their feet?

Editor 1: Now that is what I call experiential learning.

Editor 3: Speaking of experiments, I think we could really use
another dueling editorial on animal testing.

Editor 2: It’s interesting to note that people are worried about
words that hurt people but not research that hurts primates.

Editor 4: Sounds like an issue for Dumbledore’s Army.

Editor 3: For the record, I am over the Harry Potter references.

Editor 2: For the record, everything you say around us is on the
record. It’s my personal policy.

Editor 4: That doesn’t sound too different from the
administration’s policy. Is spying an ethical way to obtain information?

Editor 6: Only if you’re spying on commie liberal protestors.

Editor 3:  You know, the problem with the protestors is that
they want to make their voices heard but don’t want anyone to show up.

Editor 4: Just like ASUCD. They want to be written about, but only
on their terms.

Editor 1: No more complaining about ASUCD!

Editor 3: Then what do we have to complain about?

Editor 2: Is anyone else upset about the weather?

Column: Be happy

Features Editor
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Being Editor in Chief of The California Aggie over the last 12 months has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and has really helped put things in perspective. I’ve learned so much that I feel compelled to impart this knowledge to the seven people that will actually read this column. (Hi Mom!)

1) Haters gonna hate: Every issue has two or more sides. Every side has multiple passionate supporters. These people will be outraged if you don’t support their point of view and only mildly grateful if you do. I have nothing against haters. Their purpose in life is to hate. Would you blame a writer for writing or a player for playin’?

The problem with haters is that they don’t get it. Even worse, they don’t get that they don’t get it. As a result, they don’t succumb to silly things like logic or reason. They are correct. Period.

So, this begs the question, “What do I do?” People gonna hate no matter what, so always trust your judgment and do what you think is best. Sounds cheesy, right? Wrong. Well … kinda right, but it’s still true.

2) Eat at the DC: For those who stayed in the dorms here at UC Davis, this is a commonly accepted notion. For those of us who transferred here, this is an important lesson best learned swiftly. Simply find somebody with swipes, then befriend or blackmail them so they can get you in for free.

I know, I know. You’re saying that I can buy a meal plan and swipe myself in. I say, this isn’t Narnia, friend. We’re in the real world where swipes practically fall from trees. I’m not going to purchase a “weird black sticky stuff” plan. That stuff falls on my car ALL THE TIME for free.

3) Pay attention and do stuff: Stuff is always happening on campus. Rallies, protests, concerts, conventions, etc. If your normal routine is: wake up, eat Pop-Tart, bike to class, play Sporcle in class, bike home, eat pizza, watch TV, sleep and repeat, I have just two things to say: Wanna trade? And: Sike, your life sucks. Except for the Pop-Tarts and Sporcle. Those things are awesome.

Anyways, if you’re stuck in a rut, do something. The California Aggie, for one, is always looking for talented writers, photographers, sales clerks, graphic artists and copyreaders, to name a few. If journalism isn’t your thing, there are tons of clubs, organizations, committees, commissions and businesses looking for good people like you. I know the thought of missing an episode of “The Biggest Loser” is scary, but it feels better to cut the cord and do something productive. Trust me.

4) Be positive and have respect: Next to “haters gonna hate,” this is the most important lesson to be learned. This is a university. A damn good one, too. As a result, every different point of view is represented in some way. This means that disagreements will arise, but do not worry, dear reader. Disagreements are good – they inspire change and make the world a better place.

However, there are two distinctly different disagreement classifications: Productive, and stupid. A stupid disagreement is usually, but doesn’t have to be, violent. It typically involves two or more haters hating on each other until things boil over. Prime example: bar fights.

On the flip side, a productive disagreement has one important feature that a stupid disagreement does not: respect. I think it was Conan O’Brien who said, “All I ask of you is one thing: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism – it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”

Another favorite quote of mine (yes, we’ve entered the favorite quote section of the column) is from Lou Holtz. He said, “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond.”

If you combine these two nuggets of wisdom, you get one hell of an outlook on life. Work hard, stay positive, be respectful, take responsibility for your actions and, always, no matter what, be happy.

MARK LING can be reached … nowhere! Send your hate to next year’s Editor in Chief, Jason Alpert. He can be reached at editor@thaggie.org.

Best of Police Briefs

Features Editor
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0

Nov. 23, 2010

Subject not receptive to ‘Olly olly oxen free’

A male was hiding behind his van on First Street.

Other area smells include sex, rock ‘n’ roll

There was a strong smell of drugs around Audubon Circle.

Nov. 30, 2010

Fucking carolers

A male came to someone’s door singing and rambling on Parkside Drive.

Jan. 11, 2011

Sigma Nu-de

A naked male ran into a female and her friends on Wake Forest Drive and Oxford Circle.

Feb. 8, 2011

Always carry a dried meat snack

A male was using a Slim Jim to get into a vehicle on F Street.

COLLEGE !!!

An intoxicated subject passed out near the leasing office at Clearwater Apartments in a flannel button up shirt and pants around his knees, on Cowell Boulevard.

March 29, 2011

Kids these days

A 13-year-old ran down the hill toward someone’s car, lifted up her shirt and then ran back up the hill, on Tulip Lane.

Human advantage

A subject was bitten by two pitbulls and then chased the dogs with a knife, on West Covell Boulevard.

April 12, 2011

Lady magnet

A transient with three dogs was playing with three girls on the playground at Moore Boulevard.

– compiled by Becky Peterson

Best Quotes

Features Editor
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0

“I stop at the In-N-Out hamburger, cause everybody is smiling there. Everything is peaceful there. People are basically happy and the food is cheap.”

UC President Mark Yudof

about his trips home to Oakland after lobbying in Sacramento

“We are a sex charity club, so a lot of people have wondered what it’s like to be in the porn industry.”

Molly Russell

about the Sex, Lust, Un-Tamed’s porn screening on April 20

“Without us, this university would not run. Maybe there should be a day when UC has to try to function without their workers.” 

Jordan Carroll

about Teaching Assistants being overworked and going on strike

“Our money is going toward officials to spy on us. And spying is by no means a stretch, it’s what they’re doing.”

Eric Lee

about the discovery of the UC Davis Student Activism Team

“Engineers are all miserable but then after they graduate they’re like, cha-ching. They’re like, ‘did you have a good time in college? I didn’t, but now I’m making hella money.'”

Thomas Osterberg-Diess

on science majors at UC Davis

“Neville doubted himself, but he’s a total BAMF.”

Alex Ralph

about lessons to take away from Harry Potter

“I was a really shy as a kid, so I just read … I spent every recess period devouring them. For third grade, Harry Potter was my best friend.”

Allison Callow

about founding the Harry Potter Alliance at UC Davis

– compiled by Nick Markwith

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