After spending years traversing the bike paths of campus and halls of Wellman and the Sciences Lab Building, graduating seniors have learned a thing or two about the ins and outs of campus life. Read on for proof that you have, in fact, graduated from UC Davis.

1. You have an entirely new appreciation for a bicycle.

Throughout your four years at Davis, you and your bicycle (or bicycles if you had one or two stolen) have had quite a journey. Back during your first year, you not only had to relearn how to ride a bike because you hadn’t ridden one since you were 12, but you also had to learn how to use hand signals, how to follow bike-designated traffic lights and remember to use a bike light in the dark.

When you had a question about your bike, the Bike Barn was right there on campus. Amelia Badish, a junior international relations major and the Bike Barn student manager said the weirdest questions the Bike Barn has ever had students ask about their bikes were: “How do I make my bike go faster?” and “Can you tighten my tube?” Hopefully, by the time you became a senior you figured those questions out.

Whether you are biking to class, to a friend’s apartment, to the Farmers Market or to anywhere else in Davis, your bike has transformed from something that sits in the garage and collects dust to your primary mode of transportation.

2. You have a drawer full of Aggie Pack freebies and aren’t ashamed to admit it.

Yes, Aggies have school spirit and yes, we care about whether our athletic teams win or lose (we’re looking at you, Stanford!) But might there be another reason why our various stadiums and sports fields are filled with cheering undergrads every weekend?

The ubiquitous Aggie Pack can take most of the credit for that feat, and with their ever-popular giveaways and infectious energy, it’s easy to see why. UC Davis’ official student spirit organization is synonymous with “free stuff” for many students, who come to games for a chance to snag the blue and gold beads, tube socks and official Aggie Pack shirts that Aggie Pack emcees, such as three-year veteran Adam Darbonne, throw into the crowd.

“The craziest time is when we give away free pizza. People are climbing over each other, getting on each others’ backs and doing anything they can to get that pizza,” Darbonne said, who will graduate this month with degrees in religious studies and history. “It’s been a blast. There’s nothing like yelling at 50,000 people and having them yell back.”

3. You have taken some crazy courses to fulfill your GE requirements.

From Intro to Wine Making, Intro to Brewing and Beer and Food Science and Folklore, to Human Sexuality and Tractor Driving, UC Davis offers some pretty unique classes.

Many students take these classes in order to fulfill their general education requirements for their college or often, others just take them because they are fun classes where you get to learn interesting information that you would not learn otherwise.

Erica McMilin, a sophomore Native American studies major, who is taking Intro to Wine Making this quarter, said the class is a great experience. “The material is really interesting. You get to learn all about the different kinds of wine from around the world and how wine is made. Douglas Adams, our professor, is also really cool and he makes the class fun,” McMilin said.

Tritia Tang, a senior Native American studies major also in the class, agrees that the professor makes it really fun. “He adds in tidbits throughout class like ‘Wine is healthy, in moderation.'”

4. You’ve attempted to milk – or tip or pet or take pictures with or observe the intestines of – a cow (and you grew up in the city).

With a dairy barn sandwiched between dorm buildings and a history as the former “University Farm,” it’s no wonder UC Davis has earned a reputation for being a “cow town.” But junior animal science major and head resident of UC Davis Beef Facilities Amanda Sawyer said it’s not unusual for born and bred city folks to discover a love of livestock after coming to UC Davis.

“I have seen many a city person who has no experience with livestock at all, let alone cattle, that come out [to animal science classes] because ‘the class looked fun’ or they wanted to know more about cattle,” Sawyer said in an e-mail interview. “A lot of that comes from the presence of cattle on campus and the embrace that the community has of them.”

5. You and your friends have gone on a trip through Outdoor Adventures.

Outdoor Adventures, located on campus on California Avenue next to the Bike Barn, allows students to take some fun weekend trips with their friends.

The popularity of the trips depends on the season. In the spring and summer, the most popular trips are usually water-based, such as whitewater rafting or sea kayaking. In the fall, the most popular are rock climbing and backpacking trips. And during the winter, the most popular trip is almost always snow camping.

Outdoor Adventures Assistant Director Jordy Margid said the best part of any trip is always the strong friendships formed among students.

“For sure, it’s the camaraderie that develops on the trips. Everyone is really supportive of each other and participants develop great friendships with other students who share common interests,” Margid said.

CLAIRE MALDARELLI and ERIN MIGDOL can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

The idea of finding a job after graduation can be daunting, but, by utilizing the knowledge and the various resources found at UC Davis, it doesn’t have to be.

Subhash Risbud, the director of the UC Davis Internship and Career Center (ICC), said some of the best job leads that students obtain after graduation come from career fairs held by the ICC.

“At any one time we have from 80 to 120 companies come to the campus all at once,” Risbud said. “That’s a great resource for students to find contact with employers. For a UC Davis graduate, it’s a precious resource they should definitely be using.”

Apart from attending the career fairs, Risbud recommended networking as a way to find jobs. Though the search for a job can be tough, he urges students not to give up.

“I think the way students should navigate the job market is to be frequently ‘out there,'” Risbud said. “Very often what happens is you have one interview and you kind of give up. Be persistent.”

Virginia Hamilton, who teaches a class on organizational communication, said that students should be prepared to work in entry-level jobs and internships before eventually getting to their dream job.

“Entry-level jobs are the path to the dream job,” Hamilton said. “No ‘right out of college’ student should expect their dream job. Typically, it will take a few years of simply working and learning on the job to move into the dream job.”

Hamilton said that during an interview, the best applicant explains in clear and confident terms why he or she would be perfect for the job. She recommended that applicants express how they possess the characteristics required of being good at the job they are applying for.

“Also, dress well, be polite, be natural and give consistent eye contact,” Hamilton said. “But the key is to tell stories of all the ways in which you’ve been successful in the past and how you will be able to apply those same abilities to your new job.”

Although jobs openings have been particularly hard to come by in the past few years, there is unanimous consent within the ICC that things have improved. Staff members believe that companies are now in the hiring mode and that internships are more possible than ever.

Michael Blaskower, a UC Davis alumnus who graduated in 2010, was hired for an internship with E&J Gallo Wineries after speaking with representatives at one of ICC’s career fairs.

“After my first internship, I was asked to come back to intern again with the chance of a job at the end. The key was working my butt off to the point where I became indispensable to the company,” Blaskower said.

Risbud says that students majoring in the physical sciences, engineering and business seem to be finding jobs the easiest, but that anyone can make a good impression at an interview by presenting their own unique strengths to their future employers.

“People don’t like to hear pre-rehearsed speeches during interviews,” Risbud said. “They like to hear what it is that you will uniquely do, and what you will bring to the company.”

In the search for jobs after graduation, Hamilton believes in remaining optimistic.

“Learn from interviews and believe that all things will eventually work out,” Hamilton said. “Be patient – eventually all good people get discovered.”

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

This summer, instead of diving straight into a daunting internship and job market, a group of UC Davis students are trying their hands at a different skill-fighting forest fires. For the past few months, UC Davis students have been training to become forest firefighters through an organization called Davis Fire Crew.

Davis Fire Crew (DFC) is a seasonal firefighting crew based in Davis, California. The organization is an Organized Crew -an on-call crew funded through the Mendocino National Forest and the United States National Forest Service. Each season, DFC fights wildfires across the western United States from mid-June until early November. Since its establishment in 1976, DFC crews have fought fires as close as Lake Tahoe and as far away as Montana and New Mexico.

Each spring, DFC hires over 100 men and women ages 18 and over from around the Davis area for their summer season.

David Kwan, a senior communication major who will be graduating this June, said the idea of spending the summer outside and using practical skills for the greater good convinced him to join DFC.

“I loved the idea of combining the outdoors with using practical, hands-on skills to fight fires. I also thought it would be a great way to find out what being a forest firefighter is all about,” Kwan said.

This is Kwan’s first time with DFC and although he has some opportunities lined up for this fall, he is looking forward to this summer as it is a unique opportunity to make some money while doing something really fun.

“The trips can last from one day to three weeks and you go to really cool places. They also pay you for the transportation. It is a good source of income and definitely a great summer job for a college student,” Kwan said.

This summer will be Alexis Fuller’s third summer with DFC. The junior plant biology major said the best part about being with DFC is getting close to the people on her crew.

“It’s a mix of very different people, from all over, not just from UC Davis. And all with different kinds of backgrounds,” Fuller said.

The organization holds informational meetings on the Davis campus in early spring to recruit students. After recruitment, training begins and lasts from March until May. During training, candidates must pass a series of physical tests including the “pack test”-a rigorous fitness test in which recruits must carry a 45-pound backpack for three miles in less than 45 minutes-to continue with the training.

Those who pass the test then begin the training process which according to DFC’s official website involves fire suppression techniques, fire safety and behavior, and proper tool usage. The training is a combination of classroom work and field experience.

“[During training] we got to go outside and learn how to use a lot of the fire equipment like fire shelters and hand tools. Sometimes you are out there from 8 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m., which is really cool,” Kwan said.

The basis of training is to learn how to suppress a fire without using water. DFC trains its crew to use shovels and axes to dig big lines in the ground.

“The whole idea behind a line is to build a trench and thus prevent the fire from crossing that trench,” Kwan said.

One of Fuller’s most memorable experiences in DFC was on her first dispatch where her crew’s assignment was to completely put out a half-acre fire and to make sure it did not come back. Often, a fire can start even after it has been put out; her boss made sure that fire didn’t.

“Once we put out every hot spot we saw, our crew boss made us line up across the fire, get down on our hands and knees and run our hands through every inch of dirt across the whole fire. It was awful, hard work but we had so much fun since we all looked so silly doing it,” Fuller said.

Although it may be hard work, Kwan says being a part of DFC is a unique experience that will make for a great summer job.

“It’s a great opportunity to make some money while doing something I really enjoy and forming lasting friendships. It’s a changing experience and probably something I will never get the chance to do again,” Kwan said.

Davis Fire Crew’s website sums up the summer experience of being a DFC forest firefighter: “We experience some of the most beautiful country imaginable all while earning a very respectable hourly wage for the demanding and dangerous work performed in the interests of protecting people, property and natural resources.”

Although hiring for the 2011 summer staff is over, more information about DFC including how and when to apply for Summer 2012 can be found on their website davisfirecrew.org.

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

They’re ordinary UC Davis students who thought it would be fun to speak in front of a few thousand people. They’re aiming to defy clichés, make you laugh and leave UC Davis with a positive memory. UC Davis undergraduate commencement speakers will be delivering short speeches at each of the undergraduate commencement ceremonies.

Courtney Chadwell, a senior human development major who will speak at the College of Agriculture commencement, said that she aims to talk about universal Aggie experiences.

“I talk about biking in roundabouts, riding a Unitrans bus and I go through all the things that make up what the Aggie is,” she said. “[The Aggie] is a made-up mascot and no one really knows what it is so I want to talk about what it means to be an Aggie.”

Others feel that their time for the speech can be difficult to explain their college experience.

“I have three to five minutes to summarize an entire college experience,” said Ngabo Nzigira, a senior nutrition science major and the second undergraduate speaker for the College of Agriculture commencement.

Nzigira said that he will be focusing on important aspects of the college experience.

“I’ll be talking about three things that are essential and universal and global college experiences,” he said.

Shawdee Rouhafza, a senior communications, international relations and French triple major and one of the College of Letters and Science commencement speakers, said that her speech covers topics that are familiar to all students.

“I was just going through a bundle of random memories that everyone could relate to, random things that everyone sees,” she said. “Things like standing in line at Dutton for two hours and realizing once you get to the front that you were supposed to be at Mrak – stuff that everyone has experienced and lessons learned.”

Don’t worry though, these speeches won’t be too cheesy and cliché, the speakers said.

“I want it to be fun and not serious, not sad and sappy, and about our futures because our graduation is a time to celebrate what we’ve accomplished,” Chadwell said.

Nzigira said that his speech is lighthearted but serious.

“I talk about the future and being positive and going forth and creating a new generation,” he said.

Speaking in front of so many people won’t be anxiety inducing, Rouhafza said. She has public speaking experience in speech and debate and drama in high school and as an ASUCD senator.

Chadwell agreed with Rouhafza. She spoke at her high school graduation, so she is not nervous this time around.

“I’m really excited- my adrenaline is going to be so high it won’t bother me at all,” she said.

Others, though, are starting to feel the pressure.

“If you keep thinking about it, it’s going to make you nervous,” Nzigira said. “I’m just going to do it and act normally like I’m having a conversation – just on a bigger scale.”

Nzigira said he hadn’t even considered speaking in front of so many people at graduation until a friend suggested it.

“The student speaker has a very unique position and it’s a great opportunity – I thought I could do an ok job summing it up so I tried out,” he said.

Not only do they have different reasons for speaking, these graduation speakers will also draw from their very different UC Davis experiences.

Nzigira has been involved with the Minority Association of Pre-medical Students, has done undergraduate research, interned at a local high school and volunteered at Clinica Tepati.

Chadwell said that the undergraduate experiences she draws on include her experiences as a peer counselor at The House, being part of Alpha Delta Ki and working for TAPS.

Rouhafza was an orientation leader, a member of the ICA tennis team for four years, an ASUCD senator and participated in the UCDC program while interning for Diane Feinstein.

The speakers plan to depart Davis after graduation for various locations around the globe. Rouhafza will be studying abroad in Paris then perhaps going to law school.

Nzigira plans on going to Rwanda after graduation, where he has family, then Oaxaca, Mexico where he hopes to be work for the Peace Corps in a health related field before possibly going to medical school.

Chadwell plans on going to Sacramento State University for graduate school.

“I’m going to miss Davis and I’m sad to be leaving – I want to be an Aggie forever,” she said. “I’m nervous but excited. It’s scary but everyone is excited to graduate.”

KELLY KRAG-ARNOLD can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

It’s been a little while since I have done this whole column-writing thing. So bear with me while I take a couple sentences to knock the rust off.

Some of you may remember me from last year. I was the sports editor and columnist – you know, the guy who delivered hard-hitting opinions about UC Davis athletics and never once mentioned the San Francisco Giants (until now, that is).

Well now I am a senior and I will be graduating in a little over a week. As such, this is most likely the last column I will ever write for The California Aggie (assuming I pass ANT 103).

It’s been a good four years here at UC Davis. I have biked to and from school virtually every day, eaten god knows how many meals in the dining commons and played too many intramural games to even count (yet, still without an IM champion t-shirt). I have even had the same roommate through all four years.

But before I graduate, leave UC Davis and head out into the real world, I would like to bestow upon you all my final words of wisdom. Considering my background in sports writing, it would only be appropriate that the theme of my last column is sports-related.

Thus, I will liken the culmination of my undergraduate experience – and all of yours for that matter – to the end of an era, a dynasty really.

Because that’s all that college really is anyways. It’s one chapter, one era in the long story of your life. But just like many sports dynasties such as the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys or UCLA Bruins men’s basketball came to an end at some point, so too does the college experience.

For me (and likely most of you), college was four years of pure domination, akin to what the Chicago Bulls put together in the ’90s. Aside from writing for The Aggie for four years – two of which as an editor – I had the opportunity to work internships, play a club sport, perform stand-up comedy, study abroad, research with a professor and lunch with prominent UC Davis figures like the chancellor. My time associated with UC Davis will culminate in one final quarter in Washington, D.C. this summer.

And with that, the dynasty will end. No more intramural sports, no more people watching out on the quad and no more Picnic Days (well, at least not as a student).

But unlike sports, the end of your college experience doesn’t have to be all bad. In sports, when a team’s reign ends, it fires its coach, releases its players and drifts to the bottom of the league for a couple years. However, for those of you planning to walk the walk in nine days, this will not be the case.

Even though this may be the end of an era, it is only the end of an era. It is up to you to start the next great dynasty in your life. Your domination over college and everything it had to offer will translate into whatever you choose to do next.

Whether you plan to travel the world, go to graduate, law or medical school or even get a job, your time at UC Davis will allow you to start the next great dynasty.

So whether you are distraught at the thought of graduating or extremely happy to be done with exams and papers, just know this – good or bad, your time at UC Davis will be etched in the story of your life forever. You may not be able to have it back, but you will know that the dynasty you have created over the past four (or maybe five) years will carry over as you start the next great dynasty.

MAX ROSENBLUM can’t be reached at any e-mail. Send your comments/complaints/praises to his replacement, Becky Peterson, at managing@theaggie.org. She might pass them on.

Just two years ago, I was just a scared, nervous first-year scouring Freeborn Hall trying to find the entrance to Lower Freeborn. I wanted to keep writing sports for a newspaper, and The California Aggie was the perfect opportunity to do so.

Today, that same timid, shy kid is the incoming editor in chief of The Aggie.

If former Editor in Chief Adam Loberstein – the first person I met when I came down to pick up an application – had said I would have his position in two years, I would have called him crazy. Becoming the boss of The Aggie was not on my college to-do list the fall of 2009. But it is on my to-do list now.

My tenure at The Aggie, and journalism in general, has mainly been focused around sports. I was a sports editor in high school, freelance sports writer over the summer and sports editor here at The Aggie. Not going to lie, it will take some time for me transition from sports to non-sports.

I will miss my weekly column where I can talk about all things UC Davis sports (but really the San Francisco Giants). I will miss talking to coaches on a regular basis and picking their brain on their sport.

Nonetheless, I’m excited, yet a little overwhelmed, about taking the reins from my predecessor, Mark Ling. It will be the most pressing and stressful job I’ve ever taken, but I’m very much up to the challenge. In the next 12 months, I will have to make decisions on a scale and scope I’ve never had to before.

With that in mind, every choice I will make over the next year will be in The Aggie’s best interest. I might have to make decisions that I personally don’t agree with. That being said, not everyone will be happy with the choices I will make as editor in chief. This is something that might take me a while to get accustomed to.

Nonetheless, this will be such a rewarding experience, and for that I’m excited. For the same reasons I’m nervous. I’m eager. I want to make those pressing decisions, and I want to oversee a $200,000 budget.

By no means am I taking this job for me, though. People recommended me for this job because they thought I would have The Aggie’s best interest at heart. I want to protect The California Aggie brand on the UC Davis campus. Doing this will be a helluva lot more difficult than it was just a few years ago. The entire Aggie staff – from the sales clerks to editors to writers to layout artists – will have to be creative, and I have no doubt that the 2011-12 staff can do so.

I want to see The Aggie thrive, and I think it’s safe to say a majority of this campus wants the same. I want every student to pick up a copy of that day’s issue before walking into class.

JASON ALPERT feels the need to recognize three people – his mom, dad and sister. These three have pushed him to be the best he can be. Without their support and words of wisdom, he would not be where he is, and for that, he can’t thank them enough. Send him an e-mail at editor@theaggie.org if you want to discuss The Aggie.

College is much more than just four years of classes, midterms and essays. I have spent the better part of my senior year reflecting on my college career and that is the only certainty I have come up with so far. Let me explain.

For most, the goal of college is to receive a degree in a field of study in the hopes of landing a job. That’s all fine and dandy, but I have always felt that college should prepare you for life, not just for a career. And life will not always be inside a classroom (well, unless you’re a teacher), so why should education start and end there?

So in hopes of better preparing you for life after college, I have one pearl of wisdom I wish to pass on to you – your experiences outside of the classroom are as important to your education as your time in the lecture halls.

Join an organization on campus. Rush a fraternity or a sorority. Write for your college newspaper. Do something besides studying and writing essays because life is more than just As, Bs and Cs. Those experiences you will have will teach you valuable life skills that you never thought you might acquire.

For example, I joined my fraternity, Sigma Nu, in my sophomore year. I can say with utter confidence that it was one of the best decisions of my life. No, it was not all about drinking and partying. We also did work. I held multiple leadership positions and I learned how to run meetings, make decisions, delegate – skills I will need in the corporate world.

I can honestly say I learned more applicable knowledge to the business world in my fraternity in two years than my four years at UC Davis. And not only that, I gained numerous lifelong friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. This experience can be the same for you – you just need to make that leap of faith.

Now, I’m not saying ditch all of your classes for these outside experiences. As a student, you have the responsibility to attend class, especially if you plan on having a career in your major. But life is all about balance, and balancing work with play is definitely something everyone needs in his or her life.

With so much freedom and little responsibility, take charge of your college experience. College is one of the most unique times of your life. It’s the time to figure out what you like, who you are and all that jazz. Take advantage of it because real life won’t give you the time.

It took me four years to figure all of this out. If there’s one thing I regret as graduation looms in the distance, it’s not taking advantage of all the potential opportunities I had. So, please, I implore you: make the most of your college experience.

As this will be my last piece in The Aggie, I wanted to take the time to thank the people who have been there in my life: my parents who have supported me in all of my endeavors, my best friend Chris who can’t even fathom the tremendous impact he has made on my life, my beautiful girlfriend Kimi, my fraternity brothers and all of my friends. Without you all, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

NICK MARKWITH tried to avoid getting all sentimental at the end, but couldn’t help it. If you feel the same way about your loved ones, let him know at features@theaggie.org.

I’m writing this column from high above Nebraska. I’m on a plane to Champaign, Illinois – the city where I plan to work and live after graduation.

Every time I fly, I remind myself that 100 years ago, a four-hour trip from California to Illinois would have been a miracle. The same can be said for my laptop. Technology has come a long way.

In two years of writing a column about science, I’ve run across a lot of discoveries that sound too weird to be true. There was the doctor who figured out how to grow human cartilage in a Petri dish. There were the scientists who put a basin of liquid xenon in a mine shaft in order to study invisible dark matter. One of my favorite sources was the UC Davis undergraduate student who uncovered an ancient oil lamp at an archeological dig in true Indiana Jones style.

So many little miracles.

I’m not a religious person. In a column last year, I referred to myself as an atheist. But I’ve changed my mind. The world is too complex for me to decide on one way of thinking.

While my rational brain (what a neurologist would call my prefrontal cortex) knows that life was created by a series of chemical reactions and spurred along by natural selection, the rest of my neurons shout “WHY?”

Why should some wasps lay their eggs inside living caterpillars? Why should earwig mothers have fungicidal saliva? Why are rabbits and guinea pigs the only mammals that don’t get motion sickness?

Nature writer Annie Dillard once wrote, “The creator has pizzazz.”

I don’t know if there’s a creator, but covering science has shown that I’ll never know everything.

When the plane took off this morning, our seats shuddered with every bump on the runway.

The kid sitting in the row behind me turned to his dad.

“This is freaking me out,” the boy said, laughing.

This kid didn’t know about the physics responsible for holding up the plane. He didn’t know how the engines worked or that the wing designs had been put through many wind tunnel tests.

Still, he thought flying was awesome.

The world is overwhelming.

It’s been through my study of science for the last four years that I’ve realized how much I don’t know. Now I just have to decide if that’s freaky or awesome.

MADELINE McCURRY-SCHMIDT wonders if there is something wrong with her in-flight television. Are the “Simpsons” supposed to look neon green? Madeline can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

Brown, Whitman battle for votes in first gubernatorial debate

Sept. 29, 2010

The governor’s race got local as UC Davis hosted the first of three debates between Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman. Whitman focused on business, reforming the system; Brown emphasized experience, derided opponent’s billionaire status.

Donations to be made public under new bill

Sept. 27, 2010

University of California objected to the transparency of funds. Former Gov. Schwarzenegger had until Sept. 30 to veto an amended senate bill that calls for increased transparency of University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges subsidiary, as well as auxiliary organizations.

New initiative aimed at battling hate

Oct. 21, 2010

With the string of hate crimes in the 2009-10 academic year, the

UC Davis administration implemented a Campus Action Plan to address reoccurring incidents of hate and bias. The plan includes a Rapid Response Team, to serve as the campus’ first response to future incidences, and the Hate-Free Campus Initiative, which includes activities and educational programs that seek to build an inclusive campus community.

Aggies, Mother Nature rain on Hornets’ parade

Nov. 22, 2010

It was the 57th installment of the Causeway Classic football game between UC Davis and Sacramento State and one of the most memorable. Aside from the rivalry implications, if the Aggies win, they secure their 39th winning season in 40 years. The game was halted at halftime for nearly an hour as a heavy thunderstorm passed by Aggie Stadium. When the game resumed in front of barely 150 fans, UC Davis kicker Sean Kelly drilled a 21-yard field goal in less than ideal conditions to give the Aggies the win and bragging rights over their rival for one more year.

Tuition to increase by 8 percent

Nov. 22, 2010

At its November meeting, the UC Board of Regents approved an 8

percent tuition hike beginning Fall 2011. Systemwide student fees will start at $11,124 – an $822 increase. In addition, the regents voted to raise the ceiling of full tuition coverage from families making $70,000 to families earning $80,000. Families making up to $120,000 will receive grants to offset the fee increase.

FDA bans Four Loko

Nov. 23, 2010

After nearly a year of examining the combination of alcohol and caffeine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an official ban on caffeinated alcoholic beverages, bringing to an end the debate over Four Loko, the product at the center of discussion.

Regents approve retiree plan

Jan. 3, 2011

The UC Board of Regents voted to gradually reduce the amount the university pays for retiree health care from 89 percent to 70 percent by 2018. This means employees will be paying higher premiums for their post-retirement health plans, and new employees hired after

July 1, 2013, will have to work until age 65 in order to retire with the same level of benefits that current employees receive at age

60. Lower-paid employees, such as groundskeepers and custodial workers, said their work is too physically taxing to continue until age

65.

Ciocolat found in violation of health code

Jan. 4, 2011

Ciocolat, a cafe in downtown Davis, received major violations during a routine health inspection on Nov. 9. The restaurant at 301 B St. failed to comply with the Yolo County code for retail food vendors because of sanitation issues.

City supports stricter punishments on Picnic Day

Jan. 10, 2011

City of Davis discussed higher fines in downtown Davis for Picnic Day violations, including public drunkenness, carrying an open container and urinating in public. A desire for more family friendliness and the events of Picnic Day 2010 were cited as reasons to change.

New unit offers unique solution to struggling students

Jan. 11, 2011

ASUCD opened a food bank designed to help struggling students ensure that they have access to at least one meal on campus. The

Pantry is open to all who present a UC Davis AggieCard and provides those students with up to three points worth of food each weekday. For example, a bag of rice is three points and a granola bar is one point. The Pantry is primarily supported by monetary and food donations.

Brown’s budget plan cuts $500 million from UC

Jan. 12, 2011

California Gov. Jerry Brown proposed a budget that cuts roughly $1.4 billion from higher education, as part of a financial solution he warned would be “painful” and “honest.” UC officials warned that further budget cuts are contingent on voters.

UC Davis student arrested for terrorist threats

Jan. 24, 2011

Nicholas Benson, a senior communication major, was arrested on a Friday evening after police received reports that he was armed and had threatened to kill others.

No new leases for Domes residents

Jan. 26, 2011

Student Housing estimated that two to three of the 14 structures at The Domes need to undergo renovations in order to meet the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Thus, they did not give out new leases to Domes residents to allow for renovations. Domes residents will need to vacate their homes by August 1 unless they can convince the administration to pursue an alternative plan.

UC to evacuate students from Egypt amid political unrest

Feb. 1, 2011

Egyptian students in Davis struggled to stay in contact with families in Cairo due to political turmoil in the region; The University of California suspended its study abroad program in the area and evacuated students from Cairo.

ASUCD winter election results

Feb. 22, 2011

BOLD candidates Adam Thongsavat and Bree Rombi won the

ASUCD president and vice president seats, respectively. Out of six senate seats, four of the winners were also BOLD candidates –

Yena Bae, Brendan Repicky, Amy Martin and Mayra Martín. Bae set an ASUCD record by securing 849 first place votes, surpassing Lula

Ahmed-Falol’s Fall 2007 record of 746 votes. Miguel Espinoza and Eli

Yani snagged the last two senate seats.

Students robbed at gunpoint near frat

Feb. 22, 2011

Two UC Davis students were robbed at gunpoint outside Nu Alpha Kappa, a Latino-based fraternity, after a party. The suspects then stole a car, crashed it into the wall of a daycare center and threw a gun into a playground.

Let’s dance!

March 14, 2011

The UC Davis women’s basketball team clinched UC Davis’ first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big West Conference Tournament. The Aggies topped Cal Poly in the championship game to clinch the place in the national tournament. This season was also coach Sandy Simpson’s last at the helm of the Aggies.

Japan quake keeps students in California

March 28, 2011

The Education Abroad Center cancelled the spring Japanese Language and Culture program in response to the earthquake in Japan on March 11. Twenty-seven students were enrolled in the cancelled program.

Gary Stewart out as men’s basketball coach

March 31, 2011

Men’s basketball coach Gary Stewart just never found his groove leading the Aggies. After finishing last in the Big West Conference in Stewart’s eighth-straight losing season, Athletic Director Greg Warzecka and Stewart mutually agreed it was time to move on. Stewart was replaced by former National Basketball Association player Jim Les.

Administrators formalize team to monitor activism

April 5, 2011

Through a Public Records Act request, students discovered the existence of The Student Activism Team – a group of Student Affairs administrators and staff charged with monitoring campus protests.

Members of the team view the team as a way of ensuring student safety and promoting free speech. But as the team was not publicly known, dating back to its formation in August 2010, students deemed it a breach of trust and an infringement of first amendment rights.

Community concerned about crimes at Islamic Center

April 26, 2011

In a letter to The Davis Enterprise, the Oeste Manor Neighborhood Association sought to raise awareness about a series of crimes against the Davis Islamic Center. The mosque was allegedly vandalized several times, as recently as January.

Athletics Director Greg Warzecka to retire

May 11, 2011

Greg Warzecka announced his retirement from the position of athletic director in May after a 16-year tenure. While at the helm, Warzecka oversaw the transition from Division II to Division I and the building of Aggie Stadium. The athletic department will conduct a nationwide search for his replacement.

Crimes cause end of Whole Earth Festival DJ stage

May 16, 2011

UC Davis officials determined that the DJ stage will not return for the Whole Earth Festival next year due to three aggressive crimes under investigation, including sexual battery and rape. The rape of a 16-year-old girl reportedly occurred during the festival in a men’s bathroom in Wellman Hall, located just west of the DJ stage. Student programmers said they would reevaluate the schedule for next year’s festival.

– compiled by Jason Alpert, Janelle Bitker and Becky Peterson

Just when you think the noisy construction project on your walk past the ASUCD Coffee House is finished, UC Davis starts up another on your way to Chemistry 194. Here’s what’s in store for the future at UCD, or as Davis Wiki calls it, Under Construction Daily.

UC Davis’ current and upcoming construction projects include a new

Student Community Center and Segundo Services Center, renovations to the Silo Union and Memorial Union/Bookstore, a new Veterinary Medicine Research Facility and the West Village Community.

Student Community Center (SCC)

Cost: $30 million

Open: Spring 2012

Funded by student fees and the university education fund, the SCC will be located across from Chemistry 194 and Haring Hall. The center will facilitate many student services such as the Cross Cultural Center, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center and the Undergraduate Research Center. It will also include study lounges, computer labs and a community kitchen.

“The SCC will be a place where students discover who they are as individuals, as groups and as a community,” states the UC Davis Student Affairs web site.

Segundo Services Center (SSC) and Segundo Life Safety improvements

Cost: $30 million

Open: Fall 2011

Student housing revenues are paying for the new SSC and for Segundo Life Safety improvements to Malcolm, Ryerson, Bixby and Gilmore halls. The SSC will offer similar services to the Tercero Services Center, with computer and recreation centers, laundry area, service desk and convenience store. The improvements will make the Segundo buildings fire- and earthquake-safe and will add amenity upgrades.

Tercero Phase III

Cost: $80 million

Construction begins: Fall 2012

Open: Fall 2014

Built in 1967, Thille and Pierce Hall, also known as the “lettered” dormitory buildings, will be demolished and replaced with a new residence hall complex that will house 1,200 students.

Silo Union renovation

Cost: $3.5 million

Construction begins: Summer or Fall 2011

Renovations to the Silo, funded by investments from private food services providers and from future revenue, will expand food service operations and increase opportunities for campus community development.

Memorial Union/Bookstore expansion

Cost: $26 million

Construction begins: Fall 2011

Originally built in 1955, the Memorial Union/Bookstore expansion aims to expand the Bookstore’s operations and provide more space for student services for the increased student population. The project will be funded by Memorial Union auxiliary reserves and future revenue.

Veterinary Medicine Research Facility 3B

Cost: $58.5 million

Open: December 2012

The Vet Med 3B will bring students, researchers and clinical faculty into one building. The facility will include laboratories for specialists from food-safety monitoring to environmental pollution to animal and public health issues.

“The location and design of Veterinary Medicine Research Facility 3B

will enhance student education and promote research collaboration and discovery,” said Dr. Bennie Osburn, dean of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, in a prepared statement.

UC Davis West Village Community

Open: Fall 2011

UC Davis West Village, the 200-acre project located on campus between Hutchison Drive and Russell Boulevard, is a public-private partnership between UC Davis and West Village Community Partnership, LLC.

West Village is a community consisting of 663 apartments, 343 single-family homes, recreation center, commercial retail space and the Sacramento City College Davis Center.

By combining extensive use of solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, radiant barrier roof sheathing and added insulation to exterior walls, the community will be the largest zero net energy development in the United States.

“Using aggressive energy efficiency measures and on-site renewable energy generation to meet community energy demand, this holistic approach offers new solutions in the design and construction of large-scale sustainable communities,” said Nolan Zail, senior vice president for Carmel Partners.

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