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UC Davis student becomes representative for nationwide landscape architecture organization

Features

Features Editor

November 24, 2010

It’s hard to figure out when Barbara Nazarewicz, senior landscape architecture major, has time to sleep. Between her multiple landscaping projects and leadership positions it seems that Nazarewicz is always on the go.

Now with her recent appointment as the student representative to the board of trustees of the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA), it seems that Nazarewicz has even more on her plate. And she is enjoying it.

“I just wish everybody could become landscape architects,” Nazarewicz said.

As a student representative for ASLA, Nazarewicz will be a liaison between a board of trustees and landscape architecture students across the nation. This is the first time that the UC Davis landscape architecture department has had a student representative on the board.

Elizabeth Boltz, a landscape architecture lecturer, has known Barbara for about three years and admires her work ethic and her ability to do it all.

“She has a wonderful spirit that is contagious and she is such an inspiration to her classmates,” Boltz said.

Born and raised in Poland, Nazarewicz came to the United States by herself in 2004 when she decided that she wanted to explore the country and learn the culture. Once in the U.S., Nazarewicz said that she had to learn how to rely on herself in a new country where English was not her first language. Things taken for granted such as doing laundry, paying bills and communicating to PG&E to get the power and Internet were a challenge, she said.

“I tend to joke that I’m the black sheep in my family. I like to travel and [moving to the U.S.] was an adventure for me,” Nazarewicz said.

After attending Foothill College in Los Altos, she transferred to UC Davis where she began to rise in leadership positions within the landscape architecture department.

As the ASLA student chapter president for UC Davis, Nazarewicz organized the cornerstone project in which she was in charge of overseeing student designers and their design projects.

Senior landscape architecture major Elizabeth Bokulich has known Nazarewicz for three years and finds that when working with her, things are finished more efficiently.

“You get things done. She is very organized and great at setting deadlines,” Bokulich said in an e-mail interview.

Boltz remembers one time in which Nazarewicz and a group of students were up all night in the design studio and ended up proudly displaying a four feet long Taco Bell receipt along with their project.

“It wasn’t like they resented staying up all night. Barbara really gets other people to embrace her work ethic,” Boltz said.

But it is not just her work within school that distinguishes Nazarewicz but her dedication to work outside of UC Davis. As a landscape maintenance manager for Silver Creek Country Lodge, she manages her own crew of workers and drives the big machinery including tractors and Bobcats. Because the country club is located in San Jose, Nazarewicz splits half of her week in Davis and the rest in the Bay Area.

“At first the guys were like, ‘Who is this little girl?’ But I eventually won them over. I let them think they were in charge,” Nazarewicz said.

But becoming a maintenance manager is just one of the accomplishments following a whole string of work experience tied with landscape architecture. From fixing sprinklers in Menlo Park to working with Apple and Hewlett Packard on an ET-based irrigation system that calculates the exact water needed for an area, Nazarewicz has delved deep into the many aspects of landscape architecture.

Patsy Owens, landscape architecture chair in the department of environmental design, has known Barbara for two years admires her professional, goal-orientated attitude.

“She does take on a lot but she is not intimidated and she really does not see any barriers for herself,” Owens said.

Asked why she was so passionate about the field of landscape architecture, Nazarewicz pointed out that from a practical standpoint this major graduates as a professional with a skill. But more than that she said what draws her in is working with the landscape itself.

“I like how the landscape changes over time; it’s never the same. I very much like the dynamics, how it is somewhat unpredictable,” she said.

Next year, Nazarewicz plans to finish her senior project, which will analyze the economic costs and sustainability benefits of golf courses and then further pursue her career as a landscape architect.

“It’s one of the happiest professions. It really brings back memories of childhood when you’re playing with materials and creating. It gives so much joy,” she said.

JESSY WEI can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

Drunkorexia wreaking havoc among college-aged students

City News

City Editor

November 24, 2010

A dangerous trend that
mixes alcohol abuse and eating disorder behaviors is becoming more popular
among college students. Coined as “drunkorexia,” those who practice it
sacrifice calories for a better buzz.

Although drunkorexia
is not an official medical disorder, it combines behaviors from anorexia and
alcoholism, two serious conditions that, separately, affect an increasing
number of college students.

A recent study by
the University of Texas School of Public Health and the University of North
Texas Health Science Center suggests that binge drinking has become more
popular among college students over the last 10 years.

Aside from binge
drinking, daily abuse of alcohol has also greatly increased in the last decade.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2008,
8.2 percent of men ages 18 to 24 reported that they were heavy drinkers,
consuming more than two drinks per day. That rate was only 6.1 percent in 1998.

For men, the primary
purpose of drunkorexia is to get drunk faster and with fewer drinks.

“Students like to
feel the buzz, and if they don’t eat, they will feel it faster,” said Stephanie
Lake from the Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs (ATOD) intervention services. “They
like that they don’t have to drink as much.”

For women of the
same age group, 3.9 percent reported that they drank more than one drink per
day in 1998. A decade later, that number more than doubled to 8.1 percent.

Concern about weight
gain is one of the driving forces behind drunkorexia in young women. In
addition to limiting food intake, drunkorexic behavior includes purging before
or after a bout of heavy drinking to get rid of the calories ingested.

“I’ve always watched
my weight and skipped meals to account for the high calorie count of alcohol,”
said Savannah, a 22-year-old graduate student at the University of Texas who
did not want to disclose her last name, in an interview with ABCNews.com. “It
was just something I always did while in college as a normal part of my diet so
that I could stay skinny but still go out and drink.”

Although not
considered an official eating disorder, drunkorexia is compared to the clinical
disorder anorexia nervosa. This disorder is prevalent among young women,
particularly in the college age group.

The National Eating
Disorder Association reports that as many as 10 million women in the United
States suffer from anorexia while “millions more are struggling with binge
eating disorder.” Those who suffer from this disorder are 12 times more likely
to die from its complications than from all other causes of death.

On college campuses,
91 percent of women surveyed have or are currently using methods to control
their weight. Drunkorexia is quickly becoming a popular way to do this.

“What [students]
don’t realize is how dangerous this [behavior] is to them getting alcohol
poisoning,” Lake said. “They also don’t realize that just due to their height
and weight, women get drunker faster.”

Short term effects
of practicing drunkorexia are more gray outs, in which one is not able to
remember events until they are reminded by another person, or black outs, which
is not being able to remember anything at all. There are also long term effects
to this behavior, such as esophageal conditions and even alcohol addiction,
Lake said.

“To stop this
behavior, eat a good meal with protein, set a limit and then keep track of your
drinks,” Lake said. Drinks should be spaced out at roughly two drinks per hour.

Those who are
suffering with drunkorexia can get help with Stephanie Lake at the second floor
of Student Health Services. This service is free and confidential for all
students.

SARAHNI PECSON can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Rock wall all the rage among students

Campus News

Campus Editor

November 24, 2010

In the past two years the rock wall inside the Activities and Recreation Center has seen a dramatic increase in use, employees said.

The ARC climbing wall opened in 2005 and is run by Campus Recreation, working closely with Outdoor Adventures. Only recently however, has the wall been so popular.

Ian Walters, student rock wall manager said that usage of the wall has definitely doubled, if not tripled in the past two years.

“It’s definitely not an accident,” he said. “It’s a direct result of the people we hire creating a more friendly and inviting attitude.”

Walters said the rock climbing community is unique in that everyone is always helpful and no one is judgmental.

“We’re hiring people who care about the community we are trying to create,” he said. “They love teaching people how to climb and building relationships around the rock wall. The level of care our staff has right now is the highest it’s ever been.”

While meeting friends at the rock wall may be one reason to go, it’s also a work out. In a 2007 study done by the University of Washington on college-aged adults, tests showed that indoor rock climbing meets the American College of Sports Medicine’s guidelines for energy expenditure, heart rate reserve and oxygen consumption reserve. The report concluded that physicians, strength and conditioning trainers and physical education teachers should suggest rock climbing as an alternative form of exercise for those who find traditional methods unexciting.

“It works muscles you didn’t know you had,” Walters said.

Not only is the ARC rock wall inviting, Walters said, but it’s addicting.

“Climbing is natural. It’s something that doesn’t require weights or a ball or a weird stick,” he said. “In a way it’s sort of like running, you can do it anywhere. It’s a natural expression of what you want to do, really without any rules.”

Jessie Adams, a junior international relations major, tried out the ARC rock wall for the first time this year.

“It was a blast,” she said. “I went with a friend who had gone before, but even after going just once, I definitely felt comfortable going by myself the next time.”

Walters explained that Jessie’s experience isn’t uncommon.

“A lot of people come once and get hooked,” he said. “We’ve always had our try before you buy deal, but now with our new staff, we’re really seeing people come back after their first time testing out the course. The staff is our best publicity.”

For those interested, a beginning rock climbing course will be offered this winter on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 to 8:50 a.m.

“It’s the most arbitrary thing ever and that’s really cool,” Walters said. “It can be as easy or as difficult as you want to be. There’s a lot of thought that goes into it that isn’t in other sports. That newness is something that can really draw you.”

Climbing the wall for one day costs $5, with a quarterly pass at $30 and an annual pass at $75. Zero experience is needed, Walters said.

The rock wall in the ARC is open Monday through Friday from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

ANDY VERDEROSA can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

UC Davis opens up student food bank

Campus News

Campus Editor

November 24, 2010

UC Davis is no stranger to harsh economic times. With an ailing economy and rising tuition, there is an increasing number of struggling students. A new ASUCD unit aims to help.

The goal of The Pantry is to provide food and basic necessities to struggling UC Davis undergraduates. The Pantry allows students to take up to three items a day by showing up and presenting their UC Davis student identification card.

“We have a very strict no questions asked policy right now,” said Justin Gold, student assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and senior philosophy and political science major. “It should be fairly obvious if students are trying to abuse the system.”

Gold said that many students are struggling and will probably use The Pantry frequently. He noted a report that came out on Nov. 17, which stated that 50 percent of UC Davis students skip meals due to financial reasons.

The Pantry is going to be staffed by a director, assistant director, donations manager and two unpaid interns. All of The Pantry staff will undergo sensitivity training in order to make all students feel comfortable.

The unit will also implement an “adopt a week program” where campus organizations can volunteer at The Pantry for a week. All student volunteers will also undergo sensitivity training.

The Pantry is a collaborative effort on campus between the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and ASUCD. Gold worked alongside Romana Norton, a psychologist from CAPS, Hannah Krishner, member of the External Affairs Commission and junior political science major and Bree Rombi, former ASUCD senator and junior Spanish and communication double major, to develop this unit.

On Nov. 4, the ASUCD Senate unanimously passed a bill to allocate $2,484 from Senate Reserves to fund the project and established it as an official ASUCD unit. ASUCD President Jack Zwald signed the bill the following Friday.

“The Pantry is an excellent idea,” Zwald said. “It’s low cost with high possible benefits to students … I believe the unit is going to perform well.”

So far The Pantry has received a donation of $500 from U.S. Bank, $200 from the Student Assistants to the Vice Chancellor and collected 131 pounds of food from the Cal Aggie food drive last weekend. Gold, Kirshner and Rombi are also working on getting donations from local grocery stores and campus organizations.

Larry Martinez, administrative assistant to the Woodland Costco’s general manager, and Cathy Uhlik, the North Davis Safeway store manager, said that donating would depend on their budget and other donation commitments. Emily McCarthy from Nugget Market said they would most likely not be making any more donations in the near future due to a large commitment to the Food Bank of Yolo County.

The Pantry will be open on Jan. 4 in the basement of Freeborn Hall from noon to 2 p.m., replacing the former barbershop.

“I would encourage students to come because it’s there for students who need meals. We understand that with the current economy and tuition hikes a lot of students are going through that,” Kirshner said.

To get involved or donate to The Pantry, contact Kirshner or Gold at ThePantryatDavis@gmail.com.

JASPREET BAHIA can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Entertainment Council hosts new low-priced movie nights

Campus News

Campus Editor

November 24, 2010

In an effort to continue providing fun and affordable events for the UC Davis student community, Entertainment Council has begun showing classic fan-favorite movies on Friday nights in Chem 194.

The movies, co-hosted with Filmmakers’ Ambitions (FA), an on-campus film discussion group, are intended to serve as a foundation for future movie nights. So far there have been two films screened -Jurassic Park on Nov. 12, and Love Actually this past Friday.

For $5, entry includes two tickets and one popcorn to share – a deal responsible for the events’ recent labeling as “date nights.”

Veronica Lee Rice, Entertainment Council co-cinema coordinator and senior film studies major, said that these movies are not just for couples looking to snuggle up in the warm, cozy confines of Chem 194.

“We don’t want to make it exclusive or weird for two [friends] to go for a cheaper price,” she said. “The purpose is to offer fun movies that are relatively cheap to students.”

She also said that going alone is nothing to be embarrassed about, but it will cost solo movie-goers slightly more – $3 for a ticket and popcorn as opposed to $2.50 each when going with a friend.

As for the success of the movie nights so far, Rice said the movies are less about making money and more about hosting additional movies in the future. The first screening, Jurassic Park, brought in over 100 students and nearly $300 in ticket sales.

Kelby Wood, FA president and senior film studies major, has similar sentiments about the movie nights thus far.

He said that the number of attendees at Jurassic Park was more than expected, attributing the movie nights’ successful advertising as being cheap and fun little outings. As president of FA, Wood gathers with other aspiring filmmakers every Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Art Annex to discuss film and pitch potential movie ideas to each other.

Although the revenue generated from the movie nights may not cover the cost of popcorn and rights to play the films, Wood, like Rice, agreed that it is not the point of the movie nights to make money.

“[Entertainment Council] knows they will lose money, but it doesn’t matter because they are trying to entertain the students,” he said.

Entertainment Council and FA collaborate to decide which films to show.

“We’re trying to screen films that will attract a crowd – films that you haven’t seen in a while, or cult-classic hits, such as The Big Lebowski or Rocky Horror Picture Show,” Wood said.

The response so far from students about the first two movie nights has largely been positive. Damien Verrett, a sophomore technocultural studies major, attended the Jurassic Park screening with his girlfriend and said he enjoyed it, mentioning that not only was the price very appealing, but that he also hadn’t seen Jurassic Park in a really long time and liked seeing it in a theater-setting with mostly college-aged students.

VICTOR BEIGELMAN can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Campus Judicial Report

Campus News

Campus Editor

November 24, 2010

101124_ca_CJR

Headline: Campus Judicial Report

Count to three

A sophomore student was referred to the office of Student Judicial Affairs (SJA) for disruptive and hostile behavior toward a university official. In a phone call with the Financial Aid office, the student became loud and verbally abusive toward several staff members. His paperwork had not yet been processed and, despite an extension provided to him by Financial Aid, he was irate that his aid would not be processed by the fee payment deadline. While speech is protected under the First Amendment, at UC Davis there is an expectation of courtesy and a standard of behavior that the student had violated with his aggressive tone. The student received an administrative notice, a non-disciplinary action that officially notified him of university policies regarding appropriate behavior.

Smile, you’re on camera

A senior student was referred to SJA for having a friend sneak her into the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC). This constitutes unauthorized entry to university property, which is a violation of university policy. The student was caught on video entering the ARC illegally and when approached by student staff members, it was discovered that her student identification card was invalid because she was not currently enrolled at UC Davis. Due to prior referrals, and the fact that she had previously received a sanction of deferred dismissal from SJA, the student’s graduation is delayed for a full year. During this time, she will not be allowed to take classes that do not satisfy a requirement for graduation or for her major.

A little rusty

A graduate student in the history department was referred to SJA for submitting another’s work as his own. The paper in question was jointly written with another student, though in attempting to merge and organize the paper, there were citation errors. The student explained to a judicial officer that he had been away from school for over five years. The student received a sanction of deferred separation until graduation, a writing assignment about plagiarism and was referred to the Student Academic Success Center (SASC). Deferred separation means that, should the student be referred to SJA again, he gives up his right to a formal hearing and may be suspended or dismissed from the university following an informal meeting with a judicial officer.

CAMPUS JUDICIAL REPORTS are compiled by members of Student Judicial Affairs.

Review: All ‘Tangled’ up

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

November 23, 2010

One might think a demure Disney princess and gallant displays of male bravado would characterize Disney’s new movie Tangled. But Tangled at once provides unexpected twists while breaking with traditional gender roles.

Alan Menken, who was responsible for the music in The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, composes the songs in Tangled, all of which contribute to a sprightly musical. Be ready for whimsicality, outstanding CG animation, and some curveballs: this is not a fairy tale you’ve heard before.

Based on the classic Grimm fairy tale, Tangled retells the story of Rapunzel, a girl born with 40 feet of magical golden hair. With its power to heal and save, this hair stirs envy in Mother Gothel, who steals baby Rapunzel so she can exploit her hair for the purpose of remaining eternally young. Rapunzel remains locked in her tower until a thief, Flynn Ryder, whisks her from her cloistered world and into a land where adventure awaits.

Flynn is a thief rather than Prince Charming. His personality is at once quirky, endearing, and believable – different from the typical bland, one-dimensional Prince Charming.

Perhaps the most striking break from traditional Disney fairy tale plotline in Tangled is its upheaval of the obvious gender roles. In many Disney movies, damsels in distress are to be rescued. A poignant moment that challenges this age-old notion of masculinity shows the king taking off his crown and shedding a tear. Also not on par with traditional masculinity is how in many instances, Rapunzel actually rescues the prince rather than vice versa.

Different from many of the more passive Disney princesses, Rapunzel is hungry for adventure, eager to leave the tower and accompany Flynn.

Often Rapunzel’s hair is what salvages the pair, leaving Flynn astounded by its curative powers. “You’re being strangely cryptic as you wrap your hair around my injured hand,” he says.

The animation is truly outstanding. When Rapunzel makes her way out of the prison with Flynn, she is seeing the world for the first time. We as viewers embark on that journey with her, guided along by the 3D animation, vibrant colors and enlivening songs. There are some parts where the colors are so vivid and there are so many objects popping out at you that you just can’t help from reaching out and trying to grab them.

A particularly striking scene is when Rapunzel and Flynn are sitting in a boat. A multitude of floating, glowing lanterns encircle them. Magenta sky floods the horizon. The lanterns seem to envelope the audience, making them part of this idyllic occasion. When we see such lush, vivified scenery, we almost want to say to ourselves: is this more like a pleasant fantasy, or is this how Disney wants us to believe the world looks like to someone who’s been locked up for so long? Are we seeing through the lens of a formerly sheltered girl who now sees everything in Technicolor?

Amusing parallels can be drawn between Flynn and Rapunzel’s fairy tale relationship and modern-day dating. The beginning stages of relationships, that I-like-you-and-I-think-you-like-me-but-I’m-not-sure-and-even-if-you-do-who-knows-what-that-means stage, are endearingly, if predictably, touched upon in a campfire scene where the two sit close, make eye contact, and hold an electric conversation while still feeling too nervous to touch or kiss.

Every Disney movie needs some comic relief. Tangled has its share of laugh-out-loud parts in addition to its more serious ones. Many of these laughable instances include interactions between Flynn and Rapunzel’s horse pal, who does not like Flynn and often expresses nonverbal annoyance toward the bumbling character. Much humor can be enjoyed from the horse’s facial expressions alone, during which Flynn’s sincere attempts to win the horse over result in simply more annoyance on the horse’s behalf.

Enter a colorful world of 3D animation and musical elation, where 40 feet of golden hair grants power and autonomy to a modern-day heroine. The music is cheery and the colors are dream-like, but don’t let those qualities fool you: Tangled is far from un-nuanced and un-sophisticated. Instead, Tangled is a cinematic conglomeration of humor, music, female empowerment, and characters portrayed as humans interacting candidly, rather than caricatures reading scripts.

ELENI STEPHANIDES can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Men’s water polo: Aggies unable to end Lions’ WWPA dominance

Sports

Sports Editor

November 23, 2010

The Aggies weren’t supposed to be in this position.

Picked to finish fourth in the Western Water Polo Association preseason poll, UC Davis exceeded expectations as the team reached the conference tournament final for the first time since 2007.

UC Davis ultimately fell victim to the same opponent, losing to Loyola Marymount in the finals on Sunday by a score of 9-6.

The Aggies wrapped up the season 18-10 with a second place finish in the WWPA.

Junior Aaron Salit finished the year as the Aggies’ leading scorer, netting 44 goals on the season.

Friday – No. 12 UC Davis 14, Air Force 10

Both the Falcons and the Aggies are usually known for defense.

That, however, didn’t stop either team from racking up goals.

Seniors Carlos Martinez and Matt Richardson contributed career performances by scoring when it mattered.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, UC Davis clung to an 8-5 lead when both Martinez and Richardson netted goals to secure the Aggie victory.

“Martinez and Richardson both had great tournaments,” Doten said. “[Martinez] did so much for us on offense and defense. [Richardson] had a career tournament and was such a high impact player. He played at the best level that I’ve seen him in his last four years.”

Saturday – UC Davis 10, No. 11 UC San Diego 6

Four players scored two goals as UC Davis rolled past UC San Diego to reach the title game.

Though the Tritons jumped out to a 2-1 lead, UC Davis refused to give up. The Aggies pushed the tempo, scoring four goals within ten minutes. Richardson led the charge, finding the back of the net with two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

By halftime, the Aggies led 5-3. Despite the Tritons potent offense, the UC Davis defense held strong, holding onto the victory.

“They did a great job playing as a team,” Doten said. “It’s probably the best I’ve seen them play all season. Our offense came alive, and the new concepts boosted our 6-on-5 [game plan].”

Sunday – No. 8 Loyola Marymount 9, UC Davis 6

In the championship game, the Aggies faced the only WWPA team to top them in the regular season.

Unfortunately for UC Davis found itself on the losing end for the second straight time.

Senior Cory Lyle and junior Walter Eggert both scored two goals, while Richardson and Aaron Salit would each chip in one, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Loyola Marymount. The Lions would roll onto is its eighth conference championship in the last 10 years. UC Davis earned its best conference finish since 2007.

The offense that outran both the Falcons and the Tritons seemed to stall at critical moments against the Lions.

“We couldn’t put the ball in the net,” Doten said. “We missed some open cage shots. [LMU’s goalie] didn’t block many, but we couldn’t get the ball in. Sometimes that happens.”

Still, Doten finds much to be pleased about his team.

“I had no idea that the team would play this well,” Doten said. “They really found the essence of how to play water polo. [Next season] our sights will be set on getting back to the championship game.”

Doten believes this team played motivated and wanted to show something to UC Davis.

“[The team] has a sense of what Aggie Pride really is and the athletes consider it an honor and a privilege to represent the university,” Doten said. “It was one reason that we did so well this season.”

MATT WANG can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

Women’s basketball: Aggies take first loss of season

Sports

Sports Editor

November 23, 2010

This weekend could prove to be the most difficult road trip for the Aggies in the regular season.

UC Davis was hoping to keep their undefeated season alive as they played in two difficult road games.

In the end, UC Davis went 1-1 on the swing, and took their first loss of the year at the hands of No. 15 UCLA.

Friday – UC Davis 70, Pepperdine 62

The road-trip got off to a slow start for the Aggies.

UC Davis began its matchup with the Waves by going nearly five minutes without putting points on the board.

“We were down to start,” said coach Sandy Simpson, “but we used our defense to get back into it.”

Offensively, the Aggies got a spark from junior Kasey Riecks, who scored 11 of her game-high 17 points in the final nine minutes of the first half. UC Davis entered the break with a nine-point lead.

“She got us jumpstarted at the offensive end,” Simpson said. “Sometimes you need that.”

The Aggies were able to hold off a strong push from Pepperdine in the second half to secure the victory.

UC Davis shot 52 percent from the field in the game.

Sunday – No. 15 UCLA 65, UC Davis 49

The Aggies were looking to make a statement as they faced the Bruins on Sunday.

The game began slowly but the Bruins jumped out to a quick eight-point lead.

“I feel like we started tentative,” Simpson said. “We looked nervous.”

UC Davis rallied back from the slow start midway through the first half to tie the game at 13.

The Bruins showed their strength, however, and took an 11-point lead to the break.

UC Davis did its best to get back in the game in the second half, but UCLA kept its lead in double digits for the rest of the match.

UCLA finished the game shooting over 50 percent from the field – something Simpson believes was aided by the Aggies’ 32 giveaways.

“It’s easy to shoot a good percentage when you’re getting easy layups off of turnovers,” he said. “When you turn the ball over against a press that’s what happens. It’s difficult to win games that way.”

Conversely, UC Davis was able to force the Bruins into 29 turnovers, most of which came when the Aggies were able to set up defensively.

“I thought we played good half court defense,” Simpson said. “We forced some high-low passes and our back line did a really nice job of getting their hands on the ball.”

Junior Vicky Deely was the bright spot for the Aggie offense, scoring 21 points off the bench. It wasn’t just her offensive prowess, however, that impressed Simpson.

“She had a terrific game on both ends of the floor,” he said. “She was getting to the hoop and knocking down threes, but she also played well defensively. She was really able to match UCLA’s physicality.”

Deely finished the game 8-for-14 from the floor, with six rebounds and two steals.

Despite the split, Simpson hopes the Aggies can turn this trip into a positive learning experience.

“UCLA is one of the best teams in the nation,” Simpson said. “We need to understand that we have a good team and that we can be aggressive when we play against top schools. If we can learn that this will be a trip well served.”

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

Men’s basketball: Aggies salt Slugs before being bucked by Broncos

Sports

Sports Editor

November 23, 2010

After splitting the season-opening series, coach Gary Stewart is hopeful for improved play but optimistic about UC Davis’ potential.

“To be successful, we have to be a cohesive unit and we’re just not there yet,” Stewart said. “It’s a work in progress, and we remain confident that we’ll get it, hopefully sooner than later.”

UC Davis men’s basketball did what it needed to do against a weaker opponent in UC Santa Cruz. Yet, it couldn’t put enough points on the board against Boise State.

With the split series, UC Davis moved to 1-4 on the season.

Wednesday – UC Davis 70, UC Santa Cruz 49

One Aggie goal going into the home opener was to avoid falling into an early deficit. Stewart had a game plan to do so and was pleased with the way it unfolded.

UC Davis jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back.

“I thought we had a much better start than we have had in relation to our concentration and our energy,” Stewart said. “In the first half we were able to sustain a defensive effort.

“We wanted to put the ball in the interior and pound the backboard and we were able to do some of those things [against UC Santa Cruz].”

Senior Joe Harden found comfort at the Pavilion, recording his second double-double in as many games with 16 points and 11 boards.

“It was great to be home,” Harden said. “We’re trying to create a home court advantage where we don’t have to lose any games here. The Aggie Pack was great.”

Harden was pleased to snap a three-game losing streak that began the previous weekend.

“We definitely needed the win,” he said. “We’re excited, we need to get some confidence and get this thing rolling.”

Sunday – Boise State 67, UC Davis 47

Sunday’s loss to Boise State was not due to a lack of effort, Stewart said. According to the coach, it was an inability of the offense to execute.

“There was tremendous offensive frustration,” said Stewart. “We were turning the ball over at an alarming rate. We’re missing shots, layups and wide-open threes.”

The Aggies shot 31.6 percent from the field in the second half – the Broncos shot double that in the same frame.

“That frustration manifested itself in a negative way defensively,” Stewart said. “It’s not for lack of effort on our guys. It’s almost as if there was a lid on the basket.”

Boise State broke away in the second half, scoring 12 unanswered points in a four-minute stretch. Senior guard Mark Payne put the Aggies back on the board with a pair of free throws.

The Broncos would continue to control the game, exploding with five more baskets and taking the eventual 67-47 win.

Harden led the Aggie offense with 15 points, followed closely by Payne, who racked up 12.

Stewart believes the whole squad has potential to contribute more points to the scoreboard.

“The offense has to come from the entire team,” Stewart said. “We’ve got some people who are capable of making shots and we’ve got to continue to work hard to get really quality shots. We have confidence in the people, that when they are in those areas, they are going to make them.”

UC Davis will take on Sacramento State in the hardwood edition of the Causeway Classic tonight. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. at Hornet Gym.

GRACE SPRAGUE can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

Roving reporter

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

November 23, 2010

I had a cousin come in angry because he wasn’t invited and he punched his dad.

Dustin DeCaro, sophomore biomedical engineering major

On New Year’s my friend fell into the pool with his brand new iPhone.

Leticia Cheng, junior economics major

I was hit on by a 30-year-old guy with my family standing there. My dad was watching and he looked so confused.

Shweta Shaikher, first-year animal biology major

I went to Las Vegas for Christmas and lost $900.

Ahmad Merza, junior film studies major

On
New Year’s I went to the Mexican-Guatemalan border with my boyfriend
and sister and we got stuck on top of a Mayan pyramid. We stayed there
until the park guides rescued us, and then we spent New Year’s drinking
tequila with them.

Tamara Vodovoz, comparative pathology graduate student

I
have three different Christmases in my family, and one year my aunt
tried to switch Christmas to New Year’s Eve. It ended in a family
schism.

Chris Bulkley-Logston, senior mechanical engineering major

I went to Seattle with my sister and we went to a townhouse party. That was a little out of the realm of normal.

Lydia Jahn, first-year exercise biology major

We
went to Mammoth to go skiing and we brought our dogs. One of the dogs
got off the leash and we had to go searching for him in the dark. It was
pretty scary.

Ashley Eaton, junior biochemistry major

Once I fell asleep at Thanksgiving dinner. There were 30 people there and I was waiting for my turn and got sleepy.

Ollie Ehlinger, third-year law student

I
had two drunken uncles get into a fight at Thanksgiving. They had too
much to drink and I don’t even know what they were fighting about.

Alexa Davidson, first-year undeclared major

Editorial: FDA drunk with power

Opinion

Opinion

November 23, 2010

Last Tuesday, Four Loko, in response to pressure from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), officially decided to remove the caffeine from their caffeinated alcoholic drink on the premise that the combination is unsafe. While caffeine does hide some effects of drunkenness, the FDA’s ban oversteps its boundaries, due more to political allegiances than public safety.

Drink Four Brewing Co.’s Four Loko has received most of the media’s attention. For an average $2.69, the 23.5-ounce caffeinated malt alcoholic drink contains 12 percent alcohol – as much as four beers – and nearly 260 mg of caffeine, or two cups of brewed coffee, according to the company’s web site.

The reason for this ban may be more political than anything. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York), one of the most outspoken critics of these drinks, said this ban should “serve as a warning to anyone who tries to peddle dangerous and toxic brews to our children; do it and we will shut you down.”

While this sounds noble, what you do not hear is that Sen. Schumer received $142,000 in campaign contributions from major alcohol brands – competitors to Four Loko and the caffeinated alcohol industry – according to a column in a Nov. 18 edition of The Aggie.

The FDA, referring to incidents on college campuses, claims that including this additive masks the effects of being drunk, potentially causing continual drinking. While the caffeine keeps people awake, they are still drunk. Those who choose to keep drinking should be held accountable, not Four Loko.

In addition, the combination of alcohol and caffeine is not a new trend. Alcoholic drinks such as rum and cokes have been around for years. If this additive in alcoholic drinks is a public safety issue, why are these drinks still legal?

Regardless, it is possible to responsibly enjoy Four Loko as it is with any other alcoholic beverage when over the age of 21. The key is to not ban them but to educate the public on the potential effects of drinking both caffeine and alcohol.

Instead of being forced to reformulate their recipe, the Drink Four Brewing Co. could include a more specific government-warning label explaining the effects of drinking its beverage. It could also use smaller cans, which would lower the risk of becoming too drunk from one can.

The FDA should not punish an entire industry because of the mistakes of individuals or because of political pressure. Instead, they should work with the companies to find a better, educational solution rather than taking the easy route.

Column: The folly of security

Opinion

Opinion

November 23, 2010

Those who’ve had or will have the, yes, ordeal of flying home, will bear testimony that the Transport Security Administration (TSA) has slaughtered privacy rights on the alter of safety screenings.

Traveling by air has never been the same since 9/11. But equally relevant to note is the fact that there was no noteworthy TSA, either. In response to the terrorist attacks, Congress created the security apparatus in 2001 that led to a staffing bump from 13 employees to about some 65,000 currently.

Its mandate? Quite an ambiguous and ambitious charge. It is indeed a tall order when the government charges an agency with “eliminating risk” of anything, much less the hatching of a terror plot by air. So far, we have thankfully not had any successful terror plot involving an aircraft in the U.S. since the dastardly acts of terrorists almost a decade ago. What we are stuck with, though, is the progressive stripping of rights of passengers in manner that seems to know no end.

First, there was the “shoe bomber” Richard Reid, and it became okay for TSA to order every traveler to take off their shoes at the airports. No thanks to the “underwear bomber” Abdulmutallab, now we have to go through body scanners that the ACLU has called the “virtual strip search.” The options the traveler has are not a bed of roses. You must have seen the lone civil rights warrior from San Diego of the “don’t touch my junk” fame complaining about groping in a video that went very viral, and rightly got rave reviews by a public that is fully empathetic and supportive.

Oh, the groping that could pass for pat downs. If you refuse you can be fined thousands of dollars and made to look like a terrorist suspect. As expected, terrorists are only going to get more creative in ways to carry out their plots. You may be wondering what is next in the TSA’s bag of safety tricks? Are we safer with the “advanced imaging technology” that has not done much to advance the image of TSA?

Fear mongering has been big business, especially after 9/11. Taxpayers’ money has been thrown at anything that is deemed to make us safer on the homeland. That cost us almost $1 trillion in search of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that never were. And for good measure, let us just beat the dead horse here and say logistics and security companies like Halliburton and Blackwater raked in big dough in the process. In March of this year, via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, TSA rolled out this plan to field thousands of body scanners at airports expected to cost another couple hundred million and supplied by a company the former Homeland Security secretary Chertoff works for.

Coincidences, huh? All of this is meant to “eliminate risk” of another air bombing. Americans have patiently tagged along. They have paid every price for safety asked of them by TSA. The question is when is it going to be too much? Are these terrorists going to dictate how we conduct our lives? Apparently, it is clear that they propel TSA policies with the public factoring in as mere receptacles.

The question burning beneath this status quo is; can there be a better way to keep us safe without whimsical violations of our rights? We can look to Israel for answers on this debacle. Israel is located right in the metaphoric mouth of the lion and yet does not subject passengers on, say, El Al aircraft to the “strip searches” or “grope fests” that TSA does. El Al’s former security chief, Isaac Yeffet, attributes their successes to intelligence gathering, selective interrogation or profiling, emphasizing that no technology can replace that vigilance and human expertise. In case we still just want to spend money on technology, scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory here in California had engaged the Department for Homeland Security since 2006 about providing a cheap fix for scanners that will make them less invasive, but still effective in spotting foreign objects on passengers. That went nowhere.

All the TSA cared about, like everybody these days, is a CBS poll that said roughly 4 out every 5 Americans had no objection to body scanners if it kept them safe. We are suckers for safety. Even if those safety strategies elude common sense and are driven by infinite possibility of the next heinous plot by some creative terrorist. This is a clear case wherein we don’t want to see our taxpayer dollars at work. No, not through panic-driven measures that corrode rights. And on a lighter note, the sexual orientation of TSA officials can’t be written on their badges, can it?

Have a fun Thanksgiving guys, TSA molestation or not.

FAYIA SELLU at fmsellu@ucdavis.edu.

Day in the life of…

Features

Features Editor

November 23, 2010

A day in the life of Benny Bray, senior mechanical engineering major and Mobility Assistance Shuttle (MAS) driver, requires a lot of problem solving and maneuvering. He is one of the employees driving temporary or permanently disabled students, faculty and staff to and from classes and work on the UC Davis campus.

I decided to follow Bray to get a sense of what it is like to drive a golf cart throughout the university.

Bray applied through Aggie Job Link earlier this quarter because his resident advisor had the same job and he thought it looked fun.

“Who doesn’t want to drive a golf cart around school? It’s a great job,” Bray said.

He works eight to 10 hours a week, although he can request more or less, for $8.75 per hour. Fleet Services supplies all the training necessary for driver training around campus.

Bray’s day began at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) at 7:15 a.m. to pick up his schedule for the day. He works with his partner to decide who picks up which student, in accordance to his class schedule. He checks out the keys to the “van” and the MAS cell phone every day before he leaves for his first pick-up. He handed me a beanie, saying his ears always get cold on the job.

We walked over to the golf cart known as the “van,” a large electrical cart with three benches and a platform area in the middle, ideal for wheelchairs.

“This cart is from the middle of the Stone Age,” Bray said.

Bray attempted to start the cart, but the battery wasn’t charged. He called the student at the Tercero residence halls to let her know another employee would be a little late to pick her up, but she would get to class.

Although Bray said that this problem rarely happens, he also explained how Fleet Services used to have quality carts, but they broke down and the transportation service is buying new ones.

I returned the next morning for a ride in the golf cart. We followed a similar routine, with the only difference being Bray wore an owl-themed beanie.

We left from the back of ARC and headed to the Segundo residence halls, weaving around people, bikers and sharp corners – Bray claimed he has never hit anyone. Some driving off the bike path was also necessary when dealing with traffic flow and the narrow bike roads.

“It is a golf cart, I learned that I can just go on grass, which is helpful when dealing with construction,” Bray said.

We pick up Bridget Berman, a first-year on the UC Davis women’s soccer team, from the Segundo residence halls. Berman tore her anterior cruciate ligament during the UC Riverside game when another student-athlete tackled her.

“It’s a pretty good service, but sometimes they forget to pick me up … I wouldn’t get to class on time without it,” Berman said.

On the ride to Storer Hall, Berman was unconcerned with the price of the shuttle service, saying it is relatively inexpensive.

Bray explained that the MAS was free last year, but due to budget cuts, Disability Management Services currently charges passengers for weekly services. The price paid depends on how many weeks the service is requested and if the passengers are UC Davis students, Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) customers or non-TAPS customers.

For one week, UC Davis students using the MAS are charged $20; for two to six weeks, $18 and for seven or more weeks, they are charged $15. The expense is billed directly to the student’s account.

After dropping off Berman at Storer, we returned to the ARC parking lot to pick up Stephanie Bell, a first-year exercise biology major who tore her ACL for the second time. Bell used the service each time she has been injured.

“It’s really nice and helpful. [I go] some places cars can’t go to, which makes [using golf carts] perfect,” Bell said.

Bray ended the ride by returning to the ARC, deftly parking the cart into a tight spot in order to wait for the next pick-up.

To qualify for the MAS, students must provide medical documentation to the Student Disability Center proving their eligibility. Faculty and staff can set up an appointment with Disability Management services representative Fredna Kameges at 752-6008. UC Davis students must call Campus Recreation at 752-1730 or stop by 232 ARC. MAS service requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

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

Aggie Police Briefs

City News

City Editor

November 23, 2010

FRIDAY:

It is the Greenbelt

Juveniles were smoking on the Greenbelt at Yana Place and Washoe Street.

Home is… wherever there’s an open door

Intoxicated subjects were going through hallways trying to open apartment doors on First Street.

Then how did they know it went off?

A silent alarm was set off on Mace Boulevard.

SATURDAY:

Paper somehow found to write tickets

The parking machine on E Street was out of paper.

Seeing a scene of seas of kerosene

Kerosene lamps were floating in the canal on Faraday Avenue.

Subject not receptive to ‘Olly olly oxen free’

A male was hiding behind his van on First Street.

SUNDAY:

Other area smells include sex, rock ‘n’ roll

There was a strong smell of drugs around Audubon Circle.

Davisville Flashback!

Five horses were in the roadway walking eastbound on East Covell Boulevard.

Most definitely not a silent alarm

An alarm was sounding on Rutgers Drive, though it was unknown what type of alarm it was.

Police Briefs are compiled from the city of Davis daily crime bulletins. Laugh so hard you wet your briefs? Contact BECKY PETERSON at city@theaggie.org.

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