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Adam Loberstein

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Alysoun Bonde

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Karen Song (Fall, Winter)

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Max Rosenblum

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Mark Ling

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Mario Lugo

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Karen Song

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Becca Moore

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Michelle Summers

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Nicole Crayton

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Adrian Samson

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Jay Alberts

Current Ad Representatives

Andrew Alberts

Victor Beigelman

Lauren Colby

Alicia Dorfman

Akshaya Ganesh

Kevin Kankel

Kevin Louie

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Meenal Tambe

Former Ad Representatives

Julia McGuinnessJonathan Portman

Sherry Schafer

Edward Walsh

2010-2011 Managing Staff

Editor in Chief

Mark Ling

Managing Editor

Max Rosenblum

Business Manager

Maggie Derk

Advertising Manager

Kevin Kankel

Campus Editor

Janelle Bitker

City Editor

Becky Peterson

Arts Editor

Robin Migdol

Features Editor

Nick Markwith

Sports Editor

Jason Alpert

Science Editor

Madeline McCurry-Schmidt

Opinion Editor

Jeremy Ogul

Copy Chief

Mario Lugo

Photography Editor

Jeff Perry

Design Director

Ellen Yau

Night Editor

Becca Moore

Art Director

Irisa Tam

Over a thousand protest UC and state budgetary decisions

Sep. 28, 2009

Thousands of students, staff and faculty walked out of class on the first day of school, upset by the recent furlough plan and increased student fees. The rally was part of the day-long UC-wide walkout, and was joined by members of the University Professional and Technical Employees union.

Target hosts grand opening

Oct 8, 2009

While Davis’ new Target store finally opened its doors, one of the most contentious chapters in Davis history will finally came to a close. The story of Target’s arrival here almost perfectly captures the essence of what makes Davis unique, as in any other town, the arrival of a Target store would go unnoticed.

Series of shooting incidents shock Davis residents

Oct. 8, 2009

An eviction enforcement gone wrong on Sept. 29 was one of several shooting incidents. Another Sept. 26 shooting at a University Village Apartments party resulted in four arrests, while on Aug. 8, a person shot into an occupied apartment on J Street. On May 7, there was another attempted burglary with shots fired on Drew Circle in South Davis. On Sept. 13, at the former 21 and Seven (now Agave) in downtown Davis, one individual shot another after a large fight. Davis Police Department Press Information Officer Lt. Thomas Waltz said the events were unrelated and Davis has its own share of crime just like any other city.

UC Regents approve 32 percent fee increase

Nov 19, 2009

The UC Regents voted and approved an undergraduate fee increase of 32 percent, which they planned to divide into a 15 percent mid-year increase this spring and another 15 percent increase in the fall of 2010. Resident undergraduate fees rose to $10,302 and nonresident graduates increased to $11,160 in fees. Student regent Jesse Bernal was the only regent to vote against the fee increases.

Over 50 arrested in Mrak Hall demonstration

Nov. 20, 2009

Fifty-two students and faculty members were arrested after attempting to occupy Mrak Hall. They said their goal was to send a message to the people who work in Mrak Hall and the UC Regents that budget cuts and fee increases were unacceptable. Later, a Yolo County District Attorney decided not to press charges against those arrested.

UC Davis student gives ‘hella’ new meaning

Feb. 18, 2010

Physics student Austin Sendek began a Facebook petition to persuade International System of Units to give the phrase “hella” the quantity of 10 to the 27th power.

Winter 2010 ASUCD election decided

Feb. 22, 2010

Jack Zwald and Previn Witana of the L.E.A.D. slate won the executive ticket in ASUCD by a margin of 3.6 percent. The winter election was met with early controversy, as one student filed a complaint with the Elections Committee about the legitimacy of their petition.

Hate crimes target UC Davis students

March 2, 2010

A swastika was carved onto the door of a Jewish student in the Tercero dormitories on Feb. 19. A week later, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center was the target of an attack when derogatory terms were spray-painted on the center’s front entrance, said Lt. Matthew Carmichael of the UC Davis Police Department. The attacks added to the growing number of hate crimes experienced in the UC system, such as UCSD students’ controversial “Compton Cookout” and a noose found in the library at UCSD.

March 4 campus rally culminates at freeway entrance

March 4, 2010

In the UC Davis March 4 protest against student fee increases, over 400 students, faculty and union members marched through campus in the year’s largest protest. Protestors encountered three separate lines of police on Old Davis Road and pushed through the first two. At the second line, about 100 yards from the I-80 on-ramp, police began firing pepper balls at the ground. At the last line, senior Laura Mitchell was arrested.

CHP reverses statement on Taser use at campus protest

March 12, 2010

After initially denying that anyone was hit with a Taser during campus protests on March 4, the California Highway Patrol changed its story in response to a California Aggie investigation. The statement by CHP officer Marvin Williford said that upon further review of the data, it was clear that one Taser was successfully discharged in drive stun mode before it malfunctioned.

Health care reform bill carries dramatic changes for students

Mar 30, 2010

Young adults gained the opportunity to remain on their parents’ insurance until age 26.

Davis Food Co-op directors vote against boycott

Apr 2, 2010

Local activists conducted a campaign to ban Israeli goods. The Davis Food Co-op has been at the center of controversy over activists’ efforts to boycott Israeli products at the grocery store on 620 G St.

UC Davis Athletics cuts four sports to tackle budget problems

April 19, 2010

UC Davis decided to close the women’s rowing, men’s wrestling, men’s indoor track and men’s swimming and diving by July 1. The cuts were made to address an existing $1.4 million budget deficit and an additional $2.4 million fiscal hole for 2009 to 2010. A group of student athletes later alleged that their sports may have been unfairly discontinued and want the cuts reversed.

UC Davis professional schools surge in rankings

Apr 26, 2010

U.S. News and World Report’s graduate school rankings showed the UC Davis School of Law climbed seven spots, gaining the 28th slot out of nearly 200 accredited graduate programs. The UC Davis School of Medicine ranked 20th in primary care and 47th in research.

U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame travels to permanent home in Davis

Apr 27, 2010

The long-awaited United States Bicycling Hall of Fame opened in Davis at the museum within Central Park on the corner of Third and B Streets. The Hall of Fame features the UC Davis Pierce Miller Collection of antique bicycles, an extensive catalog of memorabilia from the Hall of Fame, the recent 2009 class of Hall of Fame inductees and cycling artifacts.

University leaders agree: Picnic Day needs change

May 13, 2010

Complaints of drunken rowdiness left many concerned the day may need some reforms. This year, the campus Police Department handled 330 calls for service and there were 33 were arrested in the city. The ASUCD Picnic Day Committee, alumni, Government and Community Relations, the Davis Chamber of Commerce and the Davis Downtown Business Association have formed a task force and met Monday to look into ways to address problems related to Picnic Day.

A string of copper-wire thefts cost the city

May 17, 2010

A series of copper-wire thefts hit Davis hard over the past few weeks, leaving rows of darkened lights in parks and greenbelts. The Davis Police Department warned citizens to be on the lookout for suspicious activity, while the city was concerned about safety and monetary costs of replacing the expensive copper wires.

Stage 2 Amgen Tour of California

May 18, 2010

Davis hosted the Stage 2 Start of the Amgen Tour of California with a festival in Central Park. At 11 a.m., a group of 950 – racers and their entourages – sped through downtown, making their way through Russell Boulevard. The bike race brought top professional teams in the world to Davis.

June election poses big changes for City Council

Mayor Ruth Asmundson announced her resignation; Councilmember Lamar Heystek said he will not seek reelection and Mayor Pro Tempore Don Saylor ran for Yolo County Supervisor. Five candidates will vie for two open seats in the June 8 election.

Compiled by LAUREN STUESSY and POOJA KUMAR.

Studying abroad during the summer is one thing but living abroad to teach English for an extended period of time is something completely different.

Yet that is exactly what many graduating students are choosing to do after college. Instead of jumping head first into the job market, many seniors are choosing to go abroad to teach their native language.

Marcie Kirk-Holland, a project manager at the Internship and Career Center (ICC), said there are an overwhelming number of programs for students going abroad to teach English.

“Try Googling ‘teaching English abroad,'” she said. “There are so many different programs, different durations, some that [make students] pay to participate and others that require a certificate.”

In order to help students save time, the ICC narrows down the list by suggesting favorites on their web site. The ICC currently has 54 favorite programs, each highly suggested by former abroad students.

“To be categorized as an ICC favorite, we have to have had at least one UC Davis alumnus participate in that opportunity and have a positive experience,” Kirk-Holland said.

Between 100 to 200 UC Davis students go abroad to teach English in foreign countries every year, some for two-year contracts. Those students often have a set of characteristics that make them ideal for these programs, Kirk-Holland said.

“People who are adventuresome and really enjoy people tend to go on these programs,” she said. “They usually enjoy culture, exhibit open-mindedness and have a zest for life.”

However, not everyone is a perfect candidate for teaching English abroad.

“I encourage students to look at what their needs are and then honestly assess their skills,” Kirk-Holland said. “If their English grammar skills are not strong, then it’s probably not going to be a good match for them.”

Ryan Harber, a junior English and economics double major, said he plans on going to Thailand after he graduates with Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

“People always say to explore the world before you have to settle down and start your boring life, so I’m using this as an excuse to travel and do something constructive at the same time,” Harber said. “I’ve always been interested in learning about cultures different than mine and Thailand is certainly different but also very interesting and beautiful too.”

Many countries around the world offer visas to students for internships and jobs related to teaching English. Most countries tend to be nations that are either developing or looking to better relations with the United States.

Countries also often hand pick universities to offer programs to. Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK) from the Korean government would be an example of a program only offered to UC Davis students.

UC Davis is only one of two northern California universities targeted for recruitment by the Korean Ministry of Education. On June 2, dignitaries from the Korean government arrived to the campus to sign a working agreement with the university.

“I think we got chosen by the Korean Ministry of Education because we have a great reputation,” Kirk-Holland said. “We have a really strong internship program and a strong international internship program.”

TaLK is a prime example of the best teaching English abroad program available. The program offers a six-month to one-year contract to teach in elementary schools Monday through Thursday. It also provides free housing and roundtrip airfare, at least a $1200 monthly stipend, and even a transcript notation through the ICC.

“When I look at ESL teaching opportunities, those offered through ministries of education often are the absolute best,” Kirk-Holland said.

Julia Saelee, a senior community and regional development major said she intended to study abroad in Korea with TaLK until she recently decided to withdraw her application. However, she wanted to go because her friends currently in similar programs are truly enjoying it.

“I have three friends that are teaching in Korea and Taiwan. Everyone is having a great time,” Saelee said, in an e-mail interview. “They’re able to travel and have a source of income at the same time.”

Although TaLK provides many benefits, many programs are not as reputable or safe. Going abroad with less reputable programs or without a program can have many security issues.

Jed Willard, a representative from Language Corps, said the primary reason for students to use an organization is for safety.

“If everything goes perfectly, you don’t need a program – if you are lucky,” he said.”[However,] if you do get sick, injured, lonely or your contract isn’t honored, you will want a program to handle that. There are a lot of things that could go wrong.”

Kirk-Holland also said students have come back with stories about not being paid and being stranded in a foreign country. It is not uncommon for students to be told they will be paid at the end of their first month of work, only to hear that their paycheck will be postponed for months until no money is available, she said.

For students who are interested in teaching English abroad in foreign countries, check out the ICC’s international internship web site for more information.

NICK MARKWITH can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

The last time I wrote one of these, I was sitting on my bed in my dorm room in Emerson Hall. A fire alarm was probably going off that I was ignoring and my roomie was probably singing to Backstreet Boys as she put on makeup to go out.

I wrote a column about the first-year experience: what it felt like as a fresh, innocent young freshman to experience Davis and the college life for the first time. Topics included “Boys and their Guitars,” “Idiotic Freshman Relationships,” “College Insomniacs,” and “The Floor ‘Whore.'” It was a fun experience to write about what it felt like for the very first time (like a virgin! Oh!) in college, and looking back it was a huge part of my freshman year to have a column.

Now, as a senior just days away from graduation, it is needless to say that life is different. No one knows what college life will bring you: Some people hate it but hopefully some love the experience. Back when I thought “Houseboats” was something just for families and getting written up by an R.A. was the talk of the weekend, I had no idea then that I would be in my last days of Davis with a bad economy and lack of a legit plan for the future. Luckily, I’m not the only one.

The college experience, for me at least, can be described in those random moments that can really only happen here. I asked some friends to share their favorite collegiate moments so I’m not the only narcissistic one talking.

Courtney Laliberte, who also happens to be a good friend, says one of her favorites was from her sophomore year.

“When we walked through the Del Taco drive-thru,” she said. “We were jumping up and down trying to get the sensor to work, and they wouldn’t take our order.”

Brad Thorton says he remembers the Girltalk concert at Freeborn Hall.

“Well it was a massive dance party and Davis pulling an up-and-coming artist to our school and having a great time,” he said.

I personally will remember him from freshman year dancing to “Fergalicious” in a dorm room.

“Pooping!” said my roommate for four years, Stephanie Bouret. “And going on dessert-runs. Probably that time we biked to the Co-op freshman year and came in to our dorm meeting late. And DC late-night snacks.”

Jennifer Vu also remembers her freshman year experience.

“Freshman year we were in Cuarto and you see that shopping cart. And we all have the same idea: one person get in and the other runs around in circles. The funny part: We were sober,” Vu said.

I personally remember joyriding through campus with eight-year friend and columnist Michelle Rick. The cops pulled us over – she was driving. He asked how we even got on campus at this time of night.

“Sorry officer, the gate was open. We didn’t know we couldn’t get through,” Rick said. Good one.

That was almost as good as the time when we got stuck in the Chevron carwash with another Aggie reporter Michelle Immel. Three girls in sundresses had to push Sweedie the Volvo to the Asian Auto Care with the help of JiffyLube guys – what a great Friday.

Whether you’re doing keg stands with your frat bros on a Monday night, going to get beer and donuts at 6 a.m. on Picnic Day with your roommate or sitting on the roof in lawn chairs watching the drunk people go by- these moments fill your college experience. We all know this is all we got. If you haven’t had a good time, oh well.

On the bright side you still have the rest of your life to live by. All the dumb moments and all the dramatic stuff that you thought you cared about, in retrospect, just shouldn’t matter right now. You’re freaking graduating!

On another note, I’m one of the few that have been writing at The California Aggie for all four years. I recommend to those who aren’t graduating, to check us out. You won’t regret it – I sure didn’t. Contact managing@theaggie.org.

ANGELA RUGGIERO would like to thank The California Aggie and all the people she interacted with for an awesome four years. E-mail her at aeruggiero@ucdavis.edu if you have one last thing to say.

Starting a new job is never an easy task, and Linda Katehi might be more aware of this more than most people.

In the midst of severe budget cuts, and some campus contention as a result of them, Katehi officially took on the role of Chancellor of UC Davis in May 2009. After recapping her first year on the job, however, Katehi seems to only express optimism about what she has seen so far.

“I came because of what UC Davis has accomplished as an institution, and the quality by which the university is doing a lot of things,” Katehi said. “Everything I thought to expect was far greater than I thought it would be.”

Katehi has been especially impressed by the progress UC Davis has made in the areas of sustainability, health, climate change and energy.

“We cover such a broad intellectual spectrum,” Katehi said. “That broad spectrum of disciplines gives us a tremendous foundation to build on.”

As former provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, another land-grant university, Katehi is a strong advocate of public education. Her expectations for UC Davis are high, and have been laid out in a plan titled the Vision of Excellence. This proposal will provide the framework to guide campus strategies the next five to 10 years.

So what is the main goal of her plan?

“My vision is to move UC Davis to become one of the top five public research universities,” Katehi said.

While this mission is no small feat, Katehi believes UC Davis has the right resources and attitude to achieve it.

“Our faculty is responding very positively to establishing bold initiatives,” Katehi said. “The campus is responding to these bold ideas and those outside of the university, too. And if this continues, I believe we can really promote ourselves publicly.”

Katehi believes the faculty has been a critical factor in UC Davis’ success throughout the years.

“The one thing that really drives excellence is the ability to bring excellent faculty,” Katehi said. “Without them, there is no chance to be an excellent university.”

The bold initiatives Katehi mentioned can be found in the UC Davis Annual Plan. The composting program employed by the dining commons and the Aggie Ware reusable dishes system are just some of the current campus projects underway that advocate sustainability.

In an effort to maximize the strengths of every UC Davis department and program, two blue ribbon committees have also been formed to conduct reviews. One committee focuses on research while the other is responsible for assessing the processes of technology transfer and commercialization within UC Davis.

According to Katehi, these committees will look at academic programs and assess their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, these reviews will determine how to support and improve these programs.

“In a good environment where we strive for excellence, we make assessments regularly,” Katehi said. “We are trying to make sure our campus as an organization supports individual and collective excellence.”

Katehi said many people hear the word “review” and associate it with a negative connotation. The chancellor wants the word instead to pose the question, “have we been successful?” The Vision of Excellence and the blue ribbon committees are meant to emphasize this idea of constantly evaluating and improving the university.

Instead of focusing on one particular discipline, Katehi wants to take a more holistic route. The reviews will help to assess and improve a variety of academic departments.

“‘Improve’ does not mean we are not doing well; it means we are aspiring for more,” Katehi said.

While she emphasizes her optimism about her plans and the university’s future, she does recognize the challenges the budget cuts have posed.

“I never anticipated that we would have to cut the equivalent of 25 percent of our stake,” Katehi said. “This past year I had to make some very difficult decisions that made constituents unhappy. I did not come here to cut things.”

She remains hopeful for the next school year and does not foresee any more major changes as a result of the budget.

“Everything we see coming from the legislators all look good for the institution,” Katehi said. “They all propose an increase in our budget.”

When the chancellor is not busy brainstorming goals for UC Davis and dealing with a constricted budget, she enjoys leaving Mrak Hall to observe campus.

Katehi attends Mondavi Center performances with her husband, Spyros Tseregounis, and even works out at the Activities and Recreation Center when she has the time.

“My favorite part [of the job] is going out of the office and learning about campus and faculty,” Katehi said. “I enjoy meeting and talking with new people.”

Looking ahead to the next school year, Katehi has a few tasks in mind. Insuring that students have the right services, establishing new fundraising goals and economic development are just a few items on the agenda. Overall, Katehi wants to simply continue to improve the quality of UC Davis.

“We are looking forward to assessing our undergraduate programs and assessing the quality,” Katehi said. “Excellence is not a destination, it’s a journey.”

AMANDA HARDWICK can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

As more and more graduating seniors debate their future prospects, it may be important for them to know a few things about the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).

A revised general test will launch worldwide in August 2011. In addition, there is a growing trend of MBA programs accepting the admissions test.

“The GRE revised general test will be more test-taker friendly, include more real-life scenario questions and be more closely aligned to the skills students need to succeed in graduate school,” said Tom Ewing, director of external relations at the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in an e-mail interview.

Ewing said that to help students prepare for the new test, ETS will provide free test preparation materials this July.

Specifically, the revised General Test will feature less dependence on vocabulary knowledge alone, an elimination of antonyms and analogies and the option for test-takers to go back and change answers before moving to the next timed section.

While there are a lot of expensive preparation courses that prey on student’s fears of needing to do their best at all costs, the best way to prepare for the test is to use many of the free materials available from ETS, Ewing said.

Meanwhile, a greater amount of MBA programs are accepting the GRE as an admission requirement to their programs. Currently some 340 of the world’s leading MBA programs accept the GRE, an increase of over 60 percent from last year.

The Harvard Business School is one such school that is now accepting the GRE, beginning with the Class of 2012.

“Harvard Business School wants to have a broad pool of applicants,” said Jim Aisner, director of media relations for the school.

Aisner said the school is now accepting the GRE because they wanted to encourage people who weren’t thinking about business school to think about applying for a Harvard MBA.

“The reason for the growing use [of the GRE] is that MBA program admissions officers report that using the GRE improves the size, diversity and quality of the applicant pool,” Ewing said.

The GRE is also cheaper than the GMAT, the current test for business schools, and is more widely available around the world, Ewing said.

CHINTAN DESAI can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

UC Davis may not have rock stars or former presidents speaking at graduation, but each graduation ceremony features outstanding student speakers – with accomplishments and personalities to rival any celebrity.

Jamie Fanner, a senior sociology major and speaker at the 2 p.m. Letters and Science graduation is a single mother who plans on surprising her mother with her speech at graduation.

Her inspiration for her speech, she said, came from her life history. Her father passed away from cancer when she was 10 and she is a single parent raising two children.

“[These factors] have combined to and have pushed me to do the best I can do,” Fanner said. “I’m proud to say that I’m graduating with over a 3.0, with all the things that have happened in my life. And that’s why the theme [of my speech] is the winner in me and is about pursuing my dream against all odds.”

“It’s about overcoming adversity and having an inner self that pushes you forward throughout obstacles to get your degree,” she said.

Fanner has done theater productions and acting before, but she says she is actually somewhat shy.

However, she sees the commencement speech as good practice for when she goes into politics.

During her years at Davis, Fanner has been involved in the Black Pre-law Association and Young Leaders of America, among other things.

Junia Chou, a senior communication and Chinese double major, is the speaker for the other Letters and Science ceremony at 9 a.m.

She has been involved at UC Davis as a naturalist intern at the arboretum, an employee at the Education Abroad Center, a Chinese tutor at Sproul Hall and a writing ambassador for Davis Senior High’s Chinese class and North Davis Elementary’s sixth grade English class.

Her accomplishments stretch outside of Davis, and even the United States. Chou studied abroad for a year in China. While there, she volunteered in post-earthquake disaster relief services, translated in a rural village for NGOs and placed third in the local Chinese department’s speech contest, after placing out of all the language classes offered for international students at Peking University.

Chou said that her inspiration for giving the commencement speech was to thank those who have helped her in her years at UC Davis. She said that her speech will discuss the past, present and future.

Chou said that she’s not nervous yet about the prospect of giving her speech in front of thousands.

“I’m just excited to see my family all in one place,” she said. “It still hasn’t hit me, but it will a few days before – I’ll be really nervous.”

After graduation Chou plans on going back to her former high school to teach an ESL class and is also thinking about pursuing a career in eastern medicine.

“My dream job is to travel the world and be a volunteer in the field of healing practice or education,” she said.

Shannon Harney, a senior ecology evolution and biodiversity major, is one of the speakers for the College of Biological Sciences.

Don’t be fooled by her major – she is also a veteran of poetry and public speaking. She’s been a member of the Sick Spits Poetry Collective for five years.

“It’s an awesome outlet of expression and communication as I’ve navigated my way through pre-med,” she said.

Harney’s speech is going to focus on merging her two very different interests.

“[The speech] is an excellent opportunity to share [the poetry] component of my college career juxtaposed to my biology degree,” she said. “They’re really different and I wanted the opportunity to bring them together.”

“A big part of studying science is coming to the realization that although it is based on hard data, quantifiable data and hard components, there is no bottom line and it’s a limitless study,” Harney said. “We’ve been equipped with a really amazing way of thinking about things” she added.

She said that she hopes graduation will be an opportunity for students to reflect on their education and encourage people to stay politically involved with education after graduating.

In addition to participating in Sick Spits, Harney has been an active resident of the Domes, plays keyboard in the band Medea, and is the outdoor education coordinator at the arboretum.

“I love Davis, its great – there’s so much to get involved in,” she said.

For now, Harney plans to “kick around” Davis for the summer before moving to San Francisco to work at UCSF to do clinical research.

Jerome Atputhasingam, a senior NPB major, is the second speaker for the College of Biological Sciences.

He was inspired to speak at graduation because of his past – he was born in Sri Lanka and was a refugee for part of his life before coming to the U.S. “Nine years ago I didn’t even speak English,” Atputhasingam said. “Telling my story is a way of telling people it’s possible to accomplish anything you want.”

Atputhasingam said that as a gay man, he feels that his graduation speech is especially significant.

“Even though this isn’t really about my story, having a gay person go up there and give a speech is very symbolic,” he said.

The theme of Atputhasingam’s speech is “acknowledging knowledge.” “It’s about what we leave UCD knowing – not so much what we learned from books but what we learned from people and being in this environment,” he said.

Atputhasingam is used to the limelight and giving speeches. He’s worked at the LGBTRC and has given speeches for the center in front of large audiences.

He also works at the Learning Skills Center, is a member of the Minority Association of Pre-med Students, and the student health insurance planning committee. After college he plans on taking a year off, then going to medical school.

Scott Himmelberger, a senior chemical engineering major, will be giving a commencement speech for the College of Engineering.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time here at UC Davis and I’m proud to be an Aggie and I want to share that with other people,” Himmelberger said.

His speech will focus on a positive message for graduating seniors. “I’ll be trying to give people a sense of hope in these tough economic times, trying to encourage people to find what their passion is and go after it.” His speech will also give practical advice to students.

“Things don’t often fall into your lap,” Himmelberger said. You have to be aggressive and persistent. So find what excites you and go after it.”

Himmelberger said he’s a little nervous for his speech.

He said that the highlights of his time at UC Davis have been participating on the cross country and track and field teams as well as doing undergraduate research.

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

“Really? Well, besides the obvious, and if the obvious isn’t that obvious, let me explain. GROSS! UNHEALTHY! And very medieval! Okay, now that I got that out of my system … why? Why are you doing this? Are you so drunk you can’t control yourself? Or are you so sick you can’t help yourself?”

UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza

discussing why students should avoid pooping in public

“I’m pretty convinced that plastic is the devil.”

Brennen Bird

a senior nature and culture major on his feelings toward trash

“If you use the term ‘hella’ you will be sent back to the north where you belong.”

Anti-hella Facebook group

quoted in an article about the possibility of “hella” representing 10 to the 27th power

“The first use of the Taser was successful as the protestors pushed through a police skirmish line but that was the only time that weapon cycled successfully. The use of the Taser was recorded on the official report of the incident but the initial deployment was not brought to the attention of CHP media personnel until later.”

CHP Officer Marvin Williford

on the use of Tasers at the March 4 protest after a California Aggie investigation

“The glitter and fucking fabulousness speaks to the resiliency as a community. We are letting fabulous bodies speak for themselves right now. Oppressed communities are the first affected [by budget cuts and the resulting change in environment].”

Sarah Raridon

a senior gender studies major on the “Glamarchy Now” protest

“There are some really crappy professors that the school keeps around just for their research. We should cut them.”

Caroline Jaynes

a sophomore sociology major on what should be cut from the UC budget

“Most students never actually go in the water. The boys like to hang around the diving boards and throw balls around – that keeps them entertained for hours. Then there is always a group of girls that lines up on the deck to watch them … the Rec Pool is really the most unique social atmosphere I have ever seen.”

Lani Chan

a Rec Pool lifeguard on Rec Pool culture

“I don’t want to say that I’m happy about it because it sucks that we have such crappy leaders.”

Brian Sparks

a senior international relations major on the recent vote of “no confidence in Mark Yudof and the UC Regents

“Everyone at some point has wanted to be the best Pokémon trainer. They’ll deny it, but we all know it’s true.”

Duy Ha

a first-year psychology major discusses his desire about competing in a national Pokémon tournament

Summer is just around the corner, but before whipping out the lawn chairs and coolers consider…an internship.

Nicholas Barry, of Davis Dollars, regularly employs interns and feels that internships are a great experience for students.

“It’s a good testing ground…a good way to make connections and experience without forcing to commit to it like a job does,” Barry said.

But with fierce competition and less availability of internships from an uncertain economy how do students stay ahead of the pack and get the internship they want?

The UC Davis Internship and Career Center’s Lisa Sanders, a program coordinator for Liberal Arts and Business and Agriculture and Environmental Science, said that students need to plan ahead.

“It’s being aware of resources and support because it is easy to rest on the notion that it’s competitive, the economy is bad. It’s easy to allow that to be an obstacle,” Sanders said.

So, in the spirit of staying one step ahead, here are some helpful tips from Sanders and others who have experience in the internship arena.

Utilize campus resources

When junior managerial economics and communications major Jatin Malhotra transferred from Woodland Community College the “first thing [he] did was go to the ICC.” Now with two internships at Davis Dollars and with Morgan Stanley, Malhotra credits the ICC staff for their advice and guidance.

“Every student should take advantage of ICC. They really know their stuff,” Malhotra said.

In addition, many big company representatives visit college campuses regularly. Malhotra recently attended an investment panel on campus that included representatives from Bryce Water Coopers, RBC and Genentech.

“They might not be hiring but its just great to talk to them and have a personal basis with them…later on resumes I can mention the person and a little about what they talked about,” Malhotra said.

“Everyone has experience”

To get an internship one needs experience and to get experience one needs an internship. Sanders said this is a common misunderstanding among students.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, ‘I don’t have experience.’ I always prove them wrong,” Sanders said.

Sanders said there are some things that just are not quantifiable on a resume that have as much weight as experience. Interest, passion, eagerness to learn and one’s career goals can all be qualities attractive to an employer that can be emphasized in an interview, she said.

Network. Network. Network.

This does not include ‘just schmoozing,’ but cultivating relationships with alumni, professors and professionals, Sanders said. It means asking questions, displaying interest and overall being an “eager-learner.” Having good connections can open opportunities and help a resume stand out from the rest. One website Malhotra recommends is LinkedIn, an online social networking website for professionals that can help students connect with alumni working in all different fields and companies. “Professionals are very eager to mentor,” Sanders said.

Take initiative: start your own internship.

Don’t just wait for available positions or online postings. Start looking at companies that you’re interested in and walk in with your resume.

“The worst that they can say is no,” Sanders said.

Even if they do say no it can be good practice. Additionally, students should ask for feedback and what skills they are going to acquire.

“The employer should feel more of an obligation to help you because [most times] you are doing work for free,” Barry said.

Think positive: “Be willing to not have all the answers.”

The transition to college can be difficult. But the transition to a life after college can be even more stressful.

“As a college student there is structure with the quarter system, breaks and finals. When you graduate you have to create your own structure,” Sanders said.

On top of that, while internships can be a stepping stone to a job opportunity, the economy is making it more competitive.

“Stay in that positive space, then that idea of ‘it’s cutthroat’ won’t resonate. It’s not if you get a job, or if you get an internship, it’s when,” Sanders said.

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