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Column: Office hours

Opinion

Opinion

February 8, 2010

I’ve never attended office hours before. Just the thought of sitting alone in a room with a professor seems awkward to me. And frankly, I usually don’t start assignments early enough to seek help.

But this quarter, I’m seriously contemplating a trip over to Voorhies Hall and meeting up with my stud muffin of an English professor.

To keep his identity unknown (because I’m sure he reads the paper, recognizes me in class and secretly wants me), I’ll call him Professor Sexiness.

Prof. Sexiness is sexy inside and out. He’s tremendously tall, wears a sultry smile and looks downright delicious in corduroys, neckties and rolled-up sleeves. He’s also got a great sense of humor and seems genuinely amiable. And not only is he easy on the eyes, but his voice is just as pleasant. (I always let out a faint sigh when he walks into class and greets us with “Good afternoon, everyone.”)

This isn’t a crush, however. He’s just eye candy. Hell, I can count the number of hot English professors on one hand. The chance I end up in one of their classes is near impossible. So I might as well take full advantage now. But that doesn’t mean I want to sleep with him – he’s married for Britney’s sake!

How do I know I’m not crushing on Prof. Sexiness? Because I’ve experienced a real crush on a professor before.

It was my first quarter here at Davis. There I was, a confused little freshman wandering into my Intro to Lit class. To my pleasant surprise, I found a hot and steamy grad student at the head of the class, nearly knocking me off my feet in all his hunky glory.

It was lust at first sight. He was young, dreamy and had amazing pecs. He dressed very casually and he even had a tattoo on his bulging left forearm. Every Tuesday and Thursday, I’d sit in the front of the classroom, pretend he was talking to only me and laugh heartily at every one of his jokes. Obviously, we had a fairly serious relationship.

Sadly, it ended the minute I handed him my final. As we parted ways, he said, “Goodbye, Mario. It was a pleasure having you.” I haven’t seen him since, but I know he still wants me – after all, he did give me that A.

Now, I know that student-teacher relations are to be kept to a professional and limited capacity. But it doesn’t hurt anyone to fantasize, does it? If UC Davis wants to dangle some hot pieces of meat in front of our classes, the least we can do is stare, salivate and wish, right? Or is that just me?

What I’m trying to say is this: If you’re anything like me, general naughtiness has a pretty strong hold on your thoughts. So when there’s a hottie in front of you, the first thing you do is undress him or her with your eyes. Professors bear no exception.

Now that I think of it, nothing but good things can come from hot professors. Because of their good looks, I’m able to genuinely pay attention to lectures. I hang upon their every word and my notes are thorough enough to start my own note-taking biz. Their sexy-with-a-touch-of-nerdy styles get me to come to class regularly. I become a good student, thanks to the few hotties in the UC Davis English department.

Classes would be a lot more tolerable if they were all instructed by hot professors. No matter how painstakingly dull the material is, keeping my eyes open would no longer be such a daunting task. And even if I don’t pay attention, simply checking him out is always a satisfying and harmless exercise.

I know this topic is probably not what you were expecting from me, and for that I apologize. But I feel you, my precious readers. We’re all in need of a little de-stressor. Even though this “crush on a teacher” thing is so middle school, it’s relatable.

Think back. I’d be the first to call you a dirty liar if you say you haven’t had a thing for a cute teacher. Maybe not here in Davis, but I’m positive that at some point in your educational pursuit, you’ve come across a sexy geometry teacher, guidance counselor, PE coach or Spanish teacher.

So amid excruciating midterms, 10-page papers and mountains of homework, I encourage you all to take things a little easier. Meet with your professors (even the ones who aren’t so cute) and compliment them on their orthopedic shoes or tweed coats. Share a smile.

And if you do happen to have a hot professor, reward yourself with a little more face time and show up to an office hour or two.

After all, it doesn’t hurt to look.

MARIO LUGO may be a lot of things, but a homewrecker he is not. That being said, he’ll be on his best behavior and suppress all desires when he meets with (married!) Prof. Sexiness. Send him words of encouragement at mlugo@ucdavis.edu.

Aggie Daily Calendar

Features

Features Editor

February 8, 2010

TODAY

Cancer Week: Breast, Prostate, Testicular

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Quad

Help spread cancer awareness and learn how it can affect you. Wear a pink shirt to show your support!

Project Compost

6 p.m.

43 Memorial Union

Attend the Project Compost volunteer meetings and learn how you can help them divert organic waste around a campus.

Cooking Club Meeting

6:10 to 7 p.m.

261 Olson

Practice your baking and decorating skills for your main squeeze! They will be decorating cookies and cupcakes. Sprinkles and frosting will be provided but feel free to bring in delicious sweets to share!

UCD Alumna Janis Z. Moon Lecture

6:45 p.m.

Hampton Inn, 2060 Freeway Drive, Woodland

Multi-millionaire and UC Davis alumna Janis Z. Moon will share her insights and inspirations in working with a top cosmetics company! RSVP with Lori Lagerstrom at (530) 574-1400.

TUESDAY

Cancer Week: Lung

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Quad

Help spread cancer awareness and learn how it can affect you. Wear a white shirt to show your support!

Poetry Workshop

Noon to 2 p.m.

126 Voorhies

Listen to a poetry reading by Nepalese scholar Yuyutsu Ram Dass Sharma and work on your poetry!

Breakthrough Collaborative Info Session

4 p.m.

114 South

Looking for a paid summer teaching job? Breakthrough Collaborative is looking for undergraduates to teach underserved middle school students.

WEDNESDAY

Cancer Week: Skin

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Quad

Help spread cancer awareness and learn how it can affect you. Wear a black shirt to show your support!

Fall Quarter Latina/o Health Program Info Session

Noon to 1 p.m.

2102 Hart

Are you a pre-med student? Learn how you can receive 20 units this fall quarter by studying and working in hospitals and clinics in Oaxaca, Mexico.

“How to Become a School Teacher” Panel

1:30 p.m.

2368 Academic Surge

Listen to a panel of credential candidates in UC Davis’ master’s program discuss how to apply to grad school and teaching elementary and high school students.

Picnic Day Application Deadline

5 p.m.

349 Memorial Union

Picnic Day applications are due at 5 p.m. Go to picnicday.ucdavis.edu for more information or to download applications.

THURSDAY

Cancer Week: Cervical

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Quad

Help spread cancer awareness and learn how it can affect you. Wear a teal or green shirt to show your support!

Davis Comedy Jam

7 to 9 p.m.

Art Annex

Join three hilarious comedians in a night of laughter!

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

Davis woman captures community’s heart

City News

City Editor

February 8, 2010

While most people get caught up in life’s daily distractions, one person has devoted her efforts to aid those in need.

Cathy Speck, a Davis resident, is one of the top ten finalists nominated for the Tom’s of Maine and Care2.com Hero Next Door contest for her advocacy of Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). Diagnosed with ALS, Speck is eligible to win $2,500 and have another $2,500 donated to the ALS Association.

“I am excited to see how the community reacts to it,” Speck said. “Now that we are number one, it just shows the power and compassion and generosity of our community. All of these horrible things happen all over the world, but in our small oasis right here to see people change as they fight for something in common, is really encouraging.”

Speck was diagnosed at age 49 with familial ALS shortly after her brother Larry passed away from the disease.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Lou Gehrig’s Disease at this point in time. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are affected, creating muscle weakness and atrophy. Over 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year, and patients have on average three to five year life expectancy.

With four of her other family members affected by ALS – at 13, Speck lost her mother to the disease – she is well aware of the disease’s power. Busy in her efforts to spread awareness, Speck educates junior high school students, her co-workers and other individuals she comes across.

Speck serves as the safety director at the Davis Food Co-op, where in her seven years of service, the store has only had one accident.

“We have all been working hard to support her in the contest, and it’s really awesome that she’s being nominated on a national stage, which speaks very loud for her spirit and who she is and what she’s trying to do,” said Dustin Scroggins, Davis Food Co-op’s assistant safety director and membership clerk.

Speck lives with her wife Linda, who she has been with for over 16 years. Outside of teaching the public about the disease, the couple enjoys performing music and singing. Speck can be seen traveling around in her brightly decorated walker to stir public interest about the disease.

“It’s kind of my mission to raise awareness and funding for ALS,” Speck said. “ALS is not a popular disease, like breast cancer or [one] that has celebrities talking about it. Most people don’t know a lot about it, so they don’t donate funds. By winning this contest, ALS will get some national attention and hopefully some funding for research.”

Currently Speck is suffering the most from extreme fatigue, fasciculation and increasing muscle weakness and loss. Having been an athlete all her life, Speck described herself as once always on the go and constantly in motion, whether with her band or in everyday activities. Speck used to be a cross-country biker, but now she is unable to ride a bike and is limited to her walker.

“There’s a lot of research being done throughout the country,” said Björn Oskarsson, assistant professor of clinical neurology and director of UC Davis’ multidisciplinary ALS clinic. “Here at UC Davis we are involved in clinical trials, and right now we are experimenting in one national study of a drug. We are looking at developing stem cell cures for the disease, but right now our stencils are for mice. Hopefully it won’t be too long to take that to humans. Hopefully in the next year or two.”

Speck is currently in first place in the contest, which will end on Feb. 26. To read more about Cathy Speck or to vote, visit care2.com/hero-next-door/372/description.

SAMANTHA BOSIO can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Endowment funds drop nationwide, study says

City News

City Editor

February 8, 2010

UC Davis donors have limited their giving, according to lower endowment funds for the 2009 fiscal year.

The UC Davis Foundation lost 12.6 percent of its value between 2008 and 2009, according to the annual NACUBO Commonfund Study of Endowments from the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

The general University of California endowment, which UC Davis utilizes, dropped 19 percent.

The report, released at the end of January, recorded changes in over 860 colleges and universities nationwide. The average decline was 18.7 percent. UC ranked as the 12th highest university endowment decline, while the UC Davis Foundation was further down the list at 290. Harvard’s endowment was hit the hardest with almost a 30 percent drop, bringing their endowment to just over $25 billion.

NACUBO Director of Research and Policy Analysis Kenneth Redd said in an e-mail interview this decline is the largest seen in 39 years. Previously, the biggest decline was in 1974, with an 11.4 percent average decline.

Despite the bad news, things are starting to look up, Redd said.

“2010 is looking a little better for endowments,” he said. “The [Standard & Poor’s 500] is up 22 percent during the first six months of the fiscal year, and it is likely that endowments were increasing during this rise.”

Redd said endowments can provide up to 15 percent of a university’s operating budget. Financial aid and endowed faculty chairs commonly use endowment funding.

A representative from the Treasurer’s Office of the UC Regents said 2009 was a bump in the road. Over the past five years, the average amount in the UC endowment has stayed fairly constant.

“[In 2009,] everyone had a disappointing performance,” said the staffer, who asked to remain unnamed because he is not an official spokesperson. “UC [took a] big hit, but this year we’ve recouped a lot of it. We’ve had a big turn around here at the university.”

The general UC endowment is over $4.9 billion, though in 2008 it was over $6.2 billion. A full report about the 2009 UC endowment will be released at the end of February, said the UC treasury representative.

UC Davis’ total endowment has declined, but less than the national average, said Associate Vice Chancellor of Development Cheryl Brown Lohsé and UC Davis Foundation and Executive Director of Administrative Services for the Office of University Relations Bella Corbin. In 2009, the total UC Davis endowment was valued at $538 million. UCD gets endowment funds from their own foundation and from the UC-wide endowment.

“Investment strategies are designed to protect the endowment optimally, even in severely down markets,” Lohsé and Corbin said in an e-mail interview.

Of the total UC Davis endowment, about 20 percent goes toward student support.

“Student financial aid is indeed one area that donors support and have long supported with endowment gifts,” Lohsé said. “UC Davis works to raise gifts for student support continually and we are grateful to many generous donors who are making gifts for student support each year.”

Universities with even bigger endowments may depend more on donor-based money.

Large institutions with over $1 billion endowments tend to be more heavily dependent on donor funds. Up to 40 percent of some institutions’ budgets depend endowment revenue, Redd said.

“The declines these institutions saw in their market values would have a adverse impact on their funding,” he said.

SASHA LEKACH can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Local businesses, organizations raise funds for Haiti

City News

City Editor

February 8, 2010

The disastrous consequences of Haiti’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which hit the island on Jan. 12, are thousands of miles away. Nonetheless, multiple Davis businesses and organizations are engaged in an assortment of relief efforts.

Elisa Stone of the Davis Community Church was inspired to act after she listened to a program on National Public Radio about a nine-year-old Haitian girl with a broken leg.

“I have a nine-year-old; this touched me deeply,” Stone said.

She e-mailed her pastor, Mary Lynn Tobin, at the Davis Community Church and was put in contact with the Church World Service Organization. Instead of donating money, the organization asked for specialized “hygiene kits” that would help fight the spread of disease, which is so prevalent in the makeshift refugee camps.

These hygiene kits have become a group effort, Stone said. On Feb. 13 all of the collected funds will be brought to the Davis Community Church where the kits will then be assembled.

A variety of religious organizations, from mosques to churches, are involved in the initiative. So are the UC Davis Rotary Club and the International House, which are currently collecting donations for the kits.

Large corporations are trying to do their share, too. All 134 Raley’s, Bel Air, Nob Hill Foods and Food Source locations have designated check stand collection boxes open through Feb 13. Philanthropists can rest assured that 100 percent of their donations will be seen by the International Response Fund through The American Red Cross, as Raley’s will cover all administrative costs associated with the check stands.

“Our customers and employees have been very generous in donating to the cause,” said spokesperson Nicole Townsend.

To date funds received from the check stands total nearly $90,000.

Downtown Davis eatery and tequila bar Agave will soon join the ranks of the philanthropic. The Latin fusion restaurant located on 217 E St. will host a dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20 with 20 percent of its proceeds going towards The American Red Cross for the relief effort in Haiti.

The Dumpling House, located on 129 E St., recently hosted a day in which a portion of its proceeds was donated to The American Red Cross as well.

When Dumpling House owner Linda Lui, who also owns The Red Orchid and Davis Noodle City with her husband, heard news of the quake’s destruction, she said it hit close to home.

“In China we have earthquakes too, and a lot of families lose parents or children.” Lui said. “We make money here and we should appreciate that.”

Lui applauded the patience of her customers for withstanding long lines in order to offer a contribution.

“Everyone walked in at the same time but they [decided to] wait for the food and wait to give their donations,” Lui said.

Fellow downtown Davis business, Renew Denim, which buys overstock brand denim and sells it at a lower price, has already given a corporate donation to help expedite relief efforts in Haiti. The company, which is owned by husband and wife team Samantha and Barth Ballard, will soon host a consumer driven charitable event for Haiti. The date has not been finalized but Samantha Ballard said she feels it is critical to contribute when the immediate flow of aid money has started to dry up.

“My husband read an interesting article in the Harvard Business Journal that made us think that a charitable effort 60 days after the earthquake is almost more effective than an immediate response, due to the learnings from the [2004 Indian Ocean] tsunami relief efforts,” Ballard said.

Local organizations and corporations alike have banded together to ease the pain felt by the nation of Haiti. The efforts may be diverse but the overall notion, to help country in desperate need, is the same.

KELLEY REES can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Legislative Analyst’s Office rejects governor’s education amendment

Campus News

Campus Editor

February 8, 2010

In a report released on Jan. 26, the nonpartisan budget analyst of the California Legislature rejected Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed constitutional amendment to spend more on higher education than on prisons.

The amendment would limit state spending on prisons to 7 percent and mandate at least 10 percent to the UCs and CSUs.

California’s 2009-2010 budget allocated $8.1 billion, or 9.5 percent, to prison spending. According to data in the LAO report this represents a 4 percent increase from 1985. In contrast, the state provided $4.9 billion or 5.7 percent of the General Fund to the UC and CSU for 2009-2010. State support for universities has fallen 11 percent since from 1984-1985.

In its analysis, the LAO said the constitutional amendment set arbitrary spending parameters for public universities and corrections services. It also stated that the legislature and governor can already decide on spending priorities through the normal budget process.

“The legislature adopts a budget each year,” said Steve Boilard, LAO’s Director for Higher Education, in an e-mail interview. “In doing this, the legislature decides how much General Fund support to provide to the universities and to corrections. There are no prescribed limits on what share of total state funding each is to receive.”

However the LAO study drew criticism from UC officials, who accused it of supporting “business as usual.” UC Vice President of Budget Patrick Lenz said while he agreed that an amendment wasn’t necessary, he was troubled by the lack of proposals to address the problem.

“I think that some really specific recommendations would be beneficial,” Lenz said.

He added that he felt that most members of California’s term-limited legislature were limited in their knowledge of higher education and its funding. This environment, he said, made the need for clear funding solutions necessary.

Education policy experts are split on whether the LAO’s analysis answers the question of how to solve the university’s revenue problems. The main point of contention has been whether the amendment’s quotas will give adequate funding to UC.

“One reason higher education has been losing funding steadily is because it is part of the discretionary portion of the state budget,” said Cristina Gonzalez, UC Davis education professor in an e-mail interview.

Gonzalez approves of the governor’s proposal because she thinks it will prevent any tampering with education funding.

“Given that history, to secure a fixed percentage of the state budget makes a lot of sense,” Gonzalez said. “This represents a reallocation of resources. The alternative is to raise taxes, which nobody seems to want to do.”

Others say locking in spending, whether it favors universities over prisons or not, will fix the long-term problem. They believe the focus should be on reforming California’s revenue foundation.

Education professor Tom Timar advocated a rethinking of California’s tax base, such as lessening state dependence on income or property taxes, which are susceptible to the health of the economy.

Timar said that such would allow the UC to weather boom and bust cycles and rely on a steady base of revenue.

“It’s going to take going back and looking at how we fund public services; what are our revenue sources; what is the taxing system like,” Timar said. “I think we need to look at ways of funding the university that are stable, predictable, ongoing and adequate that give the university the kind of funding it needs to maintain its international preeminence and be able to serve the people of California.”

LESLIE TSAN can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Students, faculty reclaim study space in library ‘study-in’

Campus News

Campus Editor

February 8, 2010

Nearly 40 students and faculty spent the night in the bookracks of Shields Library on Friday after a night of teach-ins, activism and studying.

Students remained in the library until Sunday night, attending workshops pertaining to the UC budget and the surrounding activism. Students also held yoga sessions, a dance party and a self-defense workshop, they also heard from several keynote speakers such as University Council-American Federation of Teachers President Bob Samuels and Technocultural Studies professor Bob Ostertag.

“The key to organizing is raising expectations,” Ostertag said in his speech. “When people expect more from their university, they go into action. We need to transfer the culture of the campus so people think it’s credible that it could be different.”

Samuels discussed his criticism of UC, claiming that it’s a myth that the UC can’t use profits it gains from its auxiliary services like parking or other programs that generate revenue on academic instruction.

Members of MEChA also spoke.

Prior to the study-in, Chancellor Linda Katehi and Provost Enrique Lavernia informed students in an e-mail that the library would remain open from Friday night until midnight on Sunday.

“Even if there’s only 50 of us, even if there’s only 75 of us, even if there’s only 100 of us, we’ve changed the configuration of the university this week,” said English professor Nathan Brown. “We’ve shown we can declare we’re going to be in a space and keep it open and use it the way that we want.”

Many students agreed that although keeping the library open all weekend was a kind gesture, it was not necessary to hold the protest.

“It doesn’t have an effect on the protest,” said Brian Sparks, senior international relations major. “We weren’t waiting for their approval since we planned this before they sent that e-mail.”

Although extending library hours during the weekend required some librarians to remain on staff as volunteers, many supported the study-in.

“Students should be able to express how they feel financially,” said Becky Moore, a staff member in the library who was present during the study-in. “Allowing [the students] to protest inside the library will make sure everything and anyone is safe. The library is about safety for students.”

This academic year, the library took a 5.5 percent cut, which resulted in fewer incoming books and journal subscriptions. In the e-mail, Katehi and Lavernia informed students and faculty of a Joint Senate-Administration Task Force on the Future of the Library designed to make recommendations for the library’s budget.

– Lauren Steussy, Mike Dorsey, Janelle Bitker, Kyle Sporleder and Erin Migdol contributed to this report

Students collaborate to serve community

Campus News

Campus Editor

February 8, 2010

Aggies gave back to the community this weekend by volunteering for a number of local projects around campus and the city for the quarterly Weekend of Service.

Students signed up online for events like serving a meal to homeless and low-income people, planting trees at John Barovetto Park, making bracelets and crafts and creating a meadow under the oak grove in the UC Davis Arboretum.

The Weekend of Service, held over Friday and Saturday, was organized by the Community Service Resource Center. What began years ago as an annual “Week of Service” changed in 2008 into one weekend every quarter during which local non-profits could benefit from the coordinated efforts of hundreds of UC Davis students.

Cynthia Goldberg has worked with the Internship and Career Center since 2007 and helps to organize the projects every quarter.

“One of my personal goals for [the weekend] is exactly to connect UC Davis students who most likely do not know the area beyond the university and their apartments to see what rich resources exist in Yolo County and the region,” Goldberg said. “Both the town and the university strive to make Davis a place where we are all well connected and that depends on actively reaching out to create a sense of community.”

This sense of community was evident on Saturday as over 30 volunteers braved mud and rain to plant native grasses in the Peter J. Shields Oak Grove in the Arboretum.

“By this spring we hope to have a meadow that covers the entire area,” said Emily Griswold, project coordinator for the event. “These native grasses grow pretty quickly, so people will be able to appreciate the work we’re doing here today within just a few months.”

The project succeeded in planting about half of one of the several groves of oak trees with 4,000 plugs of native grasses.

Christy Marsden, a graduate student in plant sciences, was excited to see students come out and support the Arboretum.

“People know what they’re in for when they sign up for this and see ‘bring shoes and pants that you don’t mind getting muddy’ on the description,” Marsden said. “It’s great that some students are willing to devote a Saturday afternoon to come learn about some local plant life and make the arboretum a little more beautiful.”

The plantings were part of a larger initiative to develop an Oak Discovery Trail that will have a grand opening on May 2.

Other projects were successful as well, due to a large number of motivated volunteers and the close coordination between the Community Services Resource Center and local project leaders.

“Some projects fill up just one or two days after the sign up lists go live … anything involving hand crafting seems very popular,” Goldberg said. “Quilting, knitting, crocheting, bracelet making and any meals-for-community projects are also very popular.”

Students are encouraged to sign up for the community service listserve at https://iccweb.ucdavis.edu/students/ListServSignup.htm for information about upcoming projects and events.

The Weekend of Service tradition will continue spring quarter on April 24 and 25 with new projects.

BRIAN GERSON can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Senate Briefs

Campus News

Campus Editor

February 8, 2010

ASUCD Senate meetings are scheduled to begin Thursdays at 6:10 p.m. Times listed are according to the clock at the Feb. 4 meeting location, the Memorial Union’s Mee Room.

Meeting called to order at 6:20 p.m.

Joe Chatham, ASUCD president, present (left early)

Chris Dietrich, ASUCD vice president, present

Abrham Castillo-Ruiz, ASUCD senator, present

Joemar Clemente, ASUCD senator, present

Justin Gold, ASUCD senator, present

Don Ho, ASUCD senator, absent

Joel Juarez, ASUCD senator, present

Andre Lee, ASUCD president pro-tempore, present

Levi Menovske, ASUCD senator, present

Kevin Massoudi, ASUCD senator, present

Bree Rombi, ASUCD senator, present

Shawdee Rouhafza, ASUCD senator, absent

Trevor Taylor, ASUCD senator, present

Previn Witana, ASUCD senator, present

Appointments and Confirmations

The senate approved Matt Provencher to the Academic Affairs Commission (AAC).

Consideration of Old Legislation

Senate Bill 25, authored by Jeysree Ramachandran of the Internal Affairs Commission (IAC), co-authored by Subhan Cheema of the IAC, Tim Kerbavaz and Thongxy Phansopha of the Entertainment Council (EC), Lee, Witana, ASUCD Controller Eli Yani and former senator Jack Zwald and introduced by Ho, to implement the Long Range Plan for the EC, was passed unanimously.

Senate Resolution 10, authored by Rouhafza, co-authored by Taylor and Ely Estoesta and introduced by Taylor, opposing the proposed removal of the Division of Textiles and Clothing from UC Davis, was passed unanimously.

Senate Resolution 12, authored by Justin Patrizio of the External Affairs Commission (EAC), co-authored by Dietrich and introduced by Taylor, to support the Student Alumni Association in its efforts to implement an optional quarterly membership fee payment system in place of the one-time lump sum payment to encourage membership, was passed unanimously.

Public Announcements

Sarah Raridon of the Gender and Sexuality Commission (GASC) outlined the schedule for Generation Sex Week. Today is Sex-Ed Revamped followed by a sex toy workshop. Tuesday will be a body image workshop hosted by CAPS and a free screening of Precious in Chem 194. Wednesday will be a sex and mental health workshop, followed by the Gender Soliloqueers in the evening. Thursday will be a consent workshop and a student masculinity panel. On Friday, there will be a showing of the Vagina Monologues.

Dietrich announced that the City-UC Davis Student Liason Commission will be meeting this coming Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

Jeff Williams of the Business and Finance Commission (BFC) stated that BFC is still hiring.

Juarez stated that this week is Financial Aid Awareness Week. FAFSA workshops will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in Wellman 126 on Tuesday and in the Tercero Main Lounge on Thursday.

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

ARNOLD LAU compiles the senate briefs. He can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Panel hashes out legal problems caused by social media

Campus News

Campus Editor

February 8, 2010

Legal experts gathered last Wednesday in Wilkins Moot Courtroom at the UC Davis School of Law to discuss how the law might adapt to social media.

“Everything is out in the open and dangerous now, because we’re all carrying multimedia devices,” said UC Davis law professor Anupam Chander.

However phone-possessors are in danger too, should they choose to engage in inappropriate conduct via text message, said Sacramento attorney Roger Dreyer.

“Things aren’t gone when you press delete,” Dreyer cautioned. “When you text, that information can be stored on your SIM card.”

The panel, called “Social Media as Evidence: New Legal and Ethical Frontiers,” was comprised of Dreyer, UC Davis law professors Edward Imwinkelried and Chander, Cassandra Ferrannini, a partner in the Sacramento firm Downey Brand, and Catherine Kirkman, a partner in the Palo Alto firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati.

Hollis Kulwin, senior assistant dean for student affairs at the UC Davis School of Law moderated the discussion.

Kirkman said developments in social media make it extremely difficult for companies to manage around a certain level of risk, and that without embracing that risk there cannot be progress on the social media front.

“Do you say, ‘There are too many concerns, no, don’t do it?'” she asked. “Or maybe it’s ‘No, this is something we think is valuable and we are going to manage risk around that with a rational strategy.'”

According to Dreyer, pictures on Facebook or Twitter – the weapons most commonly used against accused wrongdoers – are hard to refute because of their ability to capture a moment.

“[They] may smile and have a beer in their hand with a buddy, but then leave the party a minute later but you can’t explain that to a jury,” he said. “The visual evidence is very overpowering.”

The picture’s purpose as a moment of representation acts as a double-edged sword is especially apparent to candidates for office.

Chander noted that after any type of nomination, things are instantly brought to the public’s attention. Public figures are faced with a moral dilemma, knowing such exposure is inevitable.

“Do you hide anything?” he asked. “Or do you take the risk of being true to yourself, exploring, taking chances, while knowing that chance-taking will put you at risk in the future?”

MIKE DORSEY can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Student challenges authority of ASUCD Elections Committee

Campus News

Campus Editor

February 8, 2010

With ASUCD elections approaching next week, student Daniel Golden has filed a court appeal against the ASUCD Elections Committee that will challenge the validity of presidential candidates Sergio Blanco and Vishakha Patel.

Blanco and Patel, currently running on an independent ticket, were granted a 24-hour extension past the original deadline to acquire the full 250 signatures needed to apply for candidacy. According to ASUCD records, after originally submitting more than the full number signatures by deadline, the elections committee found only 231 of the signatures to be valid – leaving the candidates 19 signatures short of the required amount.

“When you collect signatures from people, you have to assume they’re good,” Blanco said. “When you ask someone for their ID number you don’t know if it’s correct; you assume that it is.”

At the first elections meeting, all candidates were provided with a packet, which outlined ASUCD election bylaws. Elections Committee Chair Nick Sidney also informed the candidates of the 24-hour extension policy.

After submitting the additional signatures as stated within the 24-hour period, Blanco and Patel were granted a certificate of candidacy, and recognized by the committee as President and Vice President candidates for the winter 2010 ASUCD election.

Golden, a sophomore animal science major, has no direct affiliation with ASUCD but was made aware of this case through his housemate, ASUCD Associate Justice Ryan Meyerhoff.

In his original complaint, Golden states that the executive ticket did not have the number of required petitions at the due date. He added that because the authority to grant an extension is not explicitly written in ASUCD bylaws, the Elections Committee “illegally” granted Blanco and Patel the additional amount of time to acquire signatures.

“They shouldn’t be given a 24-hour extension, because the ASUCD bylaws state that the elections committee only has the power explicitly given to them, and this extension isn’t specifically included,” Golden said. “If ASUCD would like to add a specific bylaw that allows the Election Committee to grant extensions I’m fine with that – but speaking as a concerned student, [I] don’t want to see people taking advantage of the system.”

Speaking in defense of the Elections Committee, Chair Nick Sidney recognized Golden’s right to challenge ASUCD’s actions, but stands by the committee’s authority to allow Blanco and Patel to run.

“Part of the reason I support the extension is because anyone that picked up a packet was notified of that policy in advance, and we laid it out in fall quarter, and no one challenged it when the policy was announced – only after we acted on the policy,” he said. “Also, we did act on this policy in fall quarter, and no one challenged it then.”

The trial will take place Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., and the outcome will determine whether Blanco and Patel will be placed on the executive ticket alongside L.E.A.D. candidates Jack Zwald and Previn Witana, and independent candidates Greg Webb and Jessica Martin. The case will be overseen by six Court Justices – excluding Ryan Meyerhoff, who withdrew from the case due to his association with Golden.

Elections will be held Feb. 17 through 19. Voters will cast their votes through the elections website, which opens the morning of Feb. 17.

MICHELLE IMMEL can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Column: Jesus Hippie Chic

Opinion

Opinion

February 5, 2010

Caitlin is a contradiction.

When I met her, I was critiquing her interior perspective drawing for DES 15. She had painted a giant bunk bed, but because she ran out of time to paint the lower bunk, it became a giant table. The room had no walls, and the objects in the foreground were smaller than those in the background.

I targeted the visual impossibility of the bed-table in the background. She tried to justify it by saying it was intentional, given that since it was a kid’s bedroom, the scale made the viewer feel small, like a kid.

“Look at her,” our professor said. “She’s dancing.”

I then found out she was a regent scholar, and came here instead of Berkeley because UC Davis gave her a full ride. This did not make sense. Three years later, Caitlin still does not make sense. I’ve seen her near daily for the past two quarters, and I still can’t figure her out.

She’s athletic, attractive, but doesn’t wear makeup. Her neck, arms, back and legs are long and thin. Her nose slopes down to a marble at the tip. But if she wears a fake beard and hides her hair in a trucker hat, she looks like a man.

One day, she’ll be wearing a summer dress she sewed herself with her hair fanned out in an A-line. The next day she’ll be wearing nylon pants and a Northface sweater, with her greasy bangs (after three showerless days) pulled back over her head with bobby pins.

She got in trouble during high school dances for dancing too dirty. But she gets uncomfortable when I tell her I have to shit at her place after hours of design work. She led Bible studies for a campus ministry a year ago. She downs Wickys at Café Bernardo regularly. She won’t go to a church unless they allow women pastors. She thinks the burning bush in Exodus is a metaphor for love. She is the only white person on the Vent Magazine staff.

Caitlin is a logical fallacy. Her roommates once went around coining each other’s fashion styles in catch phrases. When Caitlin’s turn came, her roommate Meg said, “Jesus Hippie Chic.”

For a research paper she was writing for her landscape architecture class last quarter, she asked me which represents America more: the lawn or the garage. The garage is a close candidate because while it’s designed to store cars, most hide all their unopened moving boxes and their untouched treadmill inside it, choosing to display their cars on the driveway instead.

The lawn, we decide, is the more accurate metaphor, though. In California, at least, the desert climate is unsuitable for lawns. But we waste billions of gallons in drinking water each year trying to keep up the grass, mowing it weekly to keep it controlled – just to make our houses look a little more natural.

The fact that the lawn is a natural impossibility makes everyone want it.

This delusion is also why we, as a country, think we can spend more than we borrow, kill millions and spend billions in two unnecessary wars under God’s name, and expect to lower our national deficit with tax cuts for the people most unaffected by economic crisis.

It’s also why Britney Spears got famous, but lost it the morning after she lost her virginity. And it’s also why one of Caitlin’s main struggles in life is telling guys she doesn’t want to marry them.

She says all her ex-boyfriends live in this fantasy world where people wear white dresses and eat cakes. When she tells them she doesn’t want to get married, they never really believe her.

“Guys either wait to save me or corrupt me,” she said once.

It was three in the morning, the night I helped Caitlin move out of her apartment. In the dark, the haircut she thought made her look old and maternal made her look like Grace Kelly.

The supermen all want to save the jaded, loveless damsel by teaching her how to use a five-column grid in InDesign. The jokers all want to corrupt the Christian saint by making her take enough shots at the bar to get her swimming in the Tanglewood fountain on the way home.

“Have you ever had your heart broken?” I asked her. I asked because I am the exact opposite. I always want more than I give. I take more than I share. But I give more than I actually have. And if we can learn anything from our national trade deficit, when you borrow more than you can pay back, you break.

“I’ve had my share of heartbreak, but my life never fell apart because of someone else,” she said. “I don’t understand that. Maybe I just don’t fall in love.”

During the three-person Bible group I meet with Caitlin in each week, we talked about the Exodus story, and how Moses was drawn to a bush that could burn but simultaneously self-sustain. It’s inherently contradictory. It doesn’t make sense, and it doesn’t try to make sense. But it exists. And the closer you get, the less sense it makes. But you get closer, closer, closer.

GEOFF MAK and Caitlin both want you to go to the Vent Magazine Release Party at The Grad. If this gets posted on the website before 11 p.m. on Thursday, this will still be relevant. If you want a copy with Geoff’s article as the cover story, reach him at gemak@ucdavis.edu.

Column: Swine flu surprises

Opinion

Opinion

February 5, 2010

I’m sitting with a large box of Kleenex in my right hand, Finding Nemo children’s vitamins (I still take those – twice a day) in my left and a large bottle of Purell within reach of either hand. My body feels unbalanced – left nostril is runny, right nostril is dry – and my brain feels frozen.

Twelve hours ago, I thought to myself as I popped in another chewable Nemo tablet and downed my last bottle of water, I was feeling all right at home. What exactly happened?

These disturbing health conditions all unraveled immediately after Winter Break. Was it possible that I had caught a cold in Vegas? Something told me this wasn’t a cold, though. It just didn’t feel like one. So what was it?

I mentally flipped through my random shenanigans over break – typical hanging out at the movies, eating out with family, running around the block and … getting a swine flu vaccination.

Crap. That must’ve been it. I have swine flu. Rather, the effects of it thanks to those darn injected strands of virus. I could feel an army of them jabbing at my left nostril, waiting to flood toward my collar.

It started about a month ago when – surprise number one – my mom had the grand idea for me to visit her doctor for a swine flu vaccination. We were supposed to be on our way to a casino. (It was too good to be true.)

As I sat in the cramped doctor’s office, debating how I was going to roll up my long sleeve t-shirt so the shot could be injected, the nurse demanded I tilt my head up. This was met with a blank stare.

Why would she tell me to do that? I mean, I’ve had shots injected into my arm, butt and pinky, but since when were shots injected into your … face?

I wore her patience as I pondered. She yanked my head while I shook like a poor Chihuahua being held for the first time. I couldn’t believe I was about to get a shot up my NOSE. She then went on to … spray the vaccine. Oh, got it. How could I forget? Surprise number two: nasal spray.

Fast-forward three weeks. My mind is cluttered with tissue and there’s Purell being dispensed on every possible surface – think Emma from “Glee” but minus the quirky, cute outfits. Replace them with a soaked, oversized t-shirt and sweats.

Trying to figure out how I could ease these swine flu effects, I finally unfolded the handy doctor’s sheet titled “How to Deal With Swine Flu Vaccination and Its Effects.”

The first things on the list were to rest, drink plenty of water and exert low physical activity. (Something I should have read ages ago, before that trip to Vegas and the nightly runs around the block). And sure enough, I had almost all the effects listed – the runny nose, the dry throat, the headache.

Based on the bluntly stated title of that doctor’s sheet, I figured there would be tips as to how to ease the symptoms AFTER you get them. There were no such suggestions, though.

I was screwed. There was nothing I could do – other than infect my roommate and classmates with bacteria.

I figured it was just a matter of time, empty Kleenex boxes and overfilled trash cans before this would be over. Now, I’ve got an endless supply of Kleenex and trash bags – time, on the other hand, not so much.

Sure enough, all it took was about two weeks before the symptoms magically disappeared (just as they had magically appeared). That was surprise number three.

TIFFANY LEW hopes she didn’t infect you with any germs a few weeks ago. She feels nasty just typing this out. Contact her at tjlew@ucdavis.edu to share your flu season stories.

Aggie Daily Calendar

Features

Features Editor

February 5, 2010

TODAY

Folk Music Jam Session

Noon to 1 p.m.

Wyatt Deck, Old Davis Road

Pull out your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes and flutes and join your fellow musicians for a little bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, klezmer and world music over the lunch hour!

Media Board Meeting

Noon to 2 p.m.

Mee Room, Memorial Union

Attend this media board meeting and learn how you can be involved.

UC Davis Women’s Tennis

1:30 p.m.

Marya Welch Tennis Center

Watch the women’s tennis team face off against the University of San Francisco.

Delta Sigma Pi: Pizza Night

6:15 p.m.

Cabernet Room, Silo

Enjoy a fun night with the brothers of Delta Sigma Pi with pizza and games.

Beauty and the Beast: Volleyball and Wrestling

7 p.m.

Pavilion

Watch the men’s wrestling and women’s gymnastics compete at the same time!

SATURDAY

Guided Tour: Birds of the Winter in the Arboretum

11 a.m.

Arboretum Headquarters, LaRue Road

Learn about bird-friendly gardening and what plants attract birds during a free public tour of the UC Davis Arboretum.

UC Davis Women’s Tennis

11:30 a.m.

Marya Welch Tennis Center

Cheer on the women’s tennis team as they face Sonoma State University!

UC Davis Men’s Wrestling

6 p.m.

Upper Hickey Gym

Go see the men’s wrestling team take on their conference foe, Stanford.

UC Davis Men’s Basketball

7 p.m.

Pavilion

Get a free beanie and watch the men’s team battle UC Santa Barbara.

MONDAY

Cancer Week: Breast, Prostate and Testicular

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Quad

Help spread cancer awareness and learn how it can affect you. Wear a pink shirt to show your support!

Cooking Club Meeting

6:10 to 7 p.m.

261 Olson

Practice your baking decorating skills for your main squeeze! They will be decorating cookies and cupcakes. Sprinkles and frosting will be provided but feel free to bring in delicious sweets to share!

Project Compost

6 p.m.

43 Memorial Union

Attend the Project Compost volunteer meetings and learn how you can help them divert organic waste around campus.

TUESDAY

Poetry Workshop

Noon to 2 p.m.

126 Voorhies

Listen to a poetry reading by Nepalese scholar Yuyutsu Ram Dass Sharma and work on your poetry!

Breakthrough Collaborative Info Session

4 p.m.

114 South

Looking for a paid summer teaching job? Breakthrough Collaborative is looking for undergraduates to teach underserved middle school students.

WEDNESDAY

“How to Become a School Teacher” Panel

1:30 p.m.

2368 Academic Surge

Listen to a panel of credential candidates in UC Davis’ master’s program discuss how to apply to grad school and teach elementary and high school students.

Picnic Day Application Deadline

5 p.m.

349 Memorial Union

Picnic Day applications are due at 5 p.m. Go to picnicday.ucdavis.edu for more information or to download applications.

Academy educates community in police work

City News

City Editor

February 5, 2010

Anyone who is curious about the how the police serve Davis can get a first-hand opportunity to see for him or herself. The Davis Police Department is hosting the Citizen Police Academy, an annual tradition.

The Citizen Police Academy is a free seven-week crash course that aims to educate the public in police procedures and protocol. The course includes topics such as laws of arrest, search and seizure, crime scene investigation, juvenile programs, gangs, traffic enforcement, crime prevention and methods of combating driving under the influence.

“People who attend appear to end up being very enlightened for [the course].” said DPD Public Information Officer Lt. Thomas Waltz. “There may also be a demonstration by SWAT this year too.”

Police Service Specialist Michele Reynolds, who handles safety at major city public events such as Picnic Day, coordinates the academy.

“This is for the community,” Reynolds said. “People get to find out how the Davis Police Department works; there can be a lot of speculation. Also this course is mandatory for anyone wishing to serve as a volunteer for the police department.”

Volunteers work with the Davis police in issues ranging from neighborhood watch coordination to parking infractions.

“There are still spaces available for this year’s academy,” Reynolds said.

The course will begin Feb. 17 and end Apr. 7. The classes will be held Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Police officers serve as the instructors and do all lectures on Powerpoint to save paper.

“This is a low cost project to the city,” Reynolds said. “Officers who participate do so on flex time, meaning that they take a day to teach and have a different day taken off from their regular schedule. Officers don’t get overtime to teach the course.”

The course is geared towards adults, but anyone who is at least 16 tears old may participate with parental consent. Participants are required to be free from any felony convictions or active warrants for their arrest.

“There is also a youth academy which is more of a day camp situation,” Waltz said.

Reynolds coordinates the two-week youth academy every summer for young adults ages 13 or older.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Reynolds said. “We set up crime scenes for the kids; they get SWAT instruction followed by a paint ball tournament. It is really a stepping stone for young adults interested in the cadet program.”

Participants learn calisthenics every morning, wear uniforms and learn to address their instructors like the older cadets – “Yes, sir” or “Yes, ma’am.”

“I think it’s great. There can be trust issues between law enforcement and the public especially in a student town, especially after the protest activity on campus,” said Kate Darfler, a senior English major. “It also shows that the community is willing to be involved by signing up, and it’s free, so that’s great.”

Applications are still available for both programs. Please visit cityofdavis.org/police/cpa.cfm or contact Police Service Specialist Michele Reynolds at mreynolds@davispd.org.

SAMUEL A. COHEN can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

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