As you walk through campus, look around: Greek letters are everywhere. Glued onto wooden signs, arching across the backs of t-shirts and short-shorts, or perched atop houses on Russell Boulevard. You might be able to decode a few of the letters, but you might still wonder, “What do they really mean?”

At UC Davis, “Greek Life“ doesn‘t always equate to Animal House style parties, or bikini clad car washes. With dozens of social, professional and ethnic-based sororities and fraternities on campus to choose from, there‘s an organization for nearly every interest and ambition. Whether or not you choose to “Go Greek,“ knowing your options is a great way to start networking and finding your way around campus.

Panhellenic and InterFraternity Council

If you are looking for the most “traditional“ Greek experience, joining a social sorority or fraternity is the way to go. With large houses (note: “house“ can mean number of members – not just that place with the huge backyard) and an extensive number of affiliated chapters across the U.S., there are 10 panhellenic sororities and 19 IFC fraternities currently recognized at UC Davis.

The process of applying to become part of one of these organizations is known as “rush:“ a standardized one-week period each year or quarter, depending on the organization, where potential new members become familiar with one or multiple houses to determine their best fit.

Hayley Sueoka, current panhellenic president, said the Davis Collegiate Panhellenic Association offers a fall formal recruitment process for women interested in becoming part of a panhellenic sorority.

Formal recruitment is held during orientation week with eight of the panhellenic sororities, and some houses also offer informal recruitment in spring, when women can choose to rush a single house instead of all of them. The recruitment process is four days long, and introduces potential members to each house‘s specific values, activities, and philanthropic associations.

“Participating in sorority recruitment was one of the best decisions I made in college,“ Sueoka said. “No matter what sorority you join, or even if you end up not joining one, you will meet new people, make great life-long friends and discover many opportunities to get involved on campus and within the Davis community.“

For men interested in joining a national fraternity, IFC offers rush during the first full week of school, during which time houses will host formal and informal recruitment events advertised on Facebook groups, chalkboards and flyers posted throughout campus.

“Recruitment week is an opportunity for students to learn more about different greek organizations. During recruitment periods, fraternities will have events at their house or other venues, which allow an opportunity for students to meet the brothers, learn about the particular organization and figure out which organization is right for them,“ reads their website.

To become part of IFC recruitment process, interested individuals need to inquire directly to the house of their choice for rush details.

Professional and Interest-Based

Professional and interest-based fraternities and sororities offer a more customized Greek experience, with typically smaller organizations and specific goals.

Although each individual organization varies greatly in size and structure, a common thread between all professional organizations is an emphasis on networking and attracting likeminded individuals dedicated to a specific interest. For career-minded individuals, joining a pre-business, law, or medical fraternity or sorority is an excellent way to find support and resources that could give an extra edge to a medical, law or graduate school application.

Sigmu Mu Delta, an all-male pre-medical fraternity on campus, is one of several pre-medical organizations that offer the opportunity for members to network with current professionals in their field, as well as prepare themselves for MCATS, medical school and the road ahead.

“Through its extensive network of alumni, Sigma Mu Delta provides its new members with opportunities to shadow doctors, obtain letters of recommendation, gain leadership experience, volunteering and research opportunities, discounted Kaplan Test Prep courses … items essential for a competitive medical school applicant“ said Juan Barboza, president of Sigma Mu Delta.

In addition to career-focused organizations, UC Davis offers several professional sororities and fraternities that unite members under a single goal: to better the world through community service. Although most Greek organizations have a philanthropic component to their membership, organizations such as Lambda Omicron Xi focus solely on bringing members together to engage in networking through community service.

“LOXi is a community service sorority, so the main goal is to connect the sisters with volunteer opportunities in the community“ said Hayley Baker, president of Lambda Omicron Xi. “However, we are still a sorority, so we hold events and do activities to build sisterhood among all of the girls.“

For more information about LOxi, go to davisloxi.com.

Ethnic and Cultural Connection

Like other Greek organizations, ethnic-based fraternities and sororities offer extensive alumni networks and valuable professional resources to help guide students both in college, and after graduation. Many organizations have a strong history in promoting minority education, and most have ties to both national and international philanthropic organizations.

In addition to multi-cultural Greek organizations, there are numerous Latino/a, Asian, and African American interest fraternities and sororities that offer specific networking opportunities to develop friendships and foster cultural ties with individuals of similar ethnic background on the UC Davis campus.

For more information about rushing and Greek organizations, go to Student Programs and Activities Center Greek page at spac.ucdavis.edu/programs/greek or daviswiki.org to search for individual websites and information about upcoming rush events. Also look for members tabling at the quad or the MU with rush information during the first couple weeks of school.

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

The more seasoned UC Davis students know that in order to get around campus, one needs a bike. Not only is it convenient, but as the largest campus in the University of California, it has become a necessity for many students.

Some incoming freshmen, like Paari Kandappan, are more excited about biking to class than intimidated.

“I’m really excited about commuting in a place where bikes are so popular because of the better conditions it provides for bikers,” Kandappan said, an incoming economics major.

Although enthused, Kandappan’s excitement can be a rarity for new students that have not yet biked in Davis, or have not biked since they were five years old. For those who have limited experience in biking, here are a few guidelines on how to safely get around town.

Obey all traffic laws

It may not seem like it but bikes are seen as vehicles in the eyes of the law. Therefore, all the traffic laws that apply to vehicles apply to bikes, including stopping at stop signs, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks and not riding on sidewalks.

“Most students forget that a bike is a vehicle and that all the rules of the road for vehicles apply for bikes as well,” Officer Ralph Nuño said, UC Davis’s very own bike cop.

This even includes riding a bike intoxicated. Students who ride their bike while intoxicated can receive a Biking under the Influence citation (BUI) and the penalties are as severe as if the person was drunk driving.

Students who do break the law on campus can face a citation of almost $175 after going through the Yolo County. However, Officer Nuño has been working with the university to set up a new avenue for students who break any bike laws on campus to reduce the cost of a citation. He also plans on having a bike safety course set up by the end of the year in lieu of a citation.

“The most common laws broken on campus are not stopping at stop signs because [the students] don’t think they have to stop,” Nuño said. “Having two ear phones while biking is also commonly broken – you can only have one in while you’re biking.“

Despite all the rules, Officer Nuño has only given out one citation since he started in April. Instead, he has been handing out incentives to students who follow the traffic laws and are an example that other students should follow.

“The incentive is a $7 coupon for the Silo,” he said. “I give one out, for example, if I see a student stop at a stop sign. I’ll ask that student for a second and reward them.“

Bike circles (Roundabouts)

Possibly the most daunting part of the UC Davis bike world, the bike circles or roundabouts are a frightening parade of bicycles during the peak bicycling traffic hours during the year.

As intimidating as it could be, by following two simple rules, new students unfamiliar with roundabouts have a chance to survive the bicycle onslaught.

Traffic in the bike circle is always counterclockwise: that means all the bikes must go in that direction. Failing to do so will result in a horrific crash and your first of many embarrassing moments while riding a bike.

The second rule is that the bikes in the bike cycle have the right away and students outside of them must yield. This does not mean that one should stop your bike, but gently maneuver to merge gracefully, according to the Transportation and Parking Services‘ (TAPS) web site.

Night Riding

Riding your bike at night can be especially dangerous to a novice bike rider. There are two important things to remember when riding your bike at night.

The first is that you must have a bike light in front of your bike. This allows you to see the road ahead and for others to see you as well.

Bikes at night must also have either a reflector or a light on the back of the bike. It is the law and can result in a citation.

Stolen bikes

The most widespread crime in Davis is bike theft. It is very common to hear students complaining that their bike(s) have been stolen, some as early as the first month of school.

To help recover a stolen bike, students can register their bikes with TAPS. It costs $10 to register a new bike and $5 to reregister an existing bike registration. Doing so will allow police to identify the bike and increase chances of getting your bike back. After registering, the easiest way to prevent theft is to properly secure the bike with a U-lock to a bike rack. Students are not allowed to lock bikes to any campus building or lamp posts.

Even after correctly following anti-theft strategies, bikes may still be stolen by crafty thieves. If this is the case, Officer Nuño said that students should report their stolen bike to the UC Davis Police Department’s web site. Once submitted, he will receive the report and follow up on it.

Nuño has some final words of wisdom for new bikers that can be applied to safety in general around campus.

“Always be aware of your surroundings,” said Nuño. “Be cautious and be safe.“

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

A new school year at UC Davis can mean a lot for a new student: a new bed, new classes, new friends and new eating (and drinking) habits. Aside from all the changes on campus, students often forget the new town waiting to be discovered, just blocks away. So once the new-school jitters settle down, here is something to point the way once the Quad is out of sight.

Davis Farmers Market

Central Park at Third and B streets

Wednesday 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., March to October.

Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., year-round

Twice a week Davis‘ Central Park is lined with farmers, fresh fruit, vegetables, students, parents, toddlers, professors – and plenty of free samples. The Farmers Market offers the bounty of the nearby land and promotes community and local food.

Great for picnicking, produce-shopping or just as a gathering place often accompanied with live music, Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings make downtown Davis a hard place to find a free bike rack.

Randii MacNear, market manager, knows that UC Davis students make the market what it is.

“A lot of students say the market was one of the places that helps them adjust to a new town,” MacNear said. “And [students] love our t-shirts, we are a fashion icon.“

The market recently won the American Farmland Trust contest as best farmers market in the large market category.

“We were very proud and pleased to see the extreme enthusiasm the students had for this contest,” MacNear said.

Locals stepped up to vote for the market, each with their own reason why the Davis Farmers Market is great.

“It’s one of the few places left nowadays with a sense of community,” said junior environmental policy analysis and planning major Gwen Megan.

Others love the market for its versatility.

“[The Farmers Market] is the perfect place for anything from a date to when family comes to town,” Dominic Hastings said, a Davis resident.

Davis Parks and Recreational Areas

When not host to the Farmers Market, Central Park (Third and B streets) is just one of the many parks and green areas available to Davisites. Greenbelts are scattered throughout the city, providing great recreational spots and biking areas.

Pat Riley, parks manager for the city of Davis, highlighted some parks and their special amenities that he recommends for students.

Swimming pools are available at Community Park (1405 F Street), Arroyo Park (2000 Shasta Dr.), and Slide Hill Park (1525 Tulip Lane). Many parks also offer tennis courts.

Frisbee golf at Oxford Circle Park (505 Oxford Circle) and sand volleyball at Community, Playfields (2500 Research Park Dr.) and Walnut Parks (2250 Barony Place) can get a group of friends off campus and moving. Horseshoe pits are found in Oxford Circle Park and Central Park, Riley added.

View wildlife at Northstar Park (3434 Anderson Road) in North Davis or bring a skateboard to a skate park located in the center of Community Park.

Yolo Berry 316 C Street Frozen yogurt, more commonly known as “froyo,” has become a highlight of the Davis food scene. Perfect for hot weather, study breaks or an after dinner treat, this local yogurt stop is always bustling with people. Senior economics major Jessica Kim can be found at Yolo Berry once the weather gets hot. “I like how you can serve yourself. It tastes good, doesn’t have that tarty taste, [and] it is close to campus,” Kim said. “And the seating outside is pretty cool.”

Store manager Ryan Brands attributes a “culmination of everything” to what makes Yolo Berry a successful local shop, including its 101 toppings, self-service, late night hours and outdoor patio.

In-n-Out

1020 Olive Drive at Richards Boulevard.

It doesn’t get old having this famous fast food joint in town. Known for its fresh lettuce and tomatoes, never frozen-fries and quality burger patties, In-n-Out offers “quality you can taste.” Open late on weekends, In-n-Out is a popular after-hours spot.

The “secret menu” adds options to a seemingly short list of choices. Daviswiki.com (a great online tool to get to know the city of Davis), has a Web page listing the little-known options available at In-n-Out.

The Davis Bike Loop

The city of Davis‘ logo includes a bicycle, so it makes sense that the city also boasts a 12-mile bike trail. Aptly named the Davis Bike Loop, it spans the entire city and is marked. To start mapping the route, check out davisbicycles.org/guide/bikeloop.

Putah Creek

Putah Creek runs through the city of Davis. It provides many fun spots to relax, swim and bike.

Putah Creek Council executive director Libby Earthman suggests checking out certain spots along the creek for antsy students. She recommends the area down Old Davis Road, past the bee lab.

“[It’s great] especially if you are feeling stuck on campus and need to get away for a bit,” Earthman said.

For students who want to get involved in something, the council is always looking for committed volunteers. Their next project is the Coast and Creek Cleanup Day. More information can be found at putahcreekcouncil.org.

U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame

Third and B, 303 B Street

Along with the incoming first-years, another newcomer to town is the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame, which is moving its permanent location from New Jersey to Davis this fall to display its treasure chest of bike memorabilia.

Their first big event will be the 2009 Induction Dinner and Ceremony on Nov. 7 at UC Davis‘ Freeborn Hall.

Although the hall of fame will not be open to the public until early 2010, bike enthusiasts can start getting ready, said USBHOF President Dawn Wylong.

“I am happy to know the Davis community is anxious for our opening,” she said. “We look forward to making each and every endeavor special for the cycling community and the organization.“

Delta of Venus

122 B St.

Music, food, and an outdoor patio make a great combination.

A fun venue for local – and even visiting – bands, the DOV becomes something like a nightclub once the sun sets. While the sun is shining, DOV is a great place to try original brunch and lunch dishes, including vegan-friendly options, such as their Caribbean vegan curry tofu.

John Natsoulas Gallery 521 First St. Pence Gallery

212 D St.

For those looking for a dose of culture, Davis provides a good number of venues to explore local artists. At the Natsoulas Gallery, art goes beyond installed paintings and exhibits. This fall, the gallery will host the Davis Jazz Artists Festival: Beyond the Beat Generation, which includes live jazz sessions and poetry readings. The Pence Gallery with its bright exterior and modern design is a great place to discover local and regional artists.

Downtown Davis

If all else fails, walking the streets of downtown can always be enjoyable. More often than not, something is going on downtown. Check out E Street Plaza–on E street between Second and Third streets where often live bands, usually organized by the Davis Downtown Business Association, play next door to Baskin Robbins during spring and summer evenings.

At First and D streets, the Davis Commons offers smoothies at Jamba Juice, shopping at the Gap and fresh salads at Pluto’s. Additionally Mikuni, a sushi restaurant, recently joined Border’s Books, Habit Burger, Bath and Body Works, Ben and Jerry‘s, and Papyrus.

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

ASUCD? What does that mean? If you are new to UC Davis, this is a question that you too may soon be asking about this acronym.

ASUCD, or the associated students of UC Davis, is like your high school’s student government – only bigger and with more people, jobs and money.

Students pay a portion of their tuition each quarter into ASUCD. Totaled, they’re working with about $8.2 billion. Some of that money goes out to the various ASUCD units like UNITRANS or the refrigerator rental service offered in the dorms. Some of it stays in their reserves, ready to be allocated by way of legislation.

Almost all of it, ASUCD officials say, gets back to the students in some way or another.

“On top of providing the students services such as funding to campus organizations, the association also gives the students the chance to serve,” said senator Previn Witana, a senior biology major. “This can be anything from commissioner, senator, court justice, or even an intern for a senator.“

However, it takes a lot of governance to handle that amount of money.

To start, ASUCD functions much in the same way that the U.S. government does. It has an executive, legislative and judicial branch. It holds elections twice a year, one in the fall and one in the winter. It has a constitution. Candidates run under political “slates,” or parties and often those slates debate over crucial ideas and issues within the student body.

The executive branch consists of the president and vice president, whom students vote for in winter elections. The legislative branch is a 12-member senate, six voted on in the fall, and six in the winter. The judicial branch interprets the ASUCD constitution, and consists of eight justices and one judge.

Commissions are also part of the legislative branch. There are seven total commissions and they meet once a week to plan and vote on bills to send to senate.

“Commissions are a really great way to start off your involvement in ASUCD,” said Dana Percoco, a junior political science and communication major and chair of the External Affairs Commission. “You get to work with other commissions and see all the positions available – maybe even work your way up to chair.“

Though commissioners vote on bills, they do not get a final say. Senators vote on bills at senate meetings, and the president has the power to veto any decision made by senators.

One way to understand the workings of these branches is to attend a senate meeting, held every Thursday night at 6:10 in the Mee Room, on the third floor of the Memorial Union. There, senators and commission chairs meet to discuss bills, appoint new members of the government, and gather information about the student government and student body as a whole.

“It really helps to go to the meetings because when you see what we’re doing on a day-to-day basis, you can get an understanding of the dynamic of the table,” said senator Erin Lebe, a senior political science and sociology major. “[When students] go to meetings, they can find out where student money goes, why certain items are allocated money and why some things aren’t.“

Meetings are conducted like a town hall meeting, using Robert’s Rules of Order.

Many students may find ASUCD difficult to penetrate, seeing it more as a clique or private club than a service.

“I know that without [ASUCD] a lot of things wouldn’t be possible, but I also feel like I could never be a part of it,” said Kim Loan Tran, a junior managerial economics major. “Maybe if I wanted to join, I would have to have an insider’s edge, or know someone. And if I did join, I think it would be a lot of hard work.“

In response, members of ASUCD stress that it is, in fact, for everyone.

“We kind of get a reputation for being secretive, but we’re always trying to see that change,” said President Joe Chatham, a senior international relations major. “There’s really something for everyone, no matter what you’re interested in.”

One way the organization has made an effort to communicate this, and make themselves known to students, is with their Outreach Assembly: a unit specifically designed to bind the void some students feel between ASUCD and the rest of the campus. The unit will be making dorm-calls to as many dorms as they can this year, educating them about the services available through ASUCD.

“My hope is that when people know about ASUCD they will be interested in what is going on and they will vote and be active in the process,” said Taylor Fleshman, Outreach Assembly speaker and junior international relations major. “People are allowed to talk and ask questions and request funding. It’s a way to show that you really care about your school and want it to be its best.“

Elections this year will be held mid-November and are usually marked by Facebook group invitations for senatorial candidates and debates in the MU and in the dorms.

“One of the greatest aspects about ASUCD is that it puts the power for change in the hands of the students and enables any goal or program a student envisions to come to fruition,” said Trevor Taylor, a senator and senior political science and history major.

To get involved with ASUCD, visit their website at asucd.ucdavis.edu or contact officials at senate@ucdavis.edu.

LAUREN STEUSSY can be reached at features@theaggie.org. 

TODAY

Herb Harvest

9:20 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Good life Garden at Mondavi Center Institute for Wine and Food Science

Do you enjoy fresh herbs? Then come join the Good Life Garden to harvest lavender, sage, chives and thyme! RSVP to goodlifegarden@ucdavis.edu . Please bring a bag for your herbs, scissors or pruning shears and wet paper towels.

Noon Concert: Davis Summer Symphony

12:05 to 1 p.m.

Rumsey Rancheria Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center

Come join the Summer Symphony for a wonderful concert led by David Moeschler. The program includes the Super Nintendo game Plok song!

Poetry in the Garden: Thomas Centolella

7 to 9 p.m.

Wyatt Deck, Old Davis Road

Poet Thomas Centolella reads his work in the beautiful forestry surroundings of the Arboretum.

SATURDAY

Arboretum tour: Perennial plants for the Central Valley

10 to 11 a.m.

Gazebo in Arboretum, Garrod Drive

Tour the Arboretum and perk up your fall landscape with these easy-to-car for perennial plants.

Experimental College art walk

1 to 9 p.m.

Experimental College Community Garden

Join the EC at the first annual college garden art walk. Art, artists, music and fun will be provided!

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. XXX