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The Defining Moments

Opinion
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The columnist is a story of contradiction. At once he must act as the interlocutor of opined reason and customized analysis, yet by the sheer necessity for argument, he must take a stand. At times, these demands conflict; for a columnist, thus, the attainment of a perfect balance is a lasting achievement. Writing is about eloquence magnified by personal ambition. In the beginning, the columnist sees privilege. Like a child, he’s afforded space and time to write whatever he desires. He is hence impressionable, wondrous, admiring the instant subject-connection he has established. The responsibility liberates as it is large. At this moment, the world with its inherent flaws seems raw and callow. Viewing this situation, the columnist is heightened with confidence, trusting his instincts, transfixed by the finality of his thoughts. He asserts order to a disordered world, proclaiming certainty to unpredictability. For him, his eyes have been opened by limitless possibilities. He is the master of his own destiny – he passionately knows everything and says anything. The world can be bent to his will. But then comes recognition. Initially, the columnist found the power refreshing, mutual. Slowly, he realizes that things weren’t as simple as he envisioned. He previously saw the world as a closed system with finite alternatives, but now notices that society, with its quirks and imperfections, is a fragile state of nature. They constantly evolve and revolt, never having any certainty but always having plenty of fluidity. The columnist no longer sees things the same way. With time comes appreciation. The grandest plays are defined by the smallest details. As the columnist accepts the circumstances, he now understands how elements combine, transform and reciprocate. He identifies their finer qualities, learns the overarching narrative and the geometric pattern that defines things. Now, the columnist masters. Through deliberate practice and constant writing, he expands his scope of both idealism and practicality. He learns to integrate the constraints of abstract play to the chaos that envelope the real world. Rather than merely dictating play, he now synchronizes them. Minds and hearts unite – at this moment, they are one. The columnist is no longer defined by the column, but has elevated it to a performance art. At its essence, the column is the potential for majesty and grandeur. The columnist has synthesized a desire for performance with the practicalities of reality. His goal is accomplished. He has attained the very best. Our ideals are our defining identities. Ideals convey a sense of belonging, a precept and belief in the capacity to achieve something truly meaningful. In life, sometimes we have no choice. We are often shaped by external circumstances, influenced and affected by what society demands from us. Choice becomes secondary. Despite these challenges, it is important to remain true to one’s identity, to maintain an unyielding, principled belief in the face of withering criticism, spreading debauchery and uninformed opinion. Remaining true to one’s intrinsic, fundamental principles that can define the whole world. There is an idealistic benefit of longevity. It is familiarity. With increasing identification comes assimilation, an intrinsic joy to operate within the framework that has been established. While longevity matters, equally important is the need to outreach. One must reach outside comfort to seek the unseen and to explore the unexpected. Life is a journey often displaced by other challenges: to shatter boundaries, to redefine paradigms. It must be tested again and again. For the past three years, the experience of writing as a columnist for The California Aggie has at once been exhilarating, unpredictable, joyful and satisfying. Personally, now is the time to finally move on, to try the other vagaries that life has to offer. As Tennyson mentioned, it is the time to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield. Farewell, UC Davis. It’s time for a new journey!

It’s been a wonderful and exciting three years. ZACH HAN thanks you all from zklhan@ucdavis.edu for your readership, encouragement and e-mails; they were greatly motivating and sincerely touching. Thank you!

PhiLOLsophy

Opinion
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For my last column, I made a compilation of column ideas that didn’t make the cut. In other words, they weren’t good enough for their own feature-length column.

A girl’s worst insult

Girls are insulted by many, many things, but the insult I would like to focus on is “slut.” According to Urban Dictionary, “slut,” means a dirty, nasty promiscuous woman that no one would even touch.

Even more obscure than the definition is the amount of slutaphobia exhibited in today’s college girls. “Does this make me look slutty?” is the new “Does this make me look fat?” A girl’s self-worth depends on the modesty she displays to the world. The more she conceals, the higher she believes others will value her. Looking at how college girls present themselves today might have you think otherwise. Even average girls have no remorse in exposing their (damaged) goods. So what’s with the hypocrisy?

To answer this, you have to understand that slutiness is all about context. If the standard of sluttiness were lowered enough, the average girl would look like a discount stripper.

If you or someone you know is concerned about looking like a slut, just do the following: Take a sample population from the context you’re concerned about, rank the average sluttiness and stay within one standard deviation of that average!

Cuteness Blue Balls

You let out a thunderous “awww” as your face scrunches up like you’re having an orgasm with your eyes open. You gaze at the cute figure for another 10 seconds fantasizing about how much you want to squeeze and cuddle it until the cuteness runs out. But then what? You’re left with what I call “Cuteness Blue Balls.” There is absolutely nothing you can do about your cuteness frustrations but to wallow in your own sadness. No button you can press, no body part you can stroke that can alleviate you from this pain.

Psychologist Konrad Lorenz theorized that cuteness is an evolutionary adaptation to ensure that adults cared for their children. Lorenz’s theory, however, falls short of explaining why animals have the same cuteness qualities humans have (e.g., big eyes, big (fore)head, small body and other soft features).

In my opinion, Cuteness Blue Balls is not limited to humans, but includes other animals, too. Because humans and (some) animals have the same cuteness characteristics for their offspring, there is a chance that we get Cuteness Blue Balls from the same creatures! We finally have an activity we can mutually enjoy with our interspecies friends: looking at cute creatures together.

How to judge attractiveness

Imagine you are in a Starbucks with a gossip buddy and one of you spots a girl who looks like she came back from a Paris Hilton convention. Her face has enough makeup to protect her skin from a powerful laser. Her skirt is so short that she couldn’t even hide a paperclip between her legs. You whisper to your friend, “Jesus, I bet she is disgusting behind all that glamour gear.” Then your friend replies, “Yeah, um, I would still hit it.“

In this case, who is making the better judgment on the attractiveness of this Paris impersonator?

There are two extreme ways of judging attractiveness (I’m using girls for my example): 1) Judge how she looks in the worst lighting and in the worst camera angles, or 2) Judge how she looks in the best lighting and in the best camera angle. Both ways seem to offer a fair platform for scrutinizing and comparing her looks with others.

But there is something wrong with this measuring scale. Consider two girls: girl X and girl Y. Girl X looks better than girl Y in test 1; however, girl Y looks better in test 2! How can one girl be more attractive than the other girl, yet at the same time, be less attractive!

For the majority of the time, you won’t see girls in their worst or best possible light, so you have to judge them somewhere in between. A better test would determine who is more attractive based on how each girl normally looks.

Now let’s analyze the attractiveness of the Paris Hilton wannabe. If that’s how she normally looks and both of you agree that she is attractive at that moment, then she officially is – despite how ugly she may be underneath her glamour gear – attractive. Disregard everything above if you are drunk.

LIOR GOTESMAN is pleading you to contact him at liorgott@gmail.com for the last time. And if you’re wondering why I titled this article “philosophunny,” it’s because that’s the column title that didn’t make the cut.

City plans to make cuts with looming budget crisis

City Editor
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The city of Davis is looking to cut corners to balance its budget for the coming year.

Some city facilities could be cleaned less often due to a reduction in custodial services. Funding for the city attorney will probably be slashed, reducing time for legal analysis. And it may be easier to get away with parking violations as the city discusses eliminating one of its four parking enforcement officers.

The Davis City Council has spent several meetings identifying ways to revolve budget issues for 2009-2010.

On May 26, the city’s preliminary proposed budget was presented, making $3.3 million worth of cuts in the coming year.

The “All Funds” proposed budget for 2009-2010 totals $121.5 million, a reduction of $11.9 million, or 8.9 percent, from last year. The General Fund has also decreased by $3.2 million from the 2008-2009 year, now totaling $36.9 million.

Around 14 city positions would be cut, most of which are currently vacant. City officials are considering whether to eliminate overtime and services and banking on negotiations with the city’s employee bargaining groups.

The city was hoping to avoid a budget shortfall with major revenue sources like property taxes, but in the last six to eight months the revenue was below what was anticipated.

Federal stimulus money is set to fund bike paths and street rehabilitation through grants and loans. Assistant City Manager Paul Navazio said that the stimulus will help the city short term to avoid cutting and reducing spending, but in the long run structural budget issues will still remain.

“We’re trying to avoid a one-time cost containment,” said Navazio. “For next year we want to make more specific structural changes to the budget. We really need a sustainable, balanced budget, especially in light of the re-emergence of the state budget fiscal problems.“

City Manager Bill Emlen also stated his concern over the city’s budget.

“This year’s budget is challenging, and not just because of the reductions we must make now to present a balanced budget to City Council,” Emlen said in an e-mail. “There is still much uncertainty economically, and this has forced us to significantly downgrade revenue projections. We are still trying to gauge how low to go with our revenue forecasts, particularly with regards to sales and property taxes. We have had to add a number of contingencies to our budget to account for the unusual uncertainties that exist this year.“

Emlen did stress that Davis is not alone in its uncertain budget situation.

“We have been fortunate that our reductions to date are generally modest compared to what is being experienced in nearby cities and counties,” Emlen said. “At the same time, we recognize that additional reductions could become necessary should economic conditions deteriorate further and we have begun evaluating further structural and service level changes to the city organization should they become necessary.”

Assistant city manager Navazio believes citizens are already well informed about the budget situation, yet he says that the City Council is still striving to make sure the public is able to have a dialogue with the council before is implemented and approved.

Mayor Ruth Asmundson raised other concerns about the budget.“ There could perhaps an additional $1.3M if the state borrows 8 [percent] of the city’s share of property tax,” Asmundson said in an e-mail. “The hope is for the council to be able to approve its budget at the June 23 city council meeting. It’s a difficult problem to solve but Davis is not alone in this situation.“

The state itself faces a $23 to $25 billion budget shortfall for the coming year.

 

ANGELA SWARTZ can be reached city@theaggie.org.

Governor Proposes the Elimination of Cal Grant

City Editor
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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently proposed a new way to remedy California’s budget crisis – cutting the Cal Grant program, which provides financial aid to college students.

Under this proposal, no new Cal Grants would be awarded beginning fall 2009, but students already receiving Cal Grants would continue to receive them.

Schwarzenegger has said the cuts are necessary to help close California’s $24.3 billion budget deficit.

Although the California State Legislature must approve the governor’s proposal before it can become law, the fact that cutting financial aid for students is even an option is shocking for some.

“We are extremely troubled that the Cal Grants program has been mentioned for possible elimination,” said UC President Mark C. Yudof in a recent statement. “More than 46,000 UC undergraduates receive Cal Grants, which bring in $293 million in grant aid for students from lower-income California families.”

The University of California has already undergone significant fee increases recently, and is struggling under a variety of budget issues. Yudof admitted that he was “gravely concerned” by the financial outlook for the UC system.

Although California schools and students could be negatively affected by this proposal, it would provide a much-needed boost to California’s economy.

“The state does spend a lot of money on Cal Grant,” said Steve Boilard, representative for the Legislative Analyst’s Office. By cutting the program, he estimated that the state could save $280 million in the first year, and in future years up to $700 or $800 million.

That’s not to say Boilard supports the cut.

“The only benefit of this proposal is that it’s a way to reduce state expenditures,” he said. “I can’t think of any good policy rationale. The state has made a commitment to provide for the financially needy, and this just doesn’t seem smart.”

According to the UC Davis Financial Aid Office, for the 2008-2009 school year 7,083 Cal Grant awards were awarded to UC Davis students, for a total of $48,886,221.

“The governor’s proposal to eliminate the Cal Grant program would have a devastating impact on low- and middle-income students attending UC Davis,” said Joyce Cleaver, business office manager for the Financial Aid Office. “We are deeply concerned about our ability to provide access if it comes to fruition.”

Possible consequences of cutting the Cal Grant program, said Cleaver, include an increase in students’ estimated self-help level from $9,000 to $10,500, a possible increased time-to-degree due to students needing to work more hours per week, and a potential drop in enrollment at UC Davis due to students’ inability to pay.

Although many are outraged at the governor’s proposal, the elimination of Cal Grant is still up for consideration by the California Legislature.

“Due to the magnitude of the budget crisis, I wouldn’t rule anything out,” said Boilard. “But this should be the last resort.”

 

SARAH HANSEL can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Chancellor Vanderhoef leaves lasting legacy at UC Davis

Campus Editor
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Since Larry Vanderhoef became UC Davis‘ chancellor in 1994, the campus has undergone an explosion in growth. The university has completed $1.6 billion in projects over the last ten years alone and increased its faculty and student enrollment by over 40 percent each.

It may seem hard to believe, then, that just three years ago Vanderhoef was embroiled in a scandal that threatened to discredit his leadership. But regardless of how one feels about Vanderhoef’s tenure, he will undeniably have a lasting impression on the campus.

 

Landmark achievements

Vanderhoef joined UC Davis in 1984 as executive vice chancellor and provost. He received a Ph.D. in plant biochemistry from Purdue University and subsequently held faculty positions at several universities. Among those is University of Illinois, from which UC Davis‘ incoming chancellor, Linda Katehi hails.

After being named chancellor in 1994, Vanderhoef vowed to bring a world class performing center to UC Davis. The Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, which opened with great fanfare in 2002, is arguably the crowning achievement of Vanderhoef’s tenure.

But the Mondavi Center was one of many projects aimed at expanding the campus. Under Vanderhoef, the university constructed the Genome and Biomedical Sciences Building, the Mathematical Sciences Building, the Sciences Laboratory building and Veterinary Sciences 3A.

“Ultimately the chancellor provides vision and leadership for the capital program, so it is his leadership that has expanded these facilities and the campus itself,” said Karl Mohr, assistant vice chancellor of the Offices of Resource Management and Planning.

Vanderhoef also oversaw the opening of the Mondavi Center for Food and Wine and the groundbreaking for the new Graduate School of Management building and accompanying hotel and conference center. The new facilities, in tandem with the Mondavi Center, are part of a larger development of the campus‘ south entry.

Fittingly, the south entry quad, which is bound by the Mondavi Center and Walter Buehler Alumni Center, will be named in Vanderhoef’s honor. The Mondavi Center will also recognize Vanderhoef and his wife, Rosalie, by renaming a theatre in the Mondavi Center the “Larry and Rosalie Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.“

In a letter to UC President Mark Yudof seeking approval for the name change, the Board for Naming UC Davis Properties, Programs and Facilities praised Vanderhoef’s role in bringing the Mondavi Center.

“Simply put, there would be no Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts without Larry’s vision and unwavering leadership and without Rosalie’s fundraising tenacity and deep commitment to arts education for both young people and adults,” the letter reads.

 

Increasing visibility

The campus grew rapidly under Vanderhoef. Student enrollment grew from 22,000 to 31,000, and faculty increased by 44 percent. Annual private gifts increased from $40 million to $200 million and annual research funding increased from $169.1 million to $586 million.

Vanderhoef also traveled to Iran in 2004 and 2008 as part of a delegation sponsored by the American Association of Universities. Though some criticized Vanderhoef’s 2004 trip in light of the political climate, the chancellor said his motivation was to strengthen scientific and educational ties between the U.S. and Iran.

But UC Davis‘ expansion was not without controversy. The campus completed its four-year transition to Division I athletics in 2007 with the endorsement of Vanderhoef’s administration.

However, the move to Division I was largely funded by two fees approved by UC Davis students in 1999 and 2004, the Campus Expansion Initiative and Facilities and Campus Initiative. In 2008-2009, UC Davis students will have paid $796 for the two fees, which also funded the construction of the Activities and Recreation Center.

The Academic Senate, a voting body of UC Davis faculty, opposed the move to Division I, and some members were outspoken in their criticism.

In a letter to The Davis Enterprise in 2006, Agricultural and Resource Economics professor Quirino Paris wrote that “the UCD administration conned undergraduate students to approve taxing future generations of students to finance a sports complex.“

 

Tumultuous relationship with faculty

In 1997, Vanderhoef introduced a plan to switch UC Davis to the semester system, arguing that the move would bring the campus in line with other universities in Northern California and make students more competitive for internships and summer jobs.

Faculty and students, however, were resolutely opposed to abandoning the quarter system. Over 75% of faculty and 80% of students voted against the conversion, and Vanderhoef respected the outcome.

However, the most controversial event of Vanderhoef’s tenure came during the height of the UC executive compensation scandal. The San Francisco Chronicle published an article in December 2005 reporting that UC Davis had agreed to pay a former vice chancellor, Celeste Rose, $50,000 and a new two-year job with an annual salary of $205,000 in exchange for Rose dropping her legal claims.

The media reported that the “job” required no work of Rose, though Vanderhoef told the Academic Senate that the agreement stipulated that Rose be available for “special projects.“

Vanderhoef maintained that he was acting in the best interests of the university, telling the Academic Senate that he “made the best decision he could at the time.” He also said, however, that he was not sure if he would have made the same decision if he had to do it again. He told the Academic Senate that he regretted the “hurt all of us have had to bear.“

The explanation was inadequate for some faculty, who circulated a petition for a no-confidence vote. In March 2006, the faculty voted 70% in favor of Vanderhoef, despite some faculty’s sharp criticism of his leadership.

After the vote was announced, Vanderhoef said he was committed to transparency in administration.

“I’m heartened at the vote’s outcome and so appreciative of those who have expressed their continuing support,” Vanderhoef told Dateline UC Davis the day the outcome was announced. “I do understand, though, the concerns that prompted the vote. I am committed to working with the regents, the president and the chancellors to make the changes in executive compensation policy and practice that are needed to ensure the university’s accountability.“

Jerold Theis, a medical professor who circulated the petition, recently said that he remains unsatisfied with Vanderhoef’s tenure. Theis argued that the university administration has become bloated and Vanderhoef has “wasted millions of dollars of state money to preserve the power structure.“

“[Vanderhoef] has presided over the largest increase in administrative officers in the history of this campus,” Theis wrote in an e-mail interview. “Fiat Lux is the [UC’s] motto, but there is not much light shown on the ethics of the administration and there needs to be.”

 

Sodexho and Title IX

Vanderhoef was also the target of criticism in 2007, when student and worker activists demanded that UC Davis cease to contract out its food service workers to Sodexho.

On May 1, 2007, police arrested 24 protestors on the intersection of Russell and Anderson. Demonstrations continued thereafter despite Vanderhoef’s assurances that the university would examine its contract with Sodexho. In April 2008, after extensive negotiations, the university announced that Sodexho employees would become eligible for direct university employment.

Under Vanderhoef, UC Davis has also faced several lawsuits alleging that the university does not provide equal opportunities for women in athletics. The university has denied the charges, but the suits are still pending.

 

A lasting legacy

Despite a few hiccups during his tenure, Vanderhoef has been warmly regarded by most students, faculty and staff.

“Vanderhoef is a principled and approachable leader who has always put the best interests of the university ahead of his own,” said Associate Chancellor Maril Stratton in an e-mail interview.

“UC Davis has truly been transformed under Larry Vanderhoef’s leadership, growing by virtually every measure-student population, faculty, rankings, facilities, research funding, private support and stature,” Stratton said. “And he has fostered a sense of family and a culture of service that truly distinguishes UC Davis. We’ve been so lucky to have him.“

Vanderhoef will take a one-year sabbatical beginning in June and return in the fall of 2010 to teach plant biology. He plans to develop a biology course for non-science majors and write a book about UC Davis‘ history over the past 25 years, according to Dateline UC Davis.

Future generations of people visiting, working or studying at UC Davis are unlikely to remember debates about executive compensation or food service works. Rather, as people walk across the quad named in his honor, they will see the Mondavi Center, a monument of Larry Vanderhoef’s lasting legacy at UC Davis.

 

LAUREN STEUSSY contributed to this article. PATRICK McCARTNEY and LAUREN STEUSSY can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

 

TAPS to impound bikes abandoned on campus during the summer

Campus Editor
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For many UC Davis students, the end of spring quarter means beach trips and BBQs – but for Transportation and Parking Services it means hundreds of bikes left on campus for the summer.

“We really encourage students not to leave their bikes on campus during the summer months,” said David Takemoto-Weerts, bicycle program coordinator for TAPS. “Not only do excessive unused bikes take up valuable [bike rack] space and pose a tripping hazard, they are also very tempting for thieves.“

During the summer, TAPS personnel regularly patrol the campus for abandoned bikes, which they then post with impoundment warnings that give the owner 48 hours to remove the bike, Takemoto-Weerts said.

Impounded bikes not reclaimed by their owners are often put up for sale in the annual spring bike auction, which TAPS holds in early May.

Though TAPS only impounds bikes that appear to be permanently abandoned, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the abandoned bikes from bikes temporarily left on campus, Takemoto-Weerts said.

“Students should know that if they leave their bikes on university grounds for long periods during the summer, they are subject to impoundment,” he said.

Bike abandonment is especially a problem in the residential housing areas on campus, Takemoto-Weerts said.

“Often what we find is that first-years who are not allowed to have cars return their second year with their cars and never come back for their bikes,” he said. “Student housing can easily accumulate a lot of bikes at the end of the year that are never reclaimed.“

Residents who leave their bikes on housing property after the move-out date are fined an “improper checkout fee” of $75. Student housing staff warns residents that bikes must be removed from housing premises prior to the move-out date so that the problem of excessive accumulation does not occur, said Emily Galindo, director of student housing.

“[The staff] sends a notification by mail to both the students and their parents, stating the expectation that students take all belongings, including bikes, with them when they move out,” Galindo said. “After the move-out day, we tag any bikes left on the [housing] grounds with impoundment warnings.“

Students who wish to keep their bikes for the upcoming year can store their bikes with TAPS during the summer. Starting tomorrow and continuing through finals week, TAPS will take student’s bikes into its summer storage for a fee of $20, Takemoto-Weerts said.

“It is a really convenient service for students because it is right on campus,” he said. “However, we only accept up to 250 bikes, so I suggest that students bring their bikes in before the end of finals if they want a guaranteed spot.“

Student housing has also partnered with Door to Door Storage, which will pick up residents‘ items from their dorms during move-out week and store them locally for the summer. This service can also be used for bike storage, Sheehan said.

Graduating seniors and other students looking to get rid of their bikes have a variety of options.

Students can donate bikes to the Bike Barn, which accepts bikes during any of its open hours, said Nick Prsha, a manager at the Bike Barn.

“The bike can be in any condition,” he said. “We usually will build the bike up if it‘s in decent condition. If it‘s really rundown, we can usually strip it and use the parts to build other bikes.“

The Davis Bike Collective, located at 4th and L Streets, also accepts bikes in any condition for a tax write-off, said Darin Wick, a first-year who volunteers for the Bike Collective.

“If donors are not concerned with the tax write-off and can’t make it to our open hours, we will also accept donations left in the bike racks outside the shop,” he said.

For students who have lost the keys to their bike locks, TAPS also provides a lock cutting service during business hours. However, this service tends to become very impacted during finals week, Takemoto-Weerts said.

“Typically, our lock cutting service becomes really busy because students who lost their keys anytime during the year will suddenly decide to move their bike now that school is ending,” he said. “I suggest students try to take advantage of this service as soon as possible.“

The lock-cutting service is only provided on campus and bikes must either be previously registered with TAPS or undergo registration at the time of service.

For more information about bike services that TAPS offers, call 530-752-8277.

 

ERICA LEE can be reached at campus@theaggie.org

 

Coho to begin year-long renovation

Campus Editor
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Beginning July 31, the Coffee House will close its doors for renovations.

The popular ASUCD-run business is scheduled to re-open fall 2010. In the meantime, limited services will be offered in the east wing of the Memorial Union. Campus Copies, the Aggie Student Store, Book Buyback and the U.S. Post Office will close to make room for temporary operations.

In addition, the Griffin Lounge will be converted to provide additional seating for customers.

The abridged menu includes the essentials: coffee, “CoHome-made” baked goods, pizza, made-to-order deli sandwiches, bagels, sandwiches and salads, and espresso drinks. In addition, the Coho will offer Tri-Tip Fridays, tacos and specialty sandwiches from their outdoor grill and temporary kitchen.

According to food services director Sharon Coulson, menu decisions were made based on practical considerations.

“The bottom line is we’re going to be operating under very challenging conditions. You take a food service that serves 7,000 people a day, and you … try to serve as many customers as you can in five [former] storefronts,” Coulson explained.

Trevor Taylor, a Coffee House supervisor and ASUCD senator, echoed Coulson’s statements.

“It’s unfortunate, but given the space constraints we’re going to have to deal with, I think it’s appropriate. The Coho does the best that it can to provide cheap, affordable, eco-friendly food on campus, but given the constraints, we are limited to what we can serve,” Taylor said.

Taylor characterized the temporary menu as “grab and go.”

Coulson predicted that while she expects less business than average the coming year, students would still have convenient access to their favorite Coffee House items.

“We have a streamlined menu, so that our loyal customers will still be able to get food from – and support – the Coffee House during the school year,” she said, noting prices would not be raised during the interim period.

Also, the Coffee House, which employs around 225 students, does not expect to hire additional employees. Those who are currently working for the Coffee House and are not graduating have been asked to stay.

“Most of the employees are optimistic about next year. The CoHo is a close-knit family … it’s a great work environment. The fact we’re not shutting down completely is awesome … the hiring freeze is something that has to come with redoing the entire Coho, but at least people aren’t going to lose their job,” Taylor said.

Renovations will be paid for by funds accumulated from a 2004 ASUCD referendum, which dedicated $8 in student fees per quarter toward the face-lift. Mark Champagne, the ASUCD business manager, said the renovation project would cost an estimated $8 million. The Coffee House has not been substantially changed since it first moved to its current location in 1990, nearly 20 years ago.

“They passed the referendum because the Coffee House was overcrowded … we wanted an overall better use of space,” Coulson said. “The Coffee House is so incredibly popular that even if we tripled seating, we could fill every seat.“

Once renovations are completed, students will enjoy a more cohesive floor plan, expanded seating options and new menu items like smoothies and sushi. Old favorites, like the Hot Food Line, Pho soup, Tex-Mex line, pasta and salads will return in 2010.

Some students expressed concern at the impact renovations would have during the construction period.

“I love the Coho, I love the service, I love that it’s run by students … I eat there at least every other day,” said Elizabeth Perez, a junior political science and history double major. “But it’s frustrating that the one place students utilize on a daily basis is not going to be accessible. It being my senior year, it’s especially annoying.“

But despite students‘ reservations, Coulson maintained that the transformation would continue the Coffee House’s legacy of service to UC Davis students.

“We’ve been an integral part of the campus for forty years,” she said. “We make things from scratch. Students do all the cooking and most of our managing. We try to buy as much of our food as locally as possible. Our coffee is organic and fair-trade. And we’re student run, so we’re part of each and every student on this campus-we really are. So we hope that each and everyone one of them will be part of us,” said Coulson.

A bulletin board with facts about the upcoming renovations and services is located in the Memorial Union by the Pho soup area of the Coffee House. Students can contact Coffee House management at coffeehouse@ucdavis.edu for additional information.

ANDRE LEE can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

 

 

Sidebar:

 

Interim menu offerings

 

Espresso, bus kiosk and cart

• Espresso drinks

• Pastries

Coho to Go

• Pre-packaged salads and sandwiches

• Healthy snacks (fruit, yogurt, bagels)

• Chips

• Cookies

• Canned & bottled beverages

 

Bakery & Coffee

• Drip coffee

• Hot chocolate

• Tea

• Pastries

• Canned & bottled beverages

Pizza

• Pizza

• Tossed green salad

• Caesar Salad

BBQ

• Tacos

• Specialty sandwiches

• Tri-tip Fridays

Deli

• Sandwiches made to order

 

A multimedia soundtrack with a few surprises

Arts Editor
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The UC Davis Multimedia Ensemble is not dishing up your everyday traditional orchestral performance. They are instead presenting a musical explosion, melding together sounds from horns, drums, bottles, water and even laptops.

Under the coaching of Sam Nichols, a lecturer in the department of music, this group of 12 students from the music and technocultural studies departments has been working to create a soundtrack for the 1934 silent film A Story of Floating Weeds by Yasujiro Ozu.

They will perform their soundtrack live along with a screening of the film today at 8 p.m. in the TCS Building/Art Annex. The performance is free of charge.

“It’s a really beautiful film. That makes it sound like it’s not a very fun movie but it’s a really beautiful film,” Nichols said. “There are a lot of really interesting contrasts in the movie – different scenes, different landscapes, different characters that all have very strong personalities. That lends itself to musical depiction.”

Throughout the quarter, each student composed music for a segment of the film. Some students took what Nichols refers to as a more traditional approach by writing the notes down and creating a musical score. Others used improvisational “games” to find a desired sound.

Ultimately, the students were given free reign in deciding the method they would use, including changing pieces or scrapping an idea all together.

“I incorporated a lot of the natural sounds happening; water rushing, wind howling, people scratching,” senior ecology and evolution major Shannon Harney said in an e-mail. “I also really wanted to capture the space of the film, which is this dark and dusty ’30s Japanese reality. Think lots of ambient sound and droning madness.“

Nichols explained that a large part of the project was using found objects or instruments that the students already play. This philosophy brought recorders, toy instruments and even a microphone rigged to amplify the sound of water in a bucket.

“For example, the drummer doesn’t have a bass drum, he has a big ice bucket,” Nichols said. “He just found it in the corner of the room and has been using it as his bass drum for 10 weeks. It’s actually a cool sound.“

This is an ensemble that really can’t be seen anywhere else, Nichols added.

“There’s an interesting mix of musical choices and a huge range in musical ability,” junior political science major Sharmi Basu said in an e-mail. “Some of the people involved are not even music majors and can barely tell the difference between a musical note and a Post-It note – me included.“

The onstage visual might be a little confusing, but Harney describes the result as something the audience can immerse themselves in, capturing a unique piece of every ensemble member.

“The great thing about this collective is that it’s really not about pristine musicianship, it’s about sound,” Harney said. “[It’s] about what 12 weirdos can make happen with a bunch of tuned bottles, a gong, some melodicas and a loop pedal. It’s profound … really.“

 

ELENA BUCKLEY can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Less Alternative Rock, More 90s

Arts Editor
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It’s time to add another business to the list of things lost in the Sacramento area due to the faltering economy.

Alternative rock music listeners will have to go somewhere else to get their radio fix as KWOD 106.5 FM “Everything Alternative” shut down after 18 years on the dial. At 9 a.m. on May 22, KWOD played their last song – “Short Skirt Long Jacket” by Cake – and switched over to KBZC 106.5 FM “The Buzz“, a station set to play exclusively 90s music.

KWOD spent the last four years as the only place on the radio dedicated to playing alternative rock, a genre that spent the last few years slipping further away from the mainstream.

“Ever since 93.7 FM Howard changed over to the Jack FM format four years ago, KWOD 106.5 FM has been the only commercial alternative rock station in the Sacramento area,” KDVS DJ Ian Cameron said in an e-mail. “Emphasis is due, of course, to that word ‘commercial.‘ They operated mainly on a playlist system, with few opportunities to call in requests and their song selection has mostly been grounded firmly in Billboard Top 100 artists since they became a station in 1991.“

Although KWOD was a commercial station, Cameron pointed to its use of live DJs for most of the day and its special programming as factors that helped make KWOD something more than just another corporate rock station.

“KWOD did offer some amenities many stations didn’t,” Cameron said. “On Saturday nights, they had DJ David X play a set of very alternative music. Remixes, dance mixes and interesting music collaborations were his forte, and the show was especially important to me because it introduced me to many electronic artists like Hot Chip, who would otherwise receive very little airplay, if any, on commercial radio.“

Jesse Drew – director of the technocultural studies department – said that the switch from an alternative rock station to a 90s station is a transition driven by demographics and the hunt for profitable advertising.

“The whole notion of a 90s channel is bizarre. It’s just a bizarre demographic. Commercial radio is entirely driven by demographics,” he said. “They want to look to where the money is and in this case it’s with people in their 30s and 40s.“

A popular misconception about commercial media is that they are looking for the largest audience, Drew said.

“This hasn’t been the case since the 1960s,” he said. “They are looking for the largest number of people with money.“

This profit over popularity dynamic is best demonstrated with the classic example of Star Trek on television.

“Star Trek was the most popular TV show in American history. And it was cancelled. Why? Because the people watching the show weren’t spending money – they were young people and not part of the right demographic,” he said. “As a result, advertisers weren’t looking to buy time. KWOD probably had a similar problem targeting a younger audience.“

KWOD’s closure could also be in part due to young people turning more and more to Internet services like Pandora.com, Last.fm and iTunes in order to find new music, Cameron said.

Scott Ibaraki, a senior Environmental Policy and Analysis major, said he thought KWOD was a welcome break on the radio from Top 40 stations playing mostly hip-hop and pop electronic music.

“Although I usually listen to my iPod while driving, I would sometimes switch to KWOD to hear something a little different – some Smashing Pumpkins or Nirvana, perhaps,” he said.

Despite the Internet and the popularity of the iPod, Drew said he thinks the radio will remain an important medium in the coming years.

“Radio is powerful. The technology is over 100 years old and it’s still a viable medium because it’s so accessible and so many people listen to it. Everyone can listen to the radio. Its accessibility makes it worth fighting for.“

 

ZACK M. FREDERICK can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

 

Operation DeGeneres

Arts Editor
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On May 16, First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a commencement speech at UC Merced. After noticing the campuswide effort that motivated the first lady to speak, two UC Davis students were inspired to get a different inspirational woman to speak at UCD.

Operation DeGeneres is a movement on campus with the main purpose of wooing Ellen DeGeneres to the UCD campus to speak. Many of those behind the project believe DeGeneres‘ appearance would be a great way to attract more attention to the often-overlooked UC Davis.

Junior English major Brittany McKean and junior psychology major Jennifer Casanova are the founders of Operation DeGeneres and are very passionate about getting DeGeneres to speak for her Davis fan base.

“UCD is the lesser known UC and it would be awesome to get some publicity for our school,“ Casanova said. “Ellen is such an inspirational individual that seems to reach so many people and not only the queer community. She has a strong following from our school and being able to get Ellen to come would be amazing.“

The operation‘s main attempt at getting Ellen to speak is simply through contacting and pleading. The organization plans to send her gift items and videos “that she will not be able to resist,“ Casanova said.

Both McKean and Casanova said they hope after all the gifts she receives from UCD and after seeing all the support she has, Ellen will not be able to turn down their request.

“Just recently we sent Ellen a shirt that was a play on her ‘Laugh, Dance, Ellen‘ shirts,“ Casanova said. “We changed the words and it came out really well. We are also making her anniversary cards because her first anniversary is coming up and being able to even have an anniversary is such a huge accomplishment for her. We want to support her.“

McKean said that they have received tremendous support from UCD students who genuinely love Ellen.

“We really appreciate everyone’s support and willingness to help us,“ McKean said. “Our biggest supporters are the students who come up to us when we have our signs that say ‘Tell Us Why You Love Ellen.‘ We don’t even initiate the conversation – they do by yelling something like ‘OMG! I love Ellen … what’s this for?.‘“

Many students share McKean and Casanova‘s enthusiasm about Ellen‘s possible visit.

“I‘m really excited about [Ellen‘s] possible coming,“ said Crystel Mocek, first-year animal science major. “I saw the group on Facebook, read up about the project and got super excited. I‘m going to try to help Operation DeGeneres as best I can.“

But the question that seems to be on everyone‘s minds is: Why Ellen? McKean and Casanova said that they chose Ellen DeGeneres because they feel she can bring much more than fame to the UC Davis campus.

“Ellen DeGeneres is a humorous, inspirational, ground-breaking role model for countless individuals,“ said McKean. “She inspires people of many different backgrounds to lead better lives and brings out the best in the world. Ellen DeGeneres is a sure-fit for the UC Davis campus and could greatly inspire the entire UC Davis community.“

 

MARIO LUGO can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

In Step with Shakespeare

Arts Editor
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An imprisoned princess, a plotting stepbrother, forbidden love and a bet. That Shakespeare sure did know how to write a story.

This Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the Integrated Studies 8B: Playing Shakespeare class will perform Shakespeare’s Cymbeline in Wyatt Theatre. The event is sponsored by the University Writing Program and the performance is free.

The Playing Shakespeare class is offered every spring quarter and is taught by Dr. Eric Schroeder. Schroeder is known for wanting to study and perform each of Shakespeare’s plays in the class first, before repeating any. As Cymbeline is not one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, this production will be full of surprises.

Sophomore biochemistry and molecular biology major Michael Yeack is in charge of publicity and will play a bodyguard to King Cymbeline. He elaborated on the perks of not repeating performances.

“This forces the class to venture out into lesser known works, which should be a true delight for the audience,” Yeack said. “Everyone knows how Romeo and Juliet ends, but Cymbeline should be full of surprises for the vast majority of the audience.”

The class is designed for students to learn more about Shakespeare and also to virtually spearhead its own production, said first-year biology major Greg Walker, who plays the character Belarius.

“[Schroeder] tries to get us out of our “comfort zones” and has us do everything a real theater company would do for the show – from finding costumes and props to publicizing the play,” Walker said. “In the end, the finished product is truly the work of the students.”

As there are no theater majors in the class, this production reflects the performer’s true commitment to and genuine interest in Shakespeare. Dr. Schroeder finds that the class creates life-long fans of Shakespeare.

“Most students have some doubts when they sign up for the class,” Schroeder said. “But these students come back to the annual Integrated Studies production every year they are at Davis.“

Sophomore clinical nutrition major Sarah Martin expressed that she grew a lot since taking the class this quarter.

“This is a great class,” Martin said. “I have been able to learn so much about both the literature and how to represent a Shakespearean work on stage while of course having a ton of fun at the same time.“

As the performers did not all start out as avid Shakespeare fans, the production takes a light-hearted tone.

“While we have the constant support of our peers in Integrated Studies, we hope that everyone even vaguely interested in Shakespeare will show up,” Yeack said. “While we have done our very best to stay true to the play itself, we have in no way produced a humorless, boring show. Anyone interested in a night of good theater is welcome to show up.“

 

JULIA MCCANDLESS can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

 

Variations on a Theme

Arts Editor
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Alas, here we reach the end, good readers. A good 28 weeks of you putting up with my Thursday antics really have gone by quickly, now haven’t they?

And with my graduation coming up, it’s an especially vulnerable time for me to get all gooey on you. But the only tears that will be shed will be the ones from my right eye as it heals from a corneal ulcer, because I plan to leave on a contemplative yet light-hearted note.

Though I won’t say that I’ll be leaving any sort of Aggie legacy, I will give that this job certainly came with its fair share of responsibilities and headaches: turning rambling thoughts into well-formed paragraphs for this column, venturing outside my particular musical tastes when listening to bands for Artsweek, giving me a more legitimate reason for procrastinating on school work and so on.

But the biggest lesson wasn’t acquiring the generic but useful time management skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office applications or managerial experience. No, with my time here, my most valuable lesson was learning how to appreciate people.

And thusly, I became a people person. (Sort of.)

Three years ago, I never would have thought about picking up the phone to cold call a source. You should have listened in on my first phone interview with a filmmaker based in Los Angeles – awkward! Back then, even my e-mails were socially inept.

But now interviewing has become my favorite part of the whole journalism process. Besides, how else would I have been able to meet and make sexy-yet-objective eye contact with people like Michael Cera, have a phoner with Jason Mraz or get the chance to make random students on campus feel awkward with Roving Reporter?

The biggest step to emerging from my antisocial cocoon: realizing that any story – even those in the form of low-rated album reviews – has to come from somewhere.

And lucky for me, Davis is teeming with its own community of artsy inhabitants. It’s because of you guys that the MUSE storylist will remain full and wire-less (literally!).

So, thanks to the people who work to advance the arts scene, both on-campus and off. Thanks to the audiophiles, the showbringers and showhosts, the musicians, the funny folk, the wordsmiths, the art exhibitionists – basically, the people who work hard and non-obligingly to contribute to Davis culture, just because.

Thanks to all the supporters of the arts, the people who seek it out and appreciate it. Even if you’re not directly involved in its activities, thanks for keeping an open mind. At this year’s Search Party show, I asked some random chick if she came to see any particular band on the line-up. Her reply: “No, I’m just here to support local music.” I was so touched, I nearly cried.

While we’re on the topic of supporters, thanks to any and all readers of MUSE. Thanks to the people who wrote in e-mails commenting on articles, the people who caught any typos I tried so hard to edit out (sorry!), the people who sent over actual albums for review because I didn’t want a link for download and the folks who commented on this little column of mine both face-to-face and via the interwebz.

And even if it was just because you were bored in lecture, because something just happened to catch your eye on page 4 or 5 as you opened the pages to do the crossword, because you or a friend were quoted in a story or because I coerced you into picking up the paper at least on Thursday, one word to you all: Kthxbai.

RACHEL M. FILIPINAS is leaving the sun-deprived basement of The Aggie for the world of public television – at least for the summer. She’ll have loads of free time until her lease is up at the end of August, so keep her bizzy at rmfilipinas@gmail.com.

CD Review

Arts Editor
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Passion Pit

Manners

Frenchkiss

Rating: 5

 

Since the release of their tantalizing indie-pop EP, Chunk of Change, Passion Pit has been gaining popularity among hipsters all over the world.

The six-track-long anthology was a Valentine’s Day gift for lead singer Michael Angelakos‘ girlfriend at the time and eventually circulated around Emerson College, where Angelakos was attending school.

Soon after the mid-September release of Chunk of Change, Passion Pit’s music has been slowly introduced to the world by corporations such as PlayStation, MTV, Pitchfork and BBC’s Sound of 2009.

Despite the growing population of the band, fans did not have to wait that long for more of Passion Pit’s upbeat electro-tunes. The band signed with New York-based, major record label Frenchkiss Records and began recording new material.

Passion Pit’s first full-length record, Manners, was released last month and the band, currently consisting of Angelakos, Ian Hultquist, Ayad Al Adhamy, Jeff Apruzzese and Nate Donmoyer, is now on a five-month long tour around the U.S. and UK.

The combination of catchy synth chords, flowing blip riffs, upbeat rhythms, children’s choir choruses and Angelakos‘ occasionally indiscernible vocals result in pure bliss.

In “Little Secrets,” Angelakos sings, “Let this be our little secret/ No one needs to know we’re feeling/ Higher and higher and higher/ But I feel alive and I feel it in me/ Up and up we keep on climbing/ Higher and higher and higher.” Needless to say, this track is instantly endearing and memorable.

According to Brooklyn-based freelance writer and editor Jessica Suarez, this “dork disco” is not the typical music to woo the ladies, but I think she’s being too harsh. Unsexy is the new sexy, just as Wednesday is the new Friday. Passion Pit is legit.

Give these tracks a listen: “Little Secrets” “Seaweed Song” “Eyes as Candles“

For fans of: MGMT, Chairlift

– Simone Wahng

Arts Week

Arts Editor
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MUSIC

Multimedia Ensemble

Today, 8 p.m., free

Technocultural Studies Building (formerly the Art Annex)

Silent films are like a blank slate for musicians, and the UC Davis Multimedia Ensemble definitely cultivated a new idea when they scored Yasujiro Ozu‘s 1934 silent film A Story of Floating Weeds. Led by music department lecturer Sam Nichols, the film is sure to provide an avant-garde and experimental version of one of film‘s early forms.

 

Ian McFeron Band, Shannon Harney

Today, 10 p.m., $3, 21

Sophia‘s Thai Kitchen

Any band named after its lead is suspicious, and often terrible (well at least one well-known one is). But the Seattle-based Ian McFeron band shouldn‘t be feared, with their laid-back fiddle, slide guitar, Dylan-esque vocals and major-key strumming. Davis student Shannon Harney will perform as well.

 

Urban Sherpas

Friday, 7 p.m., free

Delta of Venus

Whether you‘re swamped by finals or irked by Davis‘ unusual attraction to folk-rock bands, live jazz might be a fitting alternative. This Sacramento-based jazz ensemble should provide a night of relaxing entertainment (and excellent study music). If you miss it, check them out at Beach Hut Deli on June 13.

 

Or, The Whale; Silver Darling

Friday, 10 p.m. $3, 21

Sophia‘s Thai Kitchen

That‘s two bands, not three. Or, The Whale – a San Francisco-based folk-rock group – will slide through town on Friday after a West Coast tour. The sorrowful Silver Darling of Sacramento will join. This will definitely be a sit-down night to enjoy.

 

Dreamdate, Twig Palace, World History

Sunday, 5 p.m., donations accepted

Robot Rocket Residence

A Sunday BBQ sounds appetizing, but a break from finals sounds even better. Oakland duo Dreamdate, Twig Palace and Seattle-based World History are set to perform a poppy set – a perfect compliment to charred burgers.

 

AT THE MOVIES

Nameless Magazine Double Feature and Guest Speaker

Today, 7:30 p.m., free194 Chemistry

The student-run Nameless Magazine, an online-based literary publication run by student submissions, will present the appropriate Stranger Than Fiction and Running With Scissors tonight in Chem 194. The event will also feature guest speaker Jonathan Keifer, a notable film critic and a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle, Salon, the New York Times Book Review and many other publications. I‘m sure he‘s really stoked about the new Transformers movie.

 

ART / GALLERYSmall Works 2009

June 12, open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pence Gallery at 212 D St.

June 12 sounds so far away right now, but that day marks the opening of the City of Davis‘ Civic Arts Commission‘s annual Juried Art Show. Yes, juried – each juror is an arts professional invited each year to jury the exhibit and merit awards to participating artists. Ironically, my roommate has jury duty on the same day. Works showcased are original with a 12-inch width and height limit.

 

THEATER / MONDAVI

Integrated Studies presents Shakespeare‘s Cymbeline

Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., free

Wyatt Pavilion

William Shakespeare‘s Cymbeline definitely wasn‘t part of my high school English curriculum. The Freshman Integrated Studies 8B class and the University Writing Program will present this lesser-known Shakespearean play Friday and Saturday at the Wyatt Pavilion. And though it‘s one of Shakespeare‘s tragedies, don‘t expect a modern-day movie remake any time soon.

 

Choral Soundscapes

Sunday, 7 p.m., $30 general admission, $15 with a student ID

Jackson Hall (Mondavi Center)

The Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra will present the last of concert of their season, with pieces ranging from Baroque composer Handel to contemporary composer Eric Whitacre. According to the Mondavi Center, this event is not appropriate for children under six. Keep that in mind, undergraduates.

 

Madama Butterfly

June 25, 7 p.m. $15 general admission, $7.50 with a student ID

Jackson Hall (Mondavi Center)

Opera isn‘t normally a part of the usual Davis nightlife, but on June 25 the San Francisco Opera will bring a high definition screening of Giacomo Puccini‘s Madama Butterfly to Jackson Hall. Recorded in San Francisco, the screening is part of the San Francisco Opera‘s Grand Opera Cinema Series. Be sure to bring your binoculars and your handkerchiefs – this one‘s a sad one

 

JUSTIN T. HO can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

5 Questions with …

Arts Editor
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MUSE spoke to artist Julia Elsas, a graduating student in the UC Davis MFA program. Elsas and four other graduating students – Crystal Haueter, Cynthia Horn, Evie Leder and Josh Short – present their work at the 2009 MFA Exhibition, currently on display at the Nelson Gallery in the Art Building.

 

1. What will you be showing?

Mixed-media installation, including embroideries, mechanical sculpture and video.

 

2. How does this work sum up your art education?

I have spent the majority of my time at Davis experimenting with 2D and 3D materials. The interdisciplinary nature of this program along with the dialogue I have had with my colleagues and faculty has propelled me to explore my ideas more deeply.

 

3. How did your time at UC Davis prepare you for this exhibition?

At UC Davis I have spent my time working and experimenting in a variety of media. This program is very interdisciplinary and studio-focused. They don’t push you into a mold here, so you are really forced to figure out what is meaningful to you in your work.

 

4. What will you be doing after graduation?

I have yet to make definite plans, but will most likely stay in Northern California making art for the next year or so.

 

5. If you could give three pieces of advice to aspiring artists, what would they be?

Look through garbage, have a sense of humor, be impulsive.

 

RACHEL M. FILIPINAS can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

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