UC Davis students often rub Bookhead to give them good luck on their exams

The collection of Egghead sculptures are artistic icons marking important spots on UC Davis’ campus. Out of the seven sculptures, Bookhead, in front of Peter J. Shields Library, won the popular vote with 42.2% of students naming it the best.

The Eggheads started to pop up in 1991 and have brought joy to visitors and students alike. About to enter Shields Library, Daniel Ivashin, a third-year microbiology and global disease biology double major commented on the sculptures. 

“I enjoy the shared common motifs that unites the campus,” Ivashin said.

The Eggheads can be a symbol of inspiration beyond just being unique landmarks. 

“I think the Eggheads are an interesting reminder that students can have their work influence the environment around them,” said Ren Allathkani, a fourth-year transfer art studio major via Discord Direct Message. “Despite how bizarre they were at first, knowing that the artist was able to get their work permanently into this space is a strong reminder to current art students that we can do the same.”

Each sculpture has features relating to its significant surroundings. Bookhead is said to give good luck when a student rubs its head before an exam.

“I haven’t participated in the ritual before, I haven’t even heard of it until now!” Allathkani said via Discord Direct Message. “It’s very precious and endearing that people do those sort of small things! I’m sure the artist would appreciate how people make use of his work, and it’s interesting how people tend to make things up. How wishful students are, that despite working so hard, they still need a little bit of magic or unseen force to grant them wishful guidance.”

The Egghead sculptures are an iconic hallmark of UC Davis. Sumit Basra, a fifth-year electrical engineering and computer engineering double major recently 3-D printed an Egghead sculpture as a graduation present for his friend. His post on Reddit gained praise and interest from fellow peers.

“I really like the eggheads,” Basra said via Reddit Direct Message, “I think they’re a really cool installation around campus. I just always found them to make walking around campus to be so much more interesting.”

Written by: Christine Lee — features@theaggie.org

The apple juice is a popular item among both returning and new customers

Whether you’re looking for a refreshing drink on a hot day or something new to try, the Apple-a-Day apple juice is a must-try at the Davis Farmers Market. Students have voted the Davis staple the Best Farmers Market treat twice, even with its only ingredient being apples. This year, the Apple-a-Day juice won 45.9% of the student vote.

Carlene Upton, who manages the Farmers Market Apple-a-Day stand, has been with Apple-a-Day for almost 30 years.

“We’ve been here—I want to say—about 30 years, and it has been popular with the students and the residents of Davis all along,” Upton said. “Even today, a young person came back and said they had it as a kid. They bring their children back. Every time that people have had Apple-a-Day apple juice, they come back.”

The juice is made by the Apple-a-Day Ratzlaff Ranch, which is in Sebastopol, California. Apple-a-Day not only makes the juice, but it also grows its own pears and apples. 

Even people who have moved out of Davis return to try the high-quality apple juice when they’re in town, according to Upton.

“Whenever they’re in town, they have to come and get an apple juice,” Upton said. “It’s almost like a requirement. I feel like it’s sort of a cult—it’s an apple juice cult. Everybody loves it and recommends it.”

Upton explained that those who have tried the Apple-a-Day apple juice recommend it to others, encouraging them to also come and try it. 

“Every year, people come and say, ‘Well, we were told we had to come to the Farmers Market and get apple juice,’” Upton said. “It’s just a great product.”

Not only do returning customers love the product, but so do people who have recently moved to Davis.

“There’s new customers with students moving in every year. There’s always an influx of new students that have been told they have to come to the Farmers Market and get apple juice,” Upton said. “It seems to be an ongoing thing, and then we have regular customers who are people who live here and have lived here, and they keep coming back.”

Ultimately, the Apple-a-Day juice is a must-try item for anyone, whether they’re living in Davis or visiting.

Written by: Shraddha Jhingan — features@theaggie.org

‘Cautiously Optimistic’ claims the title of best Gary May email subject line—beating ‘Thriving,’ ‘It’s Working’ and ‘Weathering the Storms’

The subject line ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ won best Gary May email subject line in this year’s Best of Davis competition by 35.4% of the vote. Students are thrilled to open their inboxes every Friday afternoon to Chancellor Gary May’s Friday update containing all of the essential information regarding campus affairs. The sharp and sometimes ominous subject lines of May’s emails are a smash hit among students.

 May began sending out the weekly updates, called ‘Checking in With Chancellor May,’ to keep students, faculty, staff and parents informed and connected during the pandemic. 

Alvina Roshets, a fifth-year pharmaceutical chemistry major, reads May’s Friday updates religiously, checking for information about commencement.

Roshets said that while she hopes that May writes the subject lines by himself, she suspects the chancellor is receiving a little help from his team.

“I want to say that he does, but at the same time it is possible for someone to write them for him,” Roshets said. “I feel like he assists with them, but I don’t think he writes them fully himself.”

May confirmed these suspicions.

“Subject lines are usually suggested to me by staff, and I either accept them or modify them,” May said via email.

The subject can rope readers in when there is an element of mystery, such as ‘Cautiously Optimistic.’ Roshets said that she appreciates how the subject lines align with the content of the Friday update, which always piques her interest. 

“They correlate with what he talks about, so I do find them interesting,” Roshets said. “I had a conversation with someone that said, ‘Chancellor May’s email this week is “Cautiously Optimistic,” what is he going to talk about?’”

May’s weekly updates aren’t universally treasured. Roshets said that when she ran into a friend who also attends UC Davis in her hometown, they condemned May’s emails. The friend called the Friday update an opportunity for the chancellor to boast about successful endeavors like Aggie Square and Healthy Davis Together. 

May and his staff’s creative process begins once the update has been compiled and usually the perfect phrase for the subject line comes to them quickly.

“[Subject lines] are written after the update is drafted,” May said. “It doesn’t take very long—maybe a few minutes.”

May wholeheartedly agrees with the vote, explaining that the phrase “cautiously optimistic” encapsulates his spirit entirely.

“I love the people’s choice; it captures my entire mood as we’ve navigated the pandemic at UCD,” May said.
Written by: Rebecca Gardner — features@theaggie.org

Students reflect on taking Design of Coffee

Regardless of major, every student at UC Davis must complete general education (GE) requirements. With categories ranging from “Domestic Diversity” to “Scientific Literacy,” students take courses to fulfill unit requirements in topical breadth and core literacy by the time they graduate. While there are a myriad of courses that students can take to complete these requirements, 36.2% of students who voted in Best of Davis this year selected Design of Coffee (ECH 01) as the best GE at Davis. 

Tonya Kuhl, a professor and the chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at UC Davis, reflected on her favorite parts about teaching the class. 

“I love that aspect of trying different things with coffee and trying to make it as good as I can,” Kuhl said.

Kuhl described the unique environment the class provides for students. 

“You just get to meet people in a really fun way that’s different than most classes,” Kuhl said. “You go into our labs, and people are smiling, they’re joking and they’re talking.”

Diana Cardenas, a second-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, took Design of Coffee last year and greatly enjoyed it. Cardenas explained the concepts she learned about in the course. 

“We got taught a lot about how different types of coffee machines can produce different types of textures, colors, consistencies and concentrations in coffee,” Cardenas said.

Additionally, she found a new appreciation for coffee while taking the course.

“I never thought there was so much to [making coffee],” Cardenas said. “I always thought it was just something easy, like plugging in the light, but it’s not, it’s something so complicated.”

Genelie Baltazar, a second-year psychology major, also took Design of Coffee. Baltazar found the class to be very interesting and enjoyed working with her lab partners. 

“It was just fun knowing that I can experiment and just do my own thing and not be too stressed with my other classes,” Baltazar said. “I just thought that this class was a good way for me to start my freshman year.”

Baltazar’s favorite part of the class was making the coffee and exploring different methods while feeling comfortable to look to her fellow classmates and the administrators for help. Overall, she stated that this class was one of the most enjoyable courses she has taken at UC Davis. 

“In my opinion, it has been honestly one of the best ones, just because [of] the people that I worked with, the experiences,” Baltazar said. “I do honestly consider it one of my most favorite classes that I’ve taken.”

Written by: Nora Farahdel — features@theaggie.org

A student and a Trader Joe’s employee share why they enjoy the selection and ambience at the beloved grocery store

Known for their unique snacks and ambience, 65.2% of students who participated in Best of Davis this year voted Trader Joe’s the best Davis grocery store. 

Callie Shiang, a second-year wildlife, fish and conservation biology major, said that she appreciates the variety of unique foods that are exclusive to the store. 

“I think Trader Joe’s has a really unique selection of products that you cannot get anywhere else,” Shiang said. “They are pretty creative with what they decide to release, too. You always feel like you’re seeing something […] you have never heard of before.”

Some of her favorite items to purchase are the “To the Power of 7 Purple” juice, the ghost pepper salsa and the bruschetta sauce. If she could only have one item, however, she would buy the habanero hot sauce, which she stated is unlike any other sauce and can be paired perfectly with avocado toast. 

Anna Coleman, a Trader Joe’s crew member and a second-year psychology major, discussed some special items that she hopes customers will sample the next time they come to Trader Joe’s.

“Some really good items that I feel are underrated are the new frozen carne asada burrito, the garlic dip, the jalapeño sauce and the fresh bruschetta sauce,” Coleman said. 

One of her go-to meals is the Trader Joe’s Asian vegetable stir fry kit cooked with additions of tofu and rice. 

Shiang mentioned that her favorite meal from Trader Joe’s is a recipe she found on TikTok that combines their “Gnocchi of Gorgonzola” with mushrooms, onions and chili sauce. 

Beyond the selection of food, both students noted that Trader Joe’s provides a welcoming and fun atmosphere. Coleman said that working at Trader Joe’s is a lot of fun and that her coworkers are always there to support her. 

“I have great coworkers, and every time I go into work, I know that even if I am having a bad day, my coworkers will be there to lift my spirits,” Coleman said. 

Shiang also enjoys the store’s ambience since its warm environment is reminiscent of her childhood shopping days at the Trader Joe’s in her hometown. She recalled happily racing with her younger brother to find the hidden stuffed animal that is placed within Trader Joe’s and has fond memories of being able to enjoy grocery shopping, even at a young age. She mentioned that their customer service and curated store enables shopping to be casual and exciting. 

“I definitely think that they go out of their way to have good customer service, and I feel like […] something that Trader Joe’s values is having their employees really give the customers a reason to feel like they should be shopping there,” Shiang said.

Ultimately, Trader Joe’s combines a unique selection of goods, a comfortable environment and relatable customer service to provide an elevated experience, according to Shiang. She also noted that their well-curated store and rotating selection constantly inspires and influences her to try new items.

“I really love Trader Joe’s,” Shiang said. “I wish I could try every single thing that they sell because it all looks so good.”
Written by: Farrah Ballou — features@theaggie.org

Two Aggie Public Health Ambassadors share their experiences giving out masks to the public

It may not come as a huge surprise to those who have accepted free items from Aggie Public Health Ambassadors—40.8% of students who participated in Best of Davis this year voted face masks as the best item to be given out, among other free items such as hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and a contactless door-opening tool. Since September 2020, Aggie Public Health Ambassadors have been encouraging safety protocols in the Davis community both on campus and downtown as a part of the Healthy Davis Together initiative. One of the roles of health ambassadors involves handing out free reusable face masks to those who do not have their face covered. 

Naomi Maruoka, a second-year international relations major, shared that face masks are the most popular item she gives out as a health ambassador.

“Everyone loves them; they’re super comfortable and they’re a great way to show support for UC Davis,” Maruoka said. “They really put UC Davis out there in a good light.”

In order to encourage mask-wearing, Maruoka says that she and her coworkers do their best to convince members of the public of the quality of the reusable masks, which feature prints that read either “UC Davis” or “Aggies.”  

“We’ll say, ‘Hey, we noticed that you’re not wearing a mask, can we offer you a free one?’” Maruoka said. “‘It’s reusable, and it has really comfortable adjustable straps.’”

While serving the community, in addition to encouraging mask-wearing, she also informs the public of health resources, and she said she’s experienced few instances of people who outright refuse to comply with health orders. 

“I think the majority of our interactions with the public are super positive, and we’re really just there to provide information about the resources Davis has, like testing on campus and in the city for free,” Maruoka said. “The vaccinations have been a new part too, we’ve been really helping [direct] people toward where they can get vaccinated.”

When offering a mask to a member of the public who isn’t wearing one, Maruoka said she takes a gentle and encouraging approach rather than ordering their compliance. 

“Our main way of asking people to wear face coverings is by giving them a free mask—I mean, who can resist a free gift?” Maruoka said. “So those interactions are always pretty positive.”

Elliott Napier, a fourth-year electrical engineering major, works many of his health ambassador shifts stationed at the doors of the Memorial Union or at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Napier said he spends the majority of the time at his shifts checking daily symptom surveys, advocating mask-wearing and educating those who have questions. In his experience, few are reluctant to respond to his requests to wear a mask correctly.

“Most of the time, people are really good about it, and if anyone’s not, it’s usually just because they forgot,” Napier said. “I don’t think I’ve dealt with anyone who’s refused to wear a mask. Some people do the thing where they wear it around their chin and then you ask them to wear it properly and they kind of get a little huffy, but they always do it.”

When Maruoka does come across someone who refuses to wear a mask, she will often give them a free one anyway. 

“In those situations, those ones are always a little trickier to deal with, but we do realize that at some point, there’s only so much we can ask, so we really do just encourage them to take it,” Maruoka said. “Even if they don’t think they’re going to wear it then, we do still try and give them the material that they need to help keep the community safe.”

During her time as a health ambassador, Maruoka has found that she sees herself as less of an authority figure and more of a service provider for the community. 

“It’s not as much about enforcing masks as it is encouraging a sense of community and encouraging everyone to do their part and rewarding people who are doing their part,” Maruoka said.
Written by: Lyra Farrell — features@theaggie.org

About 20 married couples have met at Mishka’s, according to the café’s owner

Mishka’s Café, a popular coffee shop in Davis offering a wide range of drinks, pastries and snacks, won both best coffee with 40.7% of the vote and best matcha with 64.6% of the vote in The California Aggie’s annual Best of Davis competition. 

“As of next month, we’ve been around for 26 years,” said Alison Biggs, a manager at Mishka’s who graduated from UC Davis in 2005. “It’s nice to be a part of the Davis community. I think [the award] is a reflection of the great customer base that we have.” 

Sinisa Novakovic, the owner of Mishka’s and a UC Davis undergraduate and graduate school alumnus, spoke about the impetus behind founding the café during the 1990s.

Novakovic immigrated from the former Yugoslavia during the 1980s. He majored in genetics and minored in Russian as an undergraduate, and later studied the microbiology of retroviruses in graduate school. While attending school in Davis, he found himself missing the café culture that he enjoyed as a teenager in Europe. 

“Having spent my high school years in Europe inside coffee shops, I thought it would be nice if the city of Davis had a nice traditional coffee shop where people could sit down and hang out and study—a café in the Old World tradition, where people try to be together,” Novakovic said.

Novakovic highlighted Mishka’s attributes, including Venetian plaster in the interior of the café, good lighting, comfortable chairs to sit on rather than benches and organic fair trade coffee. 

It’s this atmosphere, he explained, that makes Mishka’s unique and the site of many meet-cutes over the years. 

“We have close to 20 couples that have come to me and said that they met at Mishka’s and are now married and have kids,” Novakovic said. 

Bri Yount, another manager at Mishka’s as well as a local of Davis, also talked about what the Best of Davis award means to the café. 

“We were all super stoked because we worked super hard this past year, and we were pretty much one of the only coffee shops open in Davis during COVID-19, and it feels like we were honored for that,” Yount said. “We’ve always been a runner-up and never a winner.”

Novakovic also talked about the sense of community that Mishka’s employees build with one another, a process enhanced by his focus on hiring people who can connect with customers and with one another. 

“We interview mostly undergraduates [for positions here],” Novakovic said. “I like to run the place as a warm, friendly place rather than a corporation, so it’s important to have people who are nice and collaborative. Generally when we hire someone, they work here all the way until they graduate, and they end up being closer with their colleagues than they are with the people in their classes.”
Written by: Rebecca Bihn-Wallace — features@theaggie.org

This nutrition course takes the win for its relevance to our everyday lives

As the pandemic has raged on in the last 14 months, many UC Davis students have had to take their general education classes through an online format. Even when there’s not a pandemic, general education classes can be time-consuming and difficult to get through, often without real-world applications. So why not actually learn how to read the back of a food label and take the class voted best to take online in 2021 by 54.9%?

For the first time ever, Nutrition 10: Discoveries and Concepts in Nutrition (NUT 10) has taken home the prized title of best class to take online at UC Davis. It has previously been voted as the best general education class to take in 2017 and 2018. 

Taught remotely by Dr. Liz Applegate and Professor Debbie Fetter, NUT 10 attempts to teach students about viewing nutrition as a science that can be easily taken from the classroom to their very own kitchens. It also tries to educate students on the basic principles and historical developments of nutrition and food as well as the science of what we put into our mouths. In essence, it’s a light, 3-unit course that you can use to better your everyday health and understanding of nutrition. 

Janelle Ho, a fourth-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major who is currently taking the class this Spring Quarter, said, “NUT 10 has taught me important nutritional facts that debunk various social media nutrition myths and advertisements.”

“NUT 10 was the first class I took at Davis where I really felt like the material I was learning was useful,” said Malika Haji, a second-year managerial economics major, who took the class in the spring of 2020. “I’m not a STEM person at all, but I thought learning the science behind diet and the foods we eat was actually really interesting,” 

The appeal to Haji is that “the class is also set up in a way where even if you’re not a STEM or nutrition major you can still easily grasp the concepts and understand the basics.”

For students, NUT 10 is an ideal class to take online because it had previously been offered in a virtual format in 2018 known as Nutrition 10V. In its online format, it had the same number of exams as its in-person counterpart and just as many extra credit opportunities. The difference was that students could learn at their own pace at their own time.

“NUT 10 has been taught online for quite some time now and so the course is extremely organized [because] assignments, quizzes and other deadlines are outlined within the course modules,” Ho said. 

Haji shares that sentiment. “[NUT 10] is great because [of] the way [that] Dr. Fetter has the class setup that makes it easy to follow along on your own time. There are no surprises with the course, you know exactly what to expect each week and what you need to get done, which I always appreciated.” 

“I have always seen nutritional labels that outline DV percentages, but I have never understood how to interpret the numbers, but after learning about DV in NUT 10, I now share my new knowledge with my family and friends,” Ho said.

It’s clear that this course has real-world value, and whether you take it in-person or online, it’ll be worth your while. 

Written by: Muhammad Tariq — features@theaggie.org

LGBTQIA Resource Center community coordinator highlights some of the center’s important resources and upcoming events

The UC Davis Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Resource Center (LGBTQIA RC) won best student resource center this year with 32.5% of the student vote. It has continuously provided the UC Davis community with an open, safe and inclusive space since its opening in 1994. It is committed to using dynamic, collaborative programming to fight various forms of oppression and advocate for its mission and values.

Along with the rest of UC Davis during this past year, the LGBTQIA RC has transitioned from its physical location on the first floor of the Student Community Center to a virtual setting. 

Echo Rodriguez, a community coordinator for the LGBTQIA RC and a second-year political science major, expressed that they feel pride and excitement in knowing that their work at the LGBTQIA RC, such as organizing events and doing public outreach, impacts their community.

“Working at these student centers is to ultimately serve the students,” Rodriguez said. “That’s the end goal of doing this work.”

One of the virtual services that the LGBTQIA RC offers is its Community Discord server. Boasting well over 200 current members, the Community Discord is a free virtual space members can use to build community, meet and talk with one another while having fun. The Community Discord is one of the LGBTQIA RC’s biggest successes since transitioning to a virtual setting and was made by one co-worker’s labor, according to Rodriguez.

“There’s always something going on with the [Community Discord],” Rodriguez said. “I am part of [the Community Discord] myself, so I will always get notifications of people interacting with each other. It’s been really nice to see how people are still finding ways to come together and find that sense of community in the virtual world we live in now.”

The LGBTQIA RC will celebrate Pride Month 2021 throughout the month of May by holding programs every week. Rodriguez is most excited for the Grad/Prof Student Trivia Night held on May 18 due to the need for events specifically catered to graduate students. They also recommended the Pride Crochet Plushies event and highlighted the importance of resources like the Gender Affirmation Closet, which provides free clothing to transgender and gender nonconforming students.

Rodriguez said that with “Critical Love” named and described in its list of values, the LGBTQIA RC works with love at its core in order to welcome and celebrate individuals and have them be their complete, complex selves. 

“Any work that we do, we always put our love into, and we always want to serve and meet the needs of our community,” Rodriguez said. “The center is still providing those feelings of community, togetherness and everything else which made the center great before. It’s still great now.”

Anyone interested in receiving updates from the LGBTQIA RC can sign up for its listserv (weekly newsletter) on its website. The LGBTQIA RC also posts updates on its Instagram (@ucdlgbtqia) and Facebook pages.
Written by: Jazmin Segura  — features@theaggie.org

Across from the 24-hour Dutch Bros, In-N-Out Burger is also open late on weekdays and weekends

This year, In-N-Out Burger reigns superior as the best late-night snack, with a leading 43.2% of the vote. It’s no wonder UC Davis students remain loyal to In-N-Out Burger, which stays open until 1 a.m. on weekdays and 1:30 a.m. on the weekends. 

Calla Langford, a third-year human development major, can attest that In-N-Out Burger is a staple of the West Coast diet. 

“In-N-Out tastes best when preparing to pull an all-nighter or treating yourself after a long week of exams,” Langford said. 

Looking for your fully-vaccinated true love? Langford also said that In-N-Out Burger is “a good spot for a relaxed and affordable first date.”  

Whether you choose to travel there by bike, car or bus, In-N-Out Burger is conveniently located on Olive Drive, right across the street from the 24-hour Dutch Bros, a perfect combo for the nocturnal type.

For many students, In-N-Out Burger conjures up memories of going out to eat with friends when the Dining Commons food gets old. 

Thao Cao, a fourth-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, shared her go-to order.

“Usually, I just get a double-single animal style with chopped chilies, grilled onions and a side of fries,” Cao said.

Cao mentioned the importance of affordability as a reason to choose In-N-Out Burger over other alternatives. 

Cao said she frequents In-N-Out Burger around midnight and is not one to be caught dipping fries in her shake. 

Speaking of shakes, customers can ask for the infamous neapolitan milkshake, which is a combination of chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, fit for those who are indecisive. This is just one of the many items on In-N-Out Burger’s not-so-secret menu. 

In-N-Out Burger employees can also cut your burger in half—that is, if you feel like sharing. 

Written by: Nicholas Murphy — features@theaggie.org

Picnicking in the Arboretum is a great way to safely maintain some semblance of a normal college life during a pandemic

The pandemic has led people to get creative with social gatherings while following social distancing guidelines. Here in Davis, gorgeous natural sceneries are favorite places to safely gather, as picnicking at the Arboretum won best masked/socially distanced activity with 62.5% of the vote. 

The extensive views of towering redwoods, glistening water and various wildlife make the Arboretum a perfect spot to relax after class and catch up with friends: grab some food, friends, paint and musical instruments and take some time to unwind.

“The Arboretum was definitely one of the best places to still enjoy college life while being safe,” said Delaney Gash, a first-year genetics and genomics major.

This year has brought a lot of changes to the daily lives of UC Davis students but the Arboretum offered consistency by staying open through the pandemic while following social distancing protocols. 

“Although it wasn’t entirely normal, it was amazing to see fellow Aggies enjoying nature,” Gash said.

A hundred acres with 22,000 species of trees and plants make up this perfect picnic spot. Along the way, you may also be visited by a family of ducks, squirrels or even turkeys.

“There’s a ton of animals you can see and lots of nature to enjoy,” said Conner Barton, a first-year genetics and genomics major. “There’s enough space to spread out with people and it’s also just really nice to go by yourself.” 

The open spaces provide opportunities for a variety of activities.

“You can take a walk, picnic, bike ride or skate there too, so it’s just an all around good place to hang out,” Barton said.

With the warm weather approaching, consider a picnic at the Arboretum as your next socially distanced gathering.
Written by: Emily Redman — features@theaggie.org

Students, staff and community members find Shields Library to be a productive and peaceful environment for completing their work

Peter J. Shields Library aims to provide students, faculty and community members with resources that help facilitate research and learning. It is ranked one of the top academic research libraries in North America, located at UC Davis, one of the top 10 public universities in the nation. This year, 33.7% of students who voted in Best of Davis this year selected Shields Library as the best study spot.

Shields offers a 350,000 square foot space, free for all to utilize as a learning environment and area of collaboration. In addition to being one of the most notable studying spaces on campus, Shields has more than 300 pieces of art on display for the public. It is also home to hundreds of historical archives that are available to all community members and UC Davis students.

The library and the land it was built upon has a rich history. One of the most well-known events was the Army Signal Corps’ use of the library as a training facility during World War II. 

  To this day, the library holds the admiration of Davis students as a study spot and has won in this category in previous years. 

Many UC Davis students take advantage of this space and all of the resources it has to offer. Melia Miller, a fourth-year wildlife, fish and conservation biology major, provided her outlook on the variety of different ways Shields has contributed to her academic success. 

“The place that provides the most convenience when studying is Shields Library,” Miller said. “It’s open, there’s plenty of seating options with minimal distraction. The library has helped shape my study habits when it comes to self-discipline. Deciding to go out and designate time for studying has been really beneficial.”

In regards to the overall ambience of the library, many students share what they like most about studying in this prospective learning hub. 

Rebekah Harness, a second-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, shared her beliefs on the qualities that make the library one of the best study spots on campus. 

“The library is really nice because there are lots of different spots to go, whether you want to be by a window, in a quiet corner away from people or in a bigger room with other students,” Harness said. “There are plenty of outlets and lots of bigger desk spaces in case you need room to spread out. It is always very cool and well air-conditioned which is nice in the summer, and students are respectful of the need to keep it a quiet space.” 

Some floors and areas of the library are designated to be quieter than others and even have sections for collaboration as well as socializing. According to Alexandra Schmidt, a second-year applied chemistry major, the learning hub is a productive place to study because it caters to individual needs. 

“Shields is a great place to study because it provides a variety of spots to choose from,” Schmidt said via email. “Every floor and room has a different feel; for example, the main reading room is more open and social, while the upper floors are the most quiet (and in these times, nearly deserted). It’s easy to find an area that you didn’t know existed just by turning a corner, and there’s something for everyone.” 
Written by: Emmanuel Fonseca — features@theaggie.org

Taqueria Guadalajara manager explains that students love the fresh, authentic food and homey atmosphere

Taqueria Guadalajara has won the title for Best Tacos in Davis for the second year in a row, receiving 65.4% of the vote this year. Nicknamed Guad’s, the restaurant has a wide variety of fresh and authentic eats and is a favorite of students and locals alike with a total of three locations in Davis and Woodland.

Alyssya Vargas, a third-year psychology major, first heard about Taqueria Guadalajara during her second year, and said she became a fan after her first visit. 

“My housemates would hype it up, and I had to try it,” Vargas said. “After I first tried it, I fully rejected any other taco place. My favorite order is an asada burrito or asada tacos.” 

Taqueria Guadalajara Manager Rigo Hernandez said that the reason for its popularity is its tireless commitment to freshness and quality. 

“We strive to bring a good product and just fresh, good, quality food,” Hernandez said. “We might take a bit longer, but that is because each order that comes in we make fresh. None of our sauces are canned.” 

However, it’s not just the good food and fresh ingredients that keep customers coming back. Its homey atmosphere and welcoming environment also give Taqueria Guadalajara a distinct charm, according to Hernandez. 

“We’re a family-owned business, so coming here gives [our customers] the feeling of home,” Hernandez said. “We greet them as if they were a friend, cousin or uncle. The food we make here is the way mom made it.” 

In addition to being a go-to location for quality Mexican cuisine, Hernandez explained that Guad’s has been a fixture in the community as well. 

“We’ve been here since 1999, and we try our best to help out in the community,” Hernendez said. “We support the college students, and we’re always open to fundraisers.” 

Hernandez thanked students and community members for their support and said that the Taqueria plans to open a fourth location aimed at students on the go. 

“Thank you very much for showing us the support; we plan on being here for as long as we can for students and the community,” Hernandez said. “We’re opening up another location on 3^rd and U—it’s only a block from campus, and we plan to have online ordering for busy students.” 

A copy of the full menu and more information about locations can be found on their website. Hernandez recommends the burritos. Written by: Yan Yan Hustis Hayes — features@theaggie.org