The Aggie | Student-run, independent newspaper at UC Davis 🗞️ – 📍New issue out every Thursday!

We must make time to understand international injustice

ASUCD IT

February 19, 2021

We must make time to understand international injustice

Staying informed on other countries’ affairs is as important as knowing about those in your home country

For most of us, life hasn’t felt quite right for some time—we have a global pandemic to thank for that, not to mention relentless updates on former President Donald Trump, from insurrection to impeachment. But the chaos of the current moment extends beyond COVID-19, and beyond the US. If you’ve recently read the news or been online, you’ve likely seen an article, or at the very least an Instagram post, about the adversities being faced in several countries right now.

In India, farmers are protesting against recent legislation that deregulates the agricultural sector. The government is minimizing its role, easing protections and leaving farmers vulnerable to exploitation by corporations who would end up with more control over the market. As protests turned violent in January, the state shut off the internet in several areas, preventing activists from communicating with each other and the rest of the world. The protests, which began at a smaller scale in August—eventually leading to the largest protest in modern history in November—continue today, not only in India, but worldwide.

Nearby, Myanmar’s democratically-elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is on house arrest after a military coup. The military, who happens to have backed Suu Kyi’s opposition in the election, cites unproven claims of fraudulent voting as their reason for taking control of the state. Anti-coup protests have remained peaceful, but there is worry that protests will turn violent as the coup persists and activists and democratic officials urge civilians to “gather in millions” to fight for democracy.

And in China, Uighurs, an ethnic minority in the country, have been forced into concentration camps since 2014. The Chinese government has built hundreds of so-called “re-education” camps where Uighurs are being interned and indoctrinated, supposedly to crack down on terrorism in the area. Reports of mass sterilization of Uighur women and other inhumane treatment in the camps led the U.S. to accuse China of genocide in January, but the government has made no apparent effort to stop maliciously repressing Uighurs while the world watches.

These are some of the biggest international events being reported on right now—if this is the first you’re hearing of any of them, it might be time for a Google search or two. But even for those of us who recognize these stories, how much do we actually know? Do we just read headlines? Do we keep up to date on developments? Are we discussing with peers?

Many of us make time to understand what’s happening in the U.S., but not everyone treats world news with the same significance. The events discussed above and those of similar importance in other countries, may seem disconnected from your life or your community. But there is more similarity between the news in the U.S. and that of countries across the globe than you might think.

In India, farmers and Indians of other professions and varying social classes are coming together to protest an unfair system that will favor rich corporations at the expense of already underserved farmworkers. They are standing up against systematic mistreatment of people in their country—not so different from Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S., where the Black community and allies are fighting against police brutality and other social injustices faced by Black Americans.

And in Myanmar, false claims of voting fraud have proven to be a real threat to their democracy. Not long ago, our former president fabricated similar allegations which led to several baseless court cases attempting to overturn the results and, despite what the Senate votes indicate, unprecedented civil unrest. Although U.S. civilians remain in power, some consider the incidents of the past few months to be evidence of the decline of American democracy.

But regardless of how close to home these events might be, they should matter to us. While there are currently no internment camps in the U.S., Uighurs in China deserve our attention and our anger—if genocide was happening so publicly in our country, we would want other nations to be aware, and where possible, take action.

Even if we do care about international news, it’s not necessarily our fault for not knowing what’s going on all the time—we are so barraged with new information about the state of affairs in the U.S. alone that it can be difficult to keep tabs on other nations. And to a certain extent, the media controls what news we see and how often we see it. But it is our responsibility to seek out important information whether it’s handed to us or not, global press included.

That being said, the news can take its toll. That is why it is vital to consume media consciously—not only by not believing everything you see and doing your own research beyond an Instagram graphic, but by choosing when and what you catch up on. It’s ok to log off when you need a break. When you return, however, don’t just skim news notifications. Read the whole article, click on the hyperlink or listen to a podcast.

As college students, The Editorial Board understands that the second new information comes to light isn’t always when you have free time to dig into another country’s complex government policies or social issues. But we also believe that if you care about something, you make time for it. And you should care about injustice.

Written by: The Editorial Board

Farm workers in India protesting to retain control of produce and sales

Arts & Culture

ASUCD IT

February 19, 2021

A look into how the controversy began and escalated

For the past few months, farm workers in India have been protesting against three pieces of legislation that threaten the livelihoods of farmers and exploit their labor.

In general, what these laws do is transfer farmers’ powers into the hands of corporatized or private buyers by compelling farmers into the free market rather than continuing to assure floor prices through government-run wholesale markets.

Some arguments in favor of the bills suggest that they allow these farmers to become “independent”—rather than go through an intermediary to sell their produce, they can deal directly with the buyer and procure a bigger share of the profit. Another argument is that the assured floor prices offered through the wholesale markets have only benefited a handful of farmers.

The government-run wholesale markets, or mandis, are run by committees of farmers who act as the middlemen for sales, storage, transport and brokering of deals on behalf of the individual farmer. Under this system, farmers already had the option to sell to private agricultural businesses, supermarkets or online grocers, but farmers are concerned that the new laws will put an end to mandis and force them to work with private businesses that can exploit them.

The reason why many find the legislation so concerning is because this impacts smaller, more marginalized farmers that will not stand a chance against corporations. Although the government has promised to continue the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the mandi system, farmers understand the harsh reality of what these bills will do: squash out the smaller farmers and leave their land up for grabs.

Many of the protestors are wary of the government because of the way in which the legislation was passed, the historic injustices that have occurred regarding land and the mistreatment of farmers. What protestors need from the government is legislation that will ensure that both the MSP and the mandi system will not be withdrawn.

On Jan. 26, a day meant to celebrate India’s establishment as a republic, the protests turned for the worse, with a violent showdown between the protestors and the government in New Delhi.

Because of this escalation, the country’s Supreme Court has implemented a suspension of the new legislation in an attempt to allow the government and the protestors to find some middle ground without inciting more violence. However, this did not appease the protestors who are now calling for a full-on repeal of the laws.

The government, under direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also begun censoring many of the protestors by unlawfully arresting citizens, cutting the internet in areas where protests are high and suspending accounts on social media. This has led to Indian nationalists, including beloved Bollywood celebrities, to declare these protestors as national terrorists.

When the strikes caught the attention of big names like Rihanna and activist Greta Thunberg, Modi condemned them for sensationalizing the issue without being educated enough to make a real assessment of what is happening.

This led counter-protestors to burn images of the two women, claiming that they were planning attacks against India based on a toolkit that Thunberg posted on how to support these farm workers.

While these events may seem removed from what is going on in our own country, many Indians and Indian-Americans follow the news in dismay and anxiety. Yuba City’s “Mini Punjab” has one of the largest concentrations of Punjabi Indians and Sikh farmers in the U.S.

As rallies and protests for these farm workers increase in the U.S., the support around the world shows that people will continue to watch what India’s government will do as farmers fight to maintain control over their livelihoods.

Written by: Mariah Viktoria Candelaria –– arts@theaggie.org

UC Davis Sacramento Area Youth Speaks poet to compete for the title of National Youth Poet Laureate

Features

ASUCD IT

February 19, 2021

Youth Poet Laureate Western Regional Ambassador Alexandra Huynh details her ambitions; SAYS director discusses how the program elevates underserved student voices

Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS), founded and sponsored by UC Davis, is a “social justice movement,” as stated on their website, concerned with providing modes of expression to underserved high school students and helping create pathways to higher education. Through spoken word poetry, the goal of SAYS is to help students articulate narratives and explore their own identities.

Patrice Hill, the director of SAYS, believes that self-expression is vital for students to gain an understanding of themselves.

“If we’re not given the opportunity and the space to speak up and break our chains, then how do we ever fully realize our full potential? How do we ever truly articulate who we are?” Hill said.

Alexandra Huynh, a recent high school graduate who joined SAYS in her junior year, earned the title of Youth Poet Laureate Western Regional Ambassador and will progress as one of four finalists in the National Youth Poet Laureate competition. This is the same competition that Amanda Gorman, who recited a poem at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, entered and won in 2017.

“I’ve always loved performing even though I was a pretty shy kid,” Huynh said. “I had a brief stint on the speech team in my sophomore year, and I was in drama in middle school, but I don’t think I ever had such a strong platform to be able to perform.”

Huynh recounted her memories of the first organized annual slam poetry competition she attended at the Brickhouse Art Gallery in Downtown Sacramento.

“I remember the semifinals was when I really felt like, ‘Wow, this is a thing that I can continue doing,’” Huynh said. “I just remember the rows of seats really packed together and the single microphone at the front center of the art gallery, which was our stage. It felt very intimate but also very open at the same time. Everyone was just listening to whatever you had to say.”

Huynh acknowledges that nerves are a common part of the experience of performing, but shared that her sense of stability onstage comes from confidence in the words she’s written.

“One thing that really helps me is knowing that I wrote the words that I’m about to speak because they came from my soul,” Huynh said. “I guess [that] sounds kind of cliche, but I don’t think I could ever forget something that I wrote because it’s how I feel.”

While many of Huynh’s poems are centered around personal identity issues she faces as a Vietnemese-American, some carry broader themes about the Sacramento community, such as homelessness and environmental justice. To Huynh, spoken word is a unique medium of expression with particular artistic value.

“I think the beautiful thing about spoken word and poetry in general is that you can really express yourself in whichever way you want, so you can play with memory, you can use incorrect grammar to prove your point, you can mix languages,” Huynh said.

Huynh said that most of her expression during her performances isn’t rehearsed ahead of time.

“When I’m performing, I kind of like to imagine it’s the last time I’m ever going to perform a piece, and to not just to perform, but really live inside of it,” Huynh said. “I can’t ever really predict how my voice is going to change or how my face is going to look when I’m performing.”

Although Huynh has contemplated watching recordings of herself delivering a poem to perfect her delivery, she has largely decided against it.

“To some extent, it would probably be useful to me to look back on my performances to see if there are certain things I could change to make them more impactful, but is that my goal at the end of the day, to really refine it? Or is my job as a poet to just be the most authentic version of myself that day when delivering?” Huynh said.

If Huynh won the title of National Youth Poet Laureate, she would hope to use the achievement to improve education and elevate youth’s voices.

“One thing I would really focus on is working to make sure young people are accepted as whole people in every system that affects us,” Huynh said. “So [with] education, I think we need to work on diversifying our curriculum and making sure that kids see themselves in the narratives that are being presented to them and that they believe that they can be main characters.”

Huynh is currently taking a gap year before attending Stanford University in fall 2021 and she’s using her time to intern at UC Davis’ Environment, Land and Food Systems Lab. She’s particularly interested in creative writing, chemical engineering and civic engagement, passions that she hopes to merge in a future career.

“Everyone deserves access to clean water, clean energy, food that is nutritious, but also that takes into account the fact that peoples’ livelihoods are not just physical, they’re emotional, they’re social,” Huynh said. “And I think part of that means bringing in art and giving people, especially young people, access to opportunities where they feel like they can express themselves.”

Hill believes Huynh’s achievements speak to the value SAYS contributes to youth.

“One, it’s so exciting. Two, it’s an honor; we’re just so proud of [Huynh],” Hill said. “I think it’s just a testament to the type of work we do where we consistently invest in young people and we believe wholeheartedly in their stories and their truth, and we know that young people have the tenacity, the power and the ability to transform us.”Written by: Lyra Farrell — features@theaggie.org

Anti-vaccination activists’ tenacity in spreading misinformation threatens to further health and medical inequities

ASUCD IT

February 19, 2021

Separating anti-vaccination rhetoric from vaccine hesitancy by rightfully skeptical communities of color

As misinformation chipped (and continues to chip) away at the faultline between public trust and science, the Trump administration wasted no time in causing more divisive fractures by promoting uncertainty around the effectiveness of mask-wearing and loose enforcement of stay-at-home orders. Former President Donald Trump’s reach was so expansive that out of 1.1 million English-language articles analyzed in five months, 38% of articles featured or referenced one of his misleading claims.

As the U.S. gears up for its largest vaccination campaign in history, anti-vaccination activists are re-weaponizing the same uncertainty fueled by the Trump administration to deliver the final blow: breaking trust in science by undermining the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a left-leaning anti-vaccine activist was recently banned from Instagram for sharing debunked claims about COVID-19 and vaccines. Kennedy implied a link between the deaths of two people in Denmark after being vaccinated to the COVID-19 vaccine, despite medical authorities attributing it to old age and chronic lung disease. Anti-vaccine groups have gone even further by fabricating deaths. Users on social media manipulated a video of a Tennessee nurse fainting to make it appear as though she dropped dead after receiving her vaccination, in addition to circulating her fake death certificates and obituary.

Medical experts are urging for a national communications strategy to counter misleading information, as anti-vaccination rhetoric spreads both online and in real life.

Weaponizing the pandemic to fuel the anti-vaccine movement opens the realm of ill-intention to public health and exploits the hesitations towards vaccines in communities of color.

A recent poll of New York residents shows that 78% of white residents report that they would take the vaccine immediately compared to only 39% of Black residents, 54% of Hispanic residents and 54% of Asian residents.

The persistent stereotype of anti-vaxers as “white, college-educated, ‘Whole Foods moms’” and the shift in anti-vax conversations to that of “parental rights,” and now “medical freedom” in popular culture poses substantial consequences in addressing inequities during the pandemic. This dominant narrative takes attention away from how we can better reach communities who are hesitant to receive the vaccination, in particular Black Americans who have faced a long history of injustice from the medical community.

From the Tuskegee Syphilis study’s experimentation to the theft of Henrietta Lacks’ immortal cells without her consent, the medical community shows a systematically racist legacy in its devaluation of Black bodies. These are not just relics of the past but recurring injustices, such as the false notion that Black people have “thicker skin” or “less sensitive nerve endings,” thus leading to treatment disparities in Black patients due to inadequate prescription of pain medication.

Anti-vaccination rhetoric exacerbates inequities that have continued during the pandemic by dissuading Americans from receiving the vaccine. Black Americans in particular have been disproportionately affected during the pandemic, being three times more likely than white Americans to contract COVID-19. Black Americans also face additional barriers in receiving the vaccine, such as being more likely to live in vaccine deserts.

Autonomy, rights, freedom and 475,000 COVID-19 deaths and counting. The pandemic has not only exposed inequities, but also the privilege of those like Trump and Kennedy Jr. and the willingness of anti-vaccination groups to spread misinformation in the hopes of advancing their political agendas amidst rising death tolls.

During a public health crisis, a collective consensus is essential to eliminate conflicting information and build public trust in science. But more needs to be done than just giving out information.

Debra Furr-Holden, an epidemiologist and health equity scholar, proposes that in building Black communities’ trust around the vaccine, more needs to be done than “pointing to the few Black scientists involved in vaccine development, or making a spectacle of prominent African-Americans receiving the vaccine.” Furr-Holden points to shifting the narrative to a truth-telling one, in addition to giving minority and women-owned business contracts to distribute vaccines to communities.

On a recent viral Twitter thread, Dr. Brittani James proposes something similar: empowering people of color who are academics, grassroots organizers and church leaders by giving them the platform, resources and money to address vaccine hesitancy in communities directly.

In portraying the vaccine hesitancy of communities of color justly, it cannot be conflated with anti-vaccination rhetoric. The danger of this conflation is that it minimizes the history of medical discrimination in favor of situating this distrust around science due to a lack of knowledge or awareness. This places the burden on the individual instead of holding longstanding institutions accountable for their role in shaping deep fear and distrust.

Written by: Renee Wang — reswang@ucdavis.edu

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

2021 Olympic Games are in limbo

Sports

ASUCD IT

February 19, 2021

With no detailed plan and time ticking fast, Olympic organizers must decide what they want to do for this years’ planned games—if it even happens

As COVID-19 continues to hit many places hard, many hope that the vaccine will help resume some sense of normalcy back into our lives like they were pre-pandemic. With questions surrounding availability and rollouts, it seems as though that may take some time to figure out. Time that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the country of Japan simply do not have.

Scheduled for a start date of July 23, the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo are now again in a limbo. The games were originally going to take place in the summer of 2020, but COVID-19 put a halt to their plans, as it did for everything else At the time of the rescheduling, the IOC and Japan had hoped for more clarity and a normal Olympics, as COVID-19 would be a thing of the past. But as we know even with the vaccine now being available, it seems like that will not be a viable option.

In mid-January, the City of Tokyo and its surrounding areas underwent a state of emergency due to a high number of COVID-19 cases, as was the case with many other countries as well. Because of this, rumors began to swirl that these games would be canceled altogether, but as it seems, the IOC will fight it as long as they can.

“We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo,” said IOC chief Thomas Bach. “This is why there is no plan B and this is why we are fully committed to make these games safe and successful.”

The question remains whether this is even salvageable, as there are many factors to keep in mind as they remain adamant in their stance to hold these games. The first would be the protocols set in place for the athletes and countries coming in. Would athletes have to quarantine? How often would they have to take tests? What measures will be in place to ensure the safety of at least 10,000 athletes? Not to mention, many countries currently have strict immigration and travel restrictions that might interfere with traveling to the Olympics. The logistics and complex plan has yet to be seen, but the playbook the IOC has set out gives people hope—or at least something to keep them busy.

In a 32 page outline of the preliminary plan, the IOC, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Tokyo 2020 released what is expected of everyone in order to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Although it does not have many details, it is the first major piece of news released other than assurances that the games will happen.

The IOC stated that neither the athletes nor attendees will have to be vaccinated or quarantined upon arriving in Japan for the games. They will, however, enforce strict guidelines to follow on how much contact they have with others and how much they go out. Masks will be worn at all times except eating, drinking and sleeping and temperature checks will be administered before entering buildings. There was a mention about spectators, but whether there will be people in attendance remains to be seen. That answer is expected to be known in the spring, as they have the option of full, limited or no attendance.

Aside from that news, there was no new or important information in the playbook. The very vague outline brought the IOC much criticism, but it seems like they are trying to do the best they can to hold these games. They will have to do much more than just that, as public support has seen a drastic drop. A poll taken of Japanese citizens shows that 61% of them are against holding these games, calling for the Olympics to be postponed or canceled altogether, as they see it as not important enough to go through the trouble.

“I do not understand why they want to have the Olympics,” said Mari Miyamoto, a Tokyo resident. “We are constantly being told that we cannot meet up with other people or see friends and family, that we have to always sanitize our hands and be careful whenever we go out. But now they insist that it’s perfectly safe to hold an event that is going to bring thousands of people together in a confined space. To me, that makes no sense.”

The IOC and Japan are working closely together to try and make this happen. As it is well-known, the Olympics have never been a profitable event. The losses by these host cities are massive, but most are willing to take the risk for a potential future boom. This, however, has flipped Japan upside down. With the massive losses already taken by postponing it, Statista predicts losses of 4.5 trillion Japanese yen, which is equivalent to over $42 billion U.S. dollars, if the event is canceled altogether. The IOC has already said that if it is not held this summer, it will be canceled as there is not a possibility for rescheduling, so it is now or never.

“We are holding the Olympics and Paralympics this summer,” said Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. “I am determined to achieve the games as a proof of human victory against the pandemic, a symbol of global solidarity and to give hope and courage around the world.”

With less than five months remaining until the games are scheduled to start, time is moving fast for the organizers of the event. In this current era, nothing about the future can be assured, creating an almost impossible scenario where the Olympic Games are a smooth sailing. If it is canceled, it will be the first canceled since World War II, which will make it the most unprecedented Olympics in history, which says a lot considering the amount of major events that have happened in past games. The organizers are set on completing these games, but there is a good chance the pandemic will not allow it. A lot of work is left to be done, but time is running out quickly with no sure answer in sight.
Written by: Omar Navarro— sports@theaggie.org

Police logs

City News

ASUCD IT

February 18, 2021

I’ll just clean up this tree by myself!

January 24

“2 teens on the roof of the school throwing things off the roof.”

January 27

“Subject using chainsaw to cut down a city tree—subject appeared to be a citizen and not an employee.”

January 28

“Motorists not yielding for signal outage.”

January 30
“Vehicle heard in area racing and doing donuts continuously.”

February 1
“Upset because she can only call 911 on her phone.”

Monthly open mics give first-years opportunity to connect

Features

ASUCD IT

February 18, 2021

Lindsay Flores and Karylle Ilao encourage classmates to express themselves and make new friends during virtual performances

On Saturday, Jan. 30, Lindsay Flores and Karylle Ilao, two first-year students, hosted their monthly virtual open mic night for all UC Davis students. The event was attended by around 15 students and featured music, poems, comedy and children’s stories. The hosts began the night with an icebreaker, then introduced the performers who signed up beforehand. Audience members were muted during each performance, but they were able to show support through Zoom’s chat feature. They opened up the floor to any other students who wanted to perform before using the second half of the night as a midterms study hall.

Flores, a first-year animal science major, had the idea to start these open mic nights before her first year at Davis began. She started writing poetry during her freshman year of high school, but she could never find open mics for people under 18 years old. During her senior year she began hosting open mic nights at a coffee shop that had opened up in her city and brought along the tradition to Davis.

“When the pandemic started and we went to college, I realized I missed hosting open mics and hearing people’s stories,” Flores said. “So I thought it’d be really fun to bring that back as a way to get to know more people at the university while also getting to hear a bunch of talent.”

Flores shared her idea with Karylle, a first-year civil engineering major, and the two hosted their first open mic in September. Over 70 students attended and performed, most of whom were first-years, and Flores stated that it was a great way for new students to get to know each other. She said that in addition to seeing other students showcase their talent, her favorite part of the open mics is watching students meet one another and become friends.

“Open mics are a really good opportunity to meet people,” Flores said. “Yes, it’s a place for talent, but it’s also a place to make friends and talk in a welcoming space.”

Flores encourages all students to attend and perform during the open mics. She said that they do not need to be a professional or even have a structured performance, but can express themselves in any way they would like.

“If someone were to come to the open mic and just talk about how their day went, I would love to hear it,” Flores said. “When people think, ‘I’m going to the open mic just to watch because I don’t have any talent,’ I don’t think that’s true. I think everyone has a talent that can be heard, even if they don’t realize it.”

Ilao agreed that one of her biggest goals for the open mics is to help students get to know one another outside of class, especially since many of the first-year students aren’t on campus this year. Hosting the open mics has even helped Ilao connect with other students.

“It’s hard learning online and having all this new content being thrown at us,” Ilao said. “It’s been a struggle, but it’s been helpful getting to know some people and having friendships where you know that you’re not alone. It’s been helpful to know that everyone’s going through the same thing and everyone’s struggling together.”

Both hosts have performed during each open mic night to encourage other students to feel more comfortable performing. Flores recites her own poetry and Ilao usually performs songs on the guitar or ukulele.

“Performing online is definitely a weird experience,” Ilao said. “I still get pretty nervous any time I perform, but when I do, I have that option of putting Zoom in a small corner of my screen and looking at something else.”

Ananya Yogi, a first-year genetics major, has attended multiple open mic nights. Yogi met Flores through an online group of UC Davis class of 2024 students and they planned on rooming together during their freshman year. Even though they were unable to live together due to the pandemic, the open mic nights have given them an opportunity to connect virtually. Yogi said that she has also performed at a few of the open mics.

“The open mics were really cool because everyone’s just really supportive,” Yogi said. “I think part of that was pandemic loneliness-related, and we were all excited to actually be able to see and talk to a lot of people at once.”

Yogi had some experience with performing online, as she participated in a theater show on Zoom prior to the open mics. She pointed out that though it is a great way to connect, there are more technical difficulties that can occur while performing through Zoom.

“For example, your mic can blow out if you sing too loudly,” Yogi said. “So you need to learn about tech and how to modulate it to your own needs. It’s interesting acting or singing from your chest up. And if you do want to move around, you have to make sure your camera angles make you look good. It’s a lot of mixing film and the stage.”

Despite the additional factors to consider when performing, Yogi continues to share her talent during the open mic nights because of the supportive environment.

“There’s a supportive nature that comes about, which is hard to find,” Yogi said. “There’s been a multitude of talents at the open mics and everyone just supports one another, because it’s hard to do that in front of strangers.”

The next open mic night will be on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 8-10 p.m. More information can be found at the UCD Freshmen Open Mic’s Instagram page.
Written by: Liana Mae Atizado— features@theaggie.org

How the Turtle House has remained a co-op of creative output and collaboration

Features

ASUCD IT

February 17, 2021

Residents share the sense of fellowship the Turtle House has provided for them during the pandemic

Since the 1990s, the Turtle House—located on Second St. and named for the turtle that hangs in its upstairs balcony—has served as a hub of entertainment and creativity for its residents and UC Davis students. Until recently, the cooperative living house (co-op) has drawn in members of the UC Davis community by hosting regular weekend events featuring local bands. With an average of 20 students living in the Turtle House at a time, it’s known to foster free expression and openness. Anya Sturm, a third-year mathematics major, heard about the Turtle House through her brother and friends and began living there in September 2020.

“Turtle House is historically this place that is […] whatever the community needs it to be in that moment,” Sturm said.

As a musician who practices American and Irish folk music, Sturm feels that the Turtle House has allowed her to be surrounded by others who share similar passions. Sturm added that some who are new to the Turtle House are quickly influenced by the interests of the other residents.

“I know housemates who came in not playing any music, and they’ve learned how to play drums and we’ve had these incredible dance sessions and recorded a bunch of stuff,” Sturm said. “I think it’s a good place [where] when you feel bored you can actually do something productive, which, when I started the pandemic not at the Turtle House, I was not able to do at all.”

Kobe Ward, a third-year psychology and sociology double major, learned about the Turtle House as a first-year by attending the parties they hosted and becoming involved in KDVS—UC Davis’ student-run radio station that has ties to the Turtle House. According to Ward, the Turtle House residents have maintained some of their routines, such as holding regular dinners, but haven’t been able to connect to the UC Davis community in the way they normally would.

“One thing that we do is family dinners, so Monday through Thursday somebody cooks and then we all eat,” Ward said. “We can’t invite people to come to those dinners anymore which is […] one of the cool ways we connect to the community.”

Joseph Robson, a fifth-year geology major, learned about the Turtle House as a second-year when he stopped in front of it during a bike ride to ask questions and was invited to have dinner with the residents on the spot.

“I think [COVID-19] has changed our impact outwardly; we’re not able to really outwardly reach others,” Robson said. “For people in the house, it’s been a little bit more personal and almost a little bit more like a home.”

In weekly meetings, Turtle House residents plan activities for the week, review the applications of those showing interest in becoming new tenants and wrap up with group “appreciations,” where they take time to give each other positive feedback. According to Sturm, discussion around pandemic-related precautions has dominated the meetings lately.

“A pretty good portion of [the meetings] is taken up by COVID-related logistics now, and so it’s a space where you can ask for a mediator if you need to talk to someone specifically one-on-one and you guys are having problems,” Sturm said. “But I think we’ve mostly just been preemptive in addressing issues before they become anything big and problematic.”

According to Ward, living among so many people during the pandemic comes with anticipated risks.

“Generally living here, we have this assumed level of risk […] because there are just so many people,” Ward said.

To lower the risk of contracting COVID-19, the co-op residents have taken precautions when a known exposure has taken place, such as dividing the house into units and staying among small groups. Regular testing has also become part of Turtle House residents’ routines, according to Sturm.

“Most of us get tested once or twice a week,” Sturm said. “It definitely was a ‘hit the ground running’ with communication moving in because […] your life is at stake and you’re putting [it] in the hands of 19 people.”

Robson noted that the Turtle House’s process of finding new residents isn’t based on a rubric and that there are no prerequisites required to apply.

“We don’t try to find a mold of a person, we’re not looking for somebody that looks a certain way or has done a certain thing in the community or plays music or has a talent or anything like that,” Robson said. “There’s really no structure, it’s just a house and you can do what you want with it.”

In Sturm’s experience reviewing the applications of potential residents, the ones that stand out the most are from students whose personalities are a huge departure from her own.

“If I’m reading an application or I’m meeting someone and I think they’re so similar to me, of course I’m excited—you get excited when you meet someone who has similar interests,” Sturm said. “But the applications that I think everyone gets the most excited about is when you see someone who is so vastly different from yourself and I think that in that way, co-ops are really different from what people think.”

For Ward, life in the Turtle House has allowed her to feel comfortable exercising her eccentricities.

“It’s like an expanded comfort zone for being weird, it’s a way to feel [more comfortable] being a weirdo and then practice it for the rest of your life,” Ward said.
Written by: Lyra Farrell — features@theaggie.org

City of Davis offers water conservation tips in light of dry winter

City News

ASUCD IT

February 17, 2021

City officials and water experts encourage residents to conserve water after second dry year in a row

On Jan. 7, the City of Davis offered winter water conservation tips for residents, a reminder to customers about the mandatory water-use restrictions still in place and an update on the city’s water system on their website.

The press release reminded residents to check appliances and fixtures around the home for unusual water usage.

“Toilets are the most common leak in the home,” the press release reads. “Other indoor leaks include faucets and showerheads, hot water leaks in slab foundations and water softeners running continuously.”

The press release urged residents to reduce outdoor as well as indoor water use.

“With shorter days and cooler temperatures in the winter, residents’ landscape needs less water, even if there is a lack of rain,” the press release reads. “Be sure to water with the weather; shorten the amount of time and or/number of days watering and turn your irrigation system off when it rains.”

In addition to these tips, the Conservation Coordinator for the City of Davis Dawn Calciano urged residents to check current conservation regulations along with additional resources.

“During the last declared drought, the City enacted additional conservation regulations that have remained in place to present,” Calciano said via email. “Some of the restrictions include: No watering outdoors during 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., no watering during periods of rain or for 48 hours after measurable rainfall [and] no excessive water flow or runoff onto pavement.”

Calciano explained that the city’s online water use portal, AquaHawk, is one example of how conservation efforts at the local level are uniquely positioned to focus on the needs, programs and services of a specific area.

“AquaHawk allows water customers to view daily and hourly water usage as well as set and receive usage alerts,” Calciano said. “The messaging in water conservation is tailored to our environment which is why our conservation tips include water-wise landscaping recommendations that will thrive in the valley.”

Faculty professor and Cooperative Extension Specialist in Water Resources Samuel Sandoval Solis explained that California’s water crisis has to do with its unpredictable weather patterns.

“The reality is that conditions in California are becoming bimodal,” Sandoval Solis said. “There is no normal in California. There are two different conditions—the first where it rains a lot, and the second where it doesn’t. We were in a drought for five years, then we had a wet year, but the problem is that we’ve had two dry years back-to-back.”

Solis explained that the recent rain does not mean an end to California’s water problem.

“When it rains a lot, it doesn’t mean the aquifers and reservoirs fill,” Sandoval Solis said. “All the water gets caught in the river and goes to the ocean—the water cannot be stored.”

Due to this inability to store water and the uncertainty of future rains, Solis explained that we need to make water conservation a part of our daily lives.

“It takes time to pass legislation, so doing our part by reducing our water consumption is the cheapest, most affordable way to practise the philosophy of water conservation in our everyday lives,” Solis said. “Take shorter showers. Use the dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand. Don’t open faucets all the way when washing your hands and brushing your teeth.”

Sandoval Solis also offered additional tips for outdoor water-conservation practices.

“Irrigate your trees properly,” Solis said. “Sacrifice things like flowers and vegetable gardens. You will save more water going to your favorite organic store or farmers market [than growing your own].”

Solis explained that while we still need to change, he has hope for the future.

“There are few things in life that are certain, but one of these is that a drought is coming, so we have to be prepared and change our mindsets,” Solis said.

Recent UC Davis graduate and hydrology major Erica Edwards explained via email that the relative scarcity of water and unsustainable water practices has, in some cases, caused irreparable damage.

“Of all the freshwater available to humans, groundwater accounts for more than 90%,” Edwards said. “The pattern of taking more [than] nature can replenish is not unique to fossil fuels. Because California failed to regulate groundwater until 2014, there are many areas where groundwater overdraft causes land subsidence, and the damage to the aquifer is irreversible.”

Despite this, Edwards, who hopes to pursue a career in groundwater resource sustainability, is nevertheless hopeful for the future of water conservation.

“While regionally we are at the mercy of a warming climate, there is plenty of water in the global hydrologic system,” Edwards said. “It is more an issue of moving it to where it is needed, not polluting it and not wasting it.”
Written by: Yan Yan Hustis Hayes — city@theaggie.org

Culture Corner

Arts & Culture

ASUCD IT

February 16, 2021

The Arts Desk’s weekly pick of movies, TV shows, books and music

TV Show: “Last Week Tonight” with John Oliver

In a seemingly endless slew of late-night talk shows, it can get a bit old watching the same ten comics/hosts joke about the same current events every weeknight. Sure, each one (or their writers) brings with them some refreshing take on otherwise dull or less than interesting news, but more often than not, the punchlines just fall short of their mark. Perhaps it’s the British character and humor of John Oliver, or the less restrictive language of HBO’s platforms, but Oliver’s weekly commentary is as calculated as it is hilarious. Again, this could be partly accredited to the writers, but they’re also given the whole week to compose material for a once-a-week show. If you’re someone that finds themselves switching back-and-forth between Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, Seth Meyers and the likes of other late-night talk show hosts Monday through Friday… take a break and just catch John Oliver on HBO on Sundays.

Movie: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” dir. by Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam (1975)

In 1975, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam put together the second film from the “Monty Python” group as they follow Arthur, King of the Britons on his quest in finding his Knights of the Round Table, riding throughout England using… coconuts? While the film is approaching its 50th anniversary in just a couple of years, it’s deadpan humor and historical satire have aged almost too perfectly. Summarizing the plot or explaining any of the jokes—there are too many—would not do the viewer any justice. One could find themselves content simply laughing themselves into jerking a tear or two over the sheer absurdity of the film at their first viewing, while those with an especially dry sense of humor may find themselves hurting from laughing too hard. If you’re someone that appreciates dry humor, look no further.

Album: “You Can’t Take It with You” by As Tall As Lions (2009)

After two extended plays and two full length albums, “Lafcadio” in 2004 and a self-titled record in 2006, Indie/Alternative/musical wizards As Tall As Lions released their final work in 2009. The 11-song long play has range, and I mean a lot of range. It opens with “Circles,” a drum-heavy, almost tribal sounding introduction that has a circular feel about it that draws you in with some easy-to-follow and fun riffs to accompany the drums. “Sixes and Sevens” has the makings of an anthem, putting lead singer/guitarist Dan Nigro’s melodic vocals on full display. In the middle of the album, “Duermete” takes listeners on an entirely new journey for about eight minutes that culminates in seven words that repeat through it: “But I know that better days will come.” In each song, the group somehow finds that perfect balance of sound and lyric that brings you down only for the sole purpose of picking you back up again.

Book: “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl (1946)

“Man’s Search for Meaning” is one man’s firsthand account of his experiences in a German concentration camp accompanied by his own psychoanalysis of those experiences. However, grueling the circumstances and/or consequences of his internment, Frankl explains his own search for meaning in these grave situations and helping his fellow prisoners do the same during his time at the Nazi camps and afterwards. Frankl’s narrative and analysis offers readers a more in-depth look at the horrors of the Holocaust and it’s psychological affects on those who endured it. It’s a different format from what you’d expect from most firsthand narratives, but it is refreshing in that sense alone and is well worth the read.

Written by: Cameron Perry — arts@theaggie.org

Davis Downtown Business Association launches Heart to Hearts project to benefit downtown businesses

City News

ASUCD IT

February 16, 2021

Collective art project brings together community, business and art

The Davis Downtown Business Association (DDBA) launched a collective art project called Heart to Hearts that invites the community to create heart-shaped artwork in support of downtown Davis businesses. The opportunity to submit artwork opened on Jan. 25 and will close on Feb. 28. All proceeds will benefit downtown Davis businesses.

“We are looking for artists of all ages and skill levels to create hearts as an expression of love for small businesses and our community,” the official website reads. “Hearts can also be designed in memoriam of those lost to us or as a symbol of hope for the future.”

The website detailed that submissions can be drawings, paintings, graphic design or other forms of media, but they must fit in the shape of a standard heart. After the submission period ends, the DDBA creative team will create collective heart collages for purchase online. Buyers will be able to select which business will receive the proceeds of their purchase.

DDBA Board Member Yelena Ivashchenko explained how she came up with the idea for a collective art project.

“I had this idea of how we can connect community [and] business in relation to the arts,” Ivashchenko said. “Instead of some cheesy Valentine’s Day gathering, I wanted to send a message to the community: let’s give your heart to your favorite downtown business.”

DDBA Event Coordinator Autum Batton described her hopes for high community participation.

“We’re giving the artists five weeks to submit their hearts to us, so we’re hoping that giving them enough time [will encourage] a lot of people to enter their hearts,” Batton said. “As a result, we’ll have a lot of people wanting to buy the local art to support not only the artists, but the Davis downtown businesses.”

Batton noted the larger benefit for downtown Davis businesses if there is higher participation from the community.

“The more people that submit the hearts and the more people that buy the heart collective at the end of February, the more money that we can spread around downtown and share the wealth,” Batton said.

Wedra added that the art will not only hold monetary benefits, but decorative benefits as well.

“The art will decorate the downtown,” Wedra said. “Once we have all these artists’ hearts, we’re definitely going to find ways to decorate downtown.”

DDBA Marketing Coordinator Aaron Wedra emphasized the importance of self-expression.

“We think everyone is an artist,” Wedra said. “This is for any age and any skill level.”

Ivashchenko further explained that this project acknowledges downtown Davis in general.

“It just additionally brings awareness to people that Davis downtown businesses are there for them,” Ivashchenko said. “In this pandemic, they’re still there. They’re still providing their services.”

Batton left a final note of encouragement for supporting the community through the Heart to Hearts project.

“Let’s all get together and show the love for our Davis businesses and just help support one another through all of these challenging times,” Batton said. “Art is a very good way to express yourself, so if you just want to get some frustration out on paper, this is the perfect way to do it.”

Written by: Jelena Lapuz — city@theaggie.org

Uncovered: Davis cows are apparently all just unpaid vet students forced to wear cow suits for class credit

ASUCD IT

February 16, 2021

Don’t ask us where the milk comes from

In a recent investigation, it was discovered that UC Davis’ iconic cows are in fact not livestock and are actually UCD students in costumes attending a class. Apparently, the general education class ASS101 (Animal Sociological Studies) requires pre-vet students to spend an entire quarter in cow suits, in order to familiarize themselves with bovine behavior and learn what it truly means to “be the cow.”

“The Davis cows are an important staple of the school,” said ASS101’s Professor Moo. “We allow our students an insight into that experience; I don’t think any other university has that.”

Moo, who promises that the class is simply educational, is a well-renowned scholar with a Nobel Peace Prize in ecological sciences for research on humane cattle practices. Sadly, no picture of the professor was available for The California Aggie to use. When interviewed over Zoom, the professor would not turn on his camera, insisting that he had a spotty internet connection and that the loud mooing sounds in the background were merely educational videos he was researching.

The class may not be for educational purposes like the professor proposes. Students forced to take the course for their General Education requirements shared with us a shocking revelation—the Davis cows that students and alumni have loved for generations may have never existed in the first place.

“So according to our syllabus, the class was one of the first to study animal behavior, and nothing screams education like a bunch of students dressed up like cows,” said an animal science major who had taken the class. “But over time, the costumes became good enough that non-animal science students couldn’t tell the difference. And that’s when the cult stuff started.”

Moo asked us to officially state that his course is not a cult and that its listing on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) cult watch list is probably a typo. Although The California Aggie is legally obligated to state that we cannot confirm or deny if Moo’s course is a cult, such a claim would explain the weird nightly drummings and strange cow-shaped crop circles seen on the university farm.

Despite the current FBI investigation, ASS101 will be available to pre-vet students next quarter. The class provides cow costumes and other materials, but textbooks and lamb’s blood must be purchased by students separately.

Written by: Ian Cosner — iacosner@ucdavis.edu

Disclaimer: (This article is humor and/or satire, and it’s content is purely fictional. The story and or names of “sources” are fictionalized.)

Delving into the truth about food additives and disputed ingredients

Features

ASUCD IT

February 16, 2021

UC Davis students and a nutrition professor break down the myths surrounding food additives, ingredients and dyes

This article is the first installation of The California Aggie’s Mind and Body series, which discusses nutrition, physical wellbeing and mental health.

Over the past few months, posts concerning fear over possibly harmful dyes, additives and ingredients in food have been circulating on social media. There have been particular concerns about food additives banned by the European Union (EU) but approved for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S.

Tatiana Diacova, a Ph.D. student studying nutrition at UC Davis and a member of the Graduate Group of Nutritional Biology, stated that although people are often worried about the food additives permitted in the U.S., these compounds actually function to make food safer.

“Basically, we need to find things we can add to our foods that would make them less friendly to pathogens but more palatable and appealing to the consumer,” Diacova said.

One of the controversial chemicals, potassium bromate, was banned by the EU but is still used in U.S. food production. According to Diacova, however, this chemical serves a useful purpose.

“Potassium bromate is added to flour because it makes the product extra fluffy and soft—and that is exactly how we like our burger buns,” Diacova said.

The EU, after conducting research on mice, banned potassium bromate upon discovering a connection to the chemical and the development of cancer. Diacova, however, stated that the study’s results do not directly translate when considering human health.

“Usually, such studies use the raw and isolated version of the compound of interest and administer it to mice in very high amounts over the course of a few weeks,” Diacova said. “The problem is that under normal circumstances a human would not be able to consume such a large amount just through dietary sources.”

Furthermore, according to Diacova, the FDA has not banned potassium bromate because baking converts it into a harmless substance—bromide.

Meigan Freeman, a fourth-year clinical nutrition major and the president of the Student Nutrition Association at UC Davis, stated that restrictions relating to food dyes were approved in the EU after studies on food dyes became more prominent.

“There are studies that show food dyes have made kids, a small percentage of children, more hyperactive than they normally would be,” Freeman said.

Freeman stated that the UK banned food dyes after such studies were released, but that the U.S. kept dyes in production because there was not enough evidence of their possible risks. Freeman stated, however, that the overall impacts of food dyes are not detrimental.

“A little bit of hyperactivity is bad but it’s not dangerous,” Freeman said.

Although there are possible negative effects that result from consumption of chemicals and dyes, Freeman said there is a tendency to exaggerate the impacts of many of these ingredients.

“I think there is misinformation about how bad it is,” Freeman said. “When it keeps getting spread around on Facebook over and over it’s like the telephone game, it gets worse and worse sounding.”

Freeman emphasized the necessity of reading peer-reviewed pamphlets and articles to gain an accurate and more comprehensive understanding of how these chemicals work.

Diacova also said that food dyes and additives are prevalent in packaged foods that already tend to be unhealthy. To maintain a healthy relationship with food, she stated that it is important to have both variety and moderation in one’s diet.

According to Debbie Fetter, an assistant professor of nutrition at UC Davis, knowledge of the health effects of food dyes is limited.

“Generally my rule of thumb for artificial colorings [and] additives [is that] there’s still a lot that we don’t know,” Fetter said. “I would recommend for people to generally consume most of their foods coming straight from the whole food source.”

Although eating whole foods is important, according to Fetter, it is safe to consume packaged foods in moderation.

“If having a serving of goldfish brings you joy, have your serving of goldfish,” Fetter said. “Don’t worry too much about the dyes that are coming from that, just don’t eat goldfish every day, for every meal, all the time.”

When assessing packaged products, Fetter stated that it is easy to be confused by food labels. For example, attempting to identify the amount of hydrogenated oil, which is artificially-produced trans fat, on food labels can be difficult due to labeling laws that make them confusing to interpret.

“If a product has less than 0.5 grams of trans fats per serving, the manufacturer can list 0 grams on the label,” Fetter said.

Fetter stated that this can become a problem when people consume more than one serving, and thus may ingest more trans fat than anticipated.

“Products that have had artificial trans fat are things like Cheez-Its,” Fetter said. “How many people actually consume one serving of Cheez-Its?”

In order to maintain a healthy diet, Fetter recommended setting aside 20-30 minutes each weekend to plan out a grocery list that will allow for healthy meal options. She recommended grocery stores like Trader Joe’s which tend to contain more affordable produce. Fetter, however, suggests remaining aware of the fact that all stores, even grocers like Trader Joe’s, can carry unhealthy foods.

“Trader Joe’s gets that health halo effect where people think that everything coming from Trader Joe’s is going to be super healthy,” Fetter said. “But their Joe-Joes are still Oreos; their cookies are still cookies. It’s always good to just be mindful of that.”

To obtain access to fresh produce during the pandemic, Freeman recommended the ASUCD Pantry, CalFresh or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to secure produce at affordable prices.
Written by: Farrah Ballou — features@theaggie.org

Davis Joint Unified School District lays down parameters for reopening

City News

ASUCD IT

February 15, 2021

Plan is contingent on widespread COVID-19 testing availability and Yolo County moving out of the purple tier

On Jan. 19 and Jan. 21, the Davis School Board held meetings to establish parameters for bringing students back to campus. In a statement released on Jan. 22, Davis Joint Unified School District Superintendent (DJUSD) John A. Bowes explained the conditions which must be fulfilled for Davis high school students to return safely to campus.

Among the conditions under the DJUSD’s control, Bowes lists COVID-19 testing, social distancing, filters with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values of 13 (MERV-13), air purifiers and various other safety protocols. DJUSD Public Information Officer Maria Clayton described the conditions outside of the school district’s control.

“There’s certain things that we have the ability to control,” Clayton said. “We’re ticking our way through the list—making sure all of our classrooms are fitted with air purifiers, making sure that the social distancing is possible with the desks and tables and doing all the disinfection that needs to happen. But as far as when the rollout of the vaccination for staff and how the county performs with the community spread of the virus, those are things outside our control.”

Since Thanksgiving, some students with urgent needs have been brought back to campus, Clayton explained.

“Small cohorts have been in place even while the district has been in the purple tier. There is the ability for schools to open for small cohort learning,” Clayton said. “Under 16 individuals can be in a cohort. That includes the teacher. We have limited that to students that have been identified as having urgent needs. It’s been invite-only, and it’s been asking the students that we are tracking who are not engaged or for whatever reason have not been successful through distance learning.”

Meeting these requirements is especially important since vaccines likely won’t be available to most children and youths until late spring and summer. Although Pfizer and Moderna have started researching the vaccine’s effects in children as young as age 12, a vaccine for children under age 16 has not yet been approved.

Clayton emphasized that the reopening plan would not proceed until all the parameters were met.

“Everyone is looking forward to the time when kids can come back to campus,” Clayton said. “Everyone would like things to return to normal—there’s absolutely no question about it. Both students and teachers want to be back in the classroom, but until those conditions exist, there is not a possibility to do that, and we’re working our way toward that.”

The process of devising these parameters involved many “stakeholders,” according to Clayton.

“It’s been an incredible stakeholder-heavy process, where we’ve brought different ideas before the community, the staff, the parent community and the different advisory groups of the school system to vet different ideas,” Clayton said. “So it’s been a slower process in some ways than in other school districts, but it’s been a much more inclusive process for developing different ideas.”

Clayton also described the benefits of establishing a final deadline, which would keep students in distance learning until the end of the school year if the parameters are met too late.

“The thought is that [DJUSD] wants to make sure that kids can get back in class, so they set these parameters,” Clayton said. “But they don’t want that to be the last week of school. Is there a point or threshold where it just doesn’t make sense to change everyone’s schedule and routine for a couple of days of school, or a couple of weeks of school?”

On Feb. 4, the board of education answered that question, approving a deadline of May 3-7 as the deadline.
Written by: Rachel Shey — city@theaggie.org

Through product lines and sponsorships, social media influencers and celebrities are taking over the skincare industry

Arts & Culture

ASUCD IT

February 15, 2021

Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez and countless others have established themselves in the multibillion dollar industry, setting standards for beauty as they go

Have you ever wondered how your favorite celebrities and social media stars seem to look younger as they age? Some say it’s simply makeup or a healthy lifestyle while others credit their talented plastic surgeons and dermatologists.

Either way, there is no denying that skincare has become a universal commodity. No matter the age, at some point in our lives we have all used a lotion, sunscreen or face wash—and the most adept skincare enthusiasts have their very own 10-step process.

A study by Statista found that 52% of Americans use skincare products daily, with 62% of U.S. consumers using anti-aging products.

The skin care products market is predicted to be worth $183.03 billion by 2025 with an increasingly high demand for natural, herbal and organic products.

Not only that, but as of 2020, the U.S. skincare market is valued at $39.2 billion. It is safe to say, regardless of how many products we use or how much we spend on them, the skincare industry has become a staple in American culture.

So it comes to no surprise that an ultra-wealthy celebrity like Kylie Jenner, the infamous self-made billionaire, was one of the first big celebrities to jump into the skincare game with Kylie Skin—a simplistic skin care line with products ranging from a foaming face wash to a sunscreen oil. Her most affordable skincare product is only $15 and her most expensive product is $36. Her skincare line has garnered both positive and negative reviews but was described as “pleasant and easy to use” in Harper’s Bazaar with a one-size-fits-all approach.

In 2019, Jenner sold the majority share of both Kylie Skin and Kylie Cosmetics to Coty, an American multinational beauty giant which owns CoverGirl, Rimmel and Sally Hansen, for $600 million, solidifying her name in the skincare industry. Yet, many of Jenner’s products are not geared towards anti-aging or reversing the proverbial clock.

Lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet develop naturally as by-products of sun exposure, age and the frequent use of facial muscle that create grooves within our skin for the lines to develop. There is nothing wrong with attempting to stall the caress of time on our faces.

But there is a potential issue when celebrities try to profit off these insecurities by selling skincare lines and products that are marketed as the “reason” for their youthful appearances. It’s almost become an accessory to their fame.

One such powerful and affluent celebrity is Jennifer Lopez who says it’s olive oil, good genes, hydration and sunscreen that keeps her looking so young at 51. It makes one wonder if somehow the fountain of youth runs throughout the filtered water of Los Angeles?

In an interview with ELLE Magazine back in December of 2020, Lopez denied ever having gotten fillers or even botox to maintain her looks.

In addition, when she announced her JLO Beauty brand on Instagram many of her fans were quick to accuse her of using cosmetic procedures to maintain her looks in the comments, to which she responded with, “LOL that’s just my face!!! ….For the 500 millionth time… I have never done Botox or any injectable or surgery!! Just sayin’ 😊.”

Yet, many supporters and fans have been left confused by this claim as these mundane, every-day things cannot be the only the secret behind her “JLO-Glow” (which is something fans can now buy for an easy $118) that keeps her looking like she is in her 30s rather than her 50s. JLO Beauty product prices range from $38 to a whopping $176, with olive oil touted as the “miracle ingredient.”

Even prominent dermatologists and plastic surgeons took to social media to denounce Lopez’s claims. Medically-trained skin experts were also skeptical about how only good skincare practices, a healthy diet and exercise, olive oil and sunscreen afforded Lopez her famous glow.

In addition to celebrities promoting their own skincare lines, social media stars have been part of the skin care sponsorship game as well. A prime example are the sponsored posts for Curology, the dermatologist-founded, no-appointment-needed prescription skincare company geared towards Gen-Zers. Curology offers personalized skin care products for acne-related skin issues with a business model that offers one-on-one virtual consultations, without ever having to leave your house or pay the exorbitant price of seeing a dermatologist in office.

YouTube star Emma Chamberlain, with 9.86 million YouTube subscribers, and skincare influencer Hyram Yarbro, with 4.35 million YouTube subscribers, are a few of the most influential social media stars who have been sponsored by the skincare company. Millions of their young subscribers have been exposed to the company’s familiar YouTube ad that highlights “pay[ing] only $4.95 for shipping and handling” for a one-month supply of a custom skin care regiment.

In many of these sponsored posts and videos, the social media stars often credit Curology for changing their skin or being a great option for people struggling with acne. Yet it is not usually disclosed if it was solely Curology that helped their skin or if they have used dermatologists and other skincare products as well.

There seems to be a lack of transparency in famous people’s endorsements of products—we don’t really know how much they like something, or how effective it really is. Celebrities and influencers typically neglect to mention other reasons they look the way they do, including world-renowned dermatologists, plastic surgeons, facialists, estheticians, personal trainers, nutritionists and private chefs.

Not to mention, they often have easy access to the latest stuff, usually in the form of free public relations boxes. And if they aren’t sent products, they also have the financial means to afford supposedly “magic” creams. One such example is the Creme de la Mer which comes at the hefty price tag of $1290 for a measly 250 mL, and happens to be a fan favorite of incredibly famous celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, Kim Kardashian and Kate Moss, who have promoted it on their social media pages.

This should remind regular consumers that it’s not just water, good genes or buying our favorite celebrities’ most promoted skincare brands that will help us look as young or as flawless as them. The rich have access to the best doctors, most luxurious skincare items and live lifestyles that allow them to look as good as they do.

The skincare industry can feel inundated with so many opinions, celebrity influences and countless products to try. However, we have to remember that beauty is subjective, aging is natural and celebrities don’t actually have all the answers. Even if we slather ourselves with olive oil, drink gallons of water, cover every inch of our bodies with sunscreen and use all the celebrity skincare lines, aging simply does not stop, no matter how much celebrities make it look like it does.
Written by: Muhammad Tariq — arts@theaggie.org

Sections

Resources

Best of Davis

Projects