From peaceful paths to the vibrant streets, discover the best spots for a ‘hot girl walk’ while prioritizing safety and confidence

By JALAN TEHRANIFAR — features@theaggie.org

A few years ago, the simple act of going on a walk got a full rebrand, and thus, the “hot girl walk” was born. Coined by TikTok creator Mia Lind in 2021, the “hot girl walk” isn’t just about getting your steps in — it’s a state of mind. Since posting her first walking video to the social media app in Jan. 2021, the hashtag #hotgirlwalk has cultivated more than 641 million views, according to CBS News.

The rules are simple — walk for about four miles while focusing on three things: what you’re grateful for, your goals and, of course, how hot you are. What started as a fitness trend quickly evolved into a lifestyle movement, empowering people (of all genders, despite the name) to romanticize their daily strolls, clear their minds and embrace their inner confidence.

From city sidewalks to suburban trails, the “hot girl walk” has taken over, and in a town like Davis — where bike paths and scenic routes are abundant — there’s no shortage of places to strut your stuff. But where exactly should you go for the ultimate “hot girl walk” in Davis?

For a scenic and serene place to walk, the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is widely considered a Davis must. Stretching along the Putah Creek waterway, the Arboretum features 100 acres of trails, shaded paths and curated gardens. At the Arboretum students can admire the California native plants, stroll past the redwood grove or watch ducks float by on the water.

The Arboretum also has several bridges and resting areas, making it a great place to pause and take in the surroundings. Plus, the looped pathways mean you can tailor walks to the exact distance you want or switch it up every now and then.

Eva Jabbari, a third-year environmental policy and international relations double major, likes to “hot girl walk” in areas with beautiful surroundings. Jabbari’s go-to location to leisurely walk around is the West Area Pond by the Aspen Neighborhood.

“I like to ‘hot girl walk’ in West Davis,” Jabbari said. “There is a pond in between some houses. There’s trails in between the suburbs there because all the houses there have gardens, so they have a trail for them, and there’s a public garden […] If you walk along the garden, it’s really nice. There’s also a vineyard and an Italian restaurant around there.”

​​ Sophia King, a first-year clinical nutrition major, lives on campus, so when she goes on a “hot girl walk,” she prefers to stay close to her dormitory. King often walks on Russell Blvd, admiring the sky and the people she passes by. The well-lit streets, consistent foot traffic and lively atmosphere make it a comfortable option for a night walk.

“I really like walking around between Cuarto and Segundo,” King said. “It actually feels really safe […] all the greek [life] houses are lining the road and there are a lot of cars driving, so there are people all around, even at night. I’ve never felt scared walking there alone. Even once you pass the frat houses. [And when] you’re in the Cuarto area and there are always people there too. I usually go from Cuarto to Segundo and then I lap around until I feel like going home.”

For students who prefer to see more people and less nature during their “hot girl walk,” Downtown Davis offers a lively environment with plenty of coffee shops, restaurants and boutique stores to admire. The area is always buzzing with activity, so no matter the time of day or night, there’s always foot traffic, making it a great option for those who feel more comfortable walking in well-populated areas.

For those who don’t want to go outside — like Hana Raie, a third-year political science major — the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) on campus is always an option. The second floor of the ARC is covered with treadmills that allow you to adjust your walking speed and incline.

“I just do my ‘hot girl walk’ on the treadmills at the ARC,” Raie said. “It’s cold outside.”

As “hot girl walk” creator, Mia Lind, said, you can’t be hot if you’re not safe. Staying safe while going on a walk is a priority, and while Davis is generally considered a safe and walkable town, it is always important to take precautions, especially when walking alone.

The UC Davis Police Department suggests selecting safe routes that are well-lit and populated — avoid remote or secluded areas, especially at night. Whenever possible, walk with a friend or in a group to enhance safety. If you need to travel alone at night, take advantage of Safe Rides, a free service from the UC Davis Police Department that provides transportation from campus locations. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the locations of emergency call boxes throughout campus, so you know where to go if you ever feel unsafe or need immediate assistance.

Stay safe, be present and enjoy the walk.

Written by: Jalan Tehranifar — features@theaggie.org

Students at UC Davis discuss the nostalgia, mindfulness and excitement of climbing trees

By JENEVAH HARRISON — features@theaggie.org

If you have ever spent time near the East Quad on the UC Davis campus, chances are you have seen a humanlike figure looking down at you from high up in the trees. Between studying for exams and writing essays, many students at UC Davis have taken to scaling the campus’ most inviting trees, channeling their inner Tarzans.

For some, tree climbing is just a fun way to pass the time; For others, it serves a more significant purpose. With the pressure of college life, it can be difficult to find moments of peace. Sometimes taking a quick break in between classes to climb a tree is all that is needed to heal us, with studies showing that tree climbing can be an extremely restorative and therapeutic pastime. Students can find this activity to be the perfect reset, discovering a sense of peace and joy within the swinging branches of a pretty tree.

“Sometimes, I will climb up one of the trees in the Quad here on campus and just sit up there for a while,” Angel Torres, a fourth-year sustainable environmental design major, said. “I’ve also done homework a couple times up there — it’s kind of just a way for me to reconnect with nature and fulfill a sort of youthful urge.”

Sometimes, finding time to rest and regroup can be hard, but students like Torres are finding fulfillment in the little things. Torres embraces this simple activity, and utilizes it not only as a nostalgic pastime, but also as an innate form of mindfulness. Sitting high up in the branches away from the campus crowds can allow students to unlock a sense of calm that is missing from their daily routines.

Climbing trees is often associated with childhood indiscretions, and just like most of these activities, tree climbing gets left behind as a forgotten pastime. However, many students on campus are rediscovering this simple pleasure and fulfilling a lost sense of excitement.

“It’s both comforting and exhilarating at the same time,” Torres said.

Torres also described the comfort of both re-living childhood experiences and testing the limits of your physicality — an often humbly rewarding experience.

For Siena Saffari, a first-year history major, her motivation to climb trees presents itself as a more rebellious pastime and personal challenge.

“I like to climb trees, because it is something I feel accomplished doing — it takes a lot of upper body strength, and the feeling of relief when you climb a tree is indescribable, to be honest,” Saffari said. “It’s also not a necessarily safe thing to do so it’s nice to be a little rebellious, you could say.”

While some may see tree climbing as reckless or childish, these students find that it’s the perfect blend of physical activity and relaxation. Scaling a tree requires both excellent physicality and a bit of courage, but once you reach a respectable level, the reward is a quiet place to sit, think or even study, as Torres does.

One of the appeals of tree climbing is the literal change in perspective. The higher vantage point offers a unique view of campus, offering a transformation of a familiar landscape into something entirely new.

“There’s something really nice about seeing everything from a different angle but also being outside of it,” Patrick Kemp, a third-year anthropology major, said. “It’s kind of like an escape from everything on the ground, including whatever stress you’re experiencing.”

For some, climbing is also a way to feel connected to a larger environmental presence. As UC Davis students, many of whom are passionate about sustainability and the environment, spending time in the trees enhances this connection on a more personal level.

“I definitely feel more connected to nature when I’m up in a tree, for obvious reasons, like you are literally sitting on a giant organism that grew from the earth,” Kemp said. “It sounds cliche, but it’s a super peaceful experience.”

Students are embracing these moments of adventure, youthful fulfillment and the simple relief of a quiet atmosphere, proving that climbing trees is a wonderful tool of escapism, even amidst adulthood and the tumult of college life.

“Or maybe,” Torres said. “It’s just a result of the primal urge from our monkey ancestors.”

Written by: Jenevah Harrison — features@theaggie.org

The director, cast and crew share their experiences creating the play

By GRACIELA TIU — features@theaggie.org

On Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m., the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of the play “Small Mouth Sounds” will have its opening night. The show, taking place at the Wyatt Pavilion Theatre, will have additional performances on Feb. 28, March 1 and March 6 through March 8.

Student cast and crew have been working tirelessly since the beginning of the quarter to put together the production, which features elements of experimental and minimalist theatre.

Jane Lee, a fourth-year theatre and dance major who plays the role of Alicia, described the preliminary audition process.

“The auditions held by the Theater and Dance Department are open to students of any major and year,” Lee said. “I signed up for a slot two days before the audition and prepared a monologue from a contemporary play. I printed out my resume, performed my monologue and had a conversation with the Director, Peter J. Kuo, and the Assistant Director, Ainsley O’Brien.”

This production followed a typical play audition process, calling back certain auditioners after their first auditions and asking them to read through various additional pieces.

Once the cast was selected and rehearsals began in early January, the actors noticed how they came to build friendships and connections through their work.

“Every day, we grow closer as a cast,” Lee said. “Since there are only seven of us — a small cast for ‘Small Mouth Sounds’ — every rehearsal has its share of exciting and fun moments. We share laughter, tears and valuable lessons from one another.”

Peter J. Kuo holds the position of the Granada Artist-in-Residence at the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance for winter 2025. “Small Mouth Sounds” cast members especially appreciate Kuo’s approach to directing and his enthusiasm in regard to character exploration.

“He’s so hilarious and radiates such a fun energy,” Sabrina Chen, a third-year theatre and dance and psychology double major, said. “He truly immerses himself in the script and allows us to explore our characters while providing us with specific points on how to clearly communicate our actions to the audience.”

Kuo described that a large aspect of both his directing and casting methods included creating space for actors to critically examine their characters’ journeys.

“Part of my process as a director is also talking about the play — the characters, the themes and what journeys they’re going through — and creating a room of people that I also enjoy spending time with and having critical dialogues with,” Kuo said. “Thinking about characters and themes deeply is part of the casting and curation process for me.”

Many cast members share the hope that the audience will resonate with the characters and feel encouraged to reflect on the characters’ experiences.

“I hope the audience will be able to witness the change that the characters go through as each day progresses,” Chen said. “I hope they see themselves through the characters, even if it’s a small part. ‘Small Mouth Sounds’ highlights the challenges that we face as humans just existing, making mistakes and learning from our past. And that amidst the chaos of life, sometimes what we truly need is […] silence.”

Sophia Warnock, a fourth-year evolution, ecology and biodiversity major, hopes that audience members will also share moments of laughter amidst the more serious themes of the show.

“I really hope they laugh,” Warnock said. “There’s a lot of non-verbal comedy in this show and a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments as well.”

Playwright Beth Wohl intentionally left many pieces of the show up to interpretation, and cast members noticed how this element can feel particularly unique compared to other plays.

“Paired with the very raw view of interpersonal relationships and the importance of connection, I think that the great part of the mystery is that so much is left to interpretation, and every audience member will hopefully be able to see a character on stage within themselves,” Arman Abbassi, a third-year managerial economics major, said.

The production also features student designers, with EJ Agata, a fourth-year theatre and dance and English double major, working as the show’s lighting designer.

“Lighting enhances by adding depth and texture to the set design and works in tandem with sound design to create the world the characters are in,” Agata said.

They also described their creative process for building the lighting design in a way that works well with the show.

“I often start by focusing on where the actors are in the scene and by giving them front light, that way we know for sure that they can be seen by the audience,” Agata said. “I then think about sidelight and where the fill light for the scene is coming from. Since a lot of the show takes place outdoors, they need a lot of side lighting to make sure they can be seen from multiple angles.”

Different elements of the lighting design can often heighten elements of the show and help accentuate certain moments.

“After our designer run a few weeks ago, I thought a lot about the smaller moments that occur between characters, whether good or bad, and realized that even in day-to-day life we tend to miss a lot of them if we aren’t paying attention,” Agata said. “I’m referring to the glances we share with people, brief hand-holding, those kinds of little things. Since this show relies less on the dialogue that the characters share with each other, I wanted to highlight those moments instead as they really carry most of the scenes of the show.”

The details of the show, whether in the acting or technical aspects, come together to deepen the varying themes within the story. Kuo described that the play’s themes of connection and nature fit well with the UC Davis environment because of the school’s strong integration with nature.

The show especially aided the cast members in strengthening their acting skills and technique.

“Good acting is about finding your motivations and emotional beats off of those of the characters you are working with,” Abbassi said. “It’s really intrinsically a team art, and it’s so rewarding when it comes together so well as it has in this play.”

When rehearsing for this play, the group came to deepen their trust in each other, especially with the more delicate scenes.

“There’s a lot of trust involved in emotionally intimate and vulnerable scenes,” Warnock said. “But I feel like I’ve learned that some people really do deserve that trust. The cast wholeheartedly puts themselves out there every time we’re in rehearsal, and the bravery to do so inspires me to do the same.”

Utilizing that trust when working through each scene brought a sense of stability to some actors, aiding them in bringing their characters to life.

“I’ve learned a lot from my cast members, and one thing that stands out is truly how trusting the people around [me] changes my own voice and character,” Simon said. “The more I would trust them, the better my acting was, because I wouldn’t have to worry about them missing anything.”

The cast members also noted that they learned the value of true collaboration when working and acting with others onstage.

“This is a lesson that I took from another one of my acting professors: work with your scene partners, not at them,” Chen said. “It’s more challenging in the beginning, as I’m just trying to memorize and process the script, but as I grow more comfortable with the words, I really play off my actions and dialogue through the other characters, registering their reactions in real time and using the language and movement to my advantage to drive the action.”

Giving actors the space and opportunity to come up with their own ideas can help them feel confident in themselves and encourage further creativity, according to Kuo.

“Part of that collaborative process is building and empowering these artists [to know that] that their input matters, their creativity matters and how their thoughts and critical analysis of the play combined with how they’re bringing their life experience and approaching the text matters,” Kuo said.

Cast members felt that another special aspect of the show is the diversity of the group and the representation that the audience will see on stage.

“[Kuo] selected a really diverse cast, and I am so glad to be a part of that representation that I hope the audience will receive,” Chen said. “Specifically for me, it’s always a gift to work with other Asian Americans in theater.”

The hard work and dedication the cast and crew put into the show made the experience especially rewarding for them.

“The friendship we have and the amount of work that everyone, most importantly our director, [Kuo], has poured into this production is what makes it special,” Abbassi said. “I truly think that a production’s quality is so accurately exemplified by the amount of care, effort and attention to detail that its director is able to imbue into it in order to get the most out of the material and the actors’ performances and [Kuo] has most definitely [proven] that.”

Another one of the many takeaways the group hopes the audience will leave with is a reevaluation of time and its interconnectedness with relationships, according to Kuo.

“I think part of it is just being able to re-appreciate time,” Kuo said. “And that sometimes things happen at a slower pace or happen in unexpected ways. […] Journeys of healing are around how we connect with others, and I think that’s what this play does and is teaching us. Part of what this piece is reminding us of is that it’s okay to have moments of stillness and reflectiveness.”

The cast and crew are excited to bring the show to the UC Davis community and share the product of their effort and commitment. The play has tickets available for purchase on the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance website, with discounted tickets available for students at $5, faculty and staff tickets at $12 and adult tickets at $15.

Written by: Graciela Tiu — features@theaggie.org

UC Davis students and alumni discuss their worries surrounding commencement registration and the stress from previous years’ website crashing 

By EVELYN SANCHEZ — features@theaggie.org

As spring approaches, it is nearly time for every graduating student, undergraduate and graduate alike, to walk across the stage during the commencement ceremony. Wrapping up years of intensive study, commencement finally awards students with the certificate of their name and degree built on all-nighters, stressful breakdowns and last-minute cramming.

However, one final breakdown UC Davis students might face rears its head at the last minute: commencement registration. Natalie Chrisman, a fourth-year human biology major who planned to walk in June, said she faced technical difficulties while registering.

“I’m worried about registration, because when I tried to register to graduate, the website was down,” Chrisman said.

Chrisman commented that she attempted to register right as the application opened. Spring Commencement Registration opened on Feb. 25 for the spring 2025 graduation ceremony and offered three days for UC Davis’ large pool of graduating students. Possible dates include Friday, June 13 for either 9 a.m. or 2 p.m., Saturday, June 14 for 9 a.m. or 2 p.m., and Sunday, June 15, with only one session at 9 a.m.

Despite offering a pool of selections, it is possible for students to find it difficult to accommodate other days if their first choice isn’t available.

“I think everyone and their mother is trying to get Saturday commencement,” Chrisman said. “My parents have to take time off work, and I think it would be more of a hassle to do Friday.”

Perla Guzman, a fourth-year cinema and digital media and design double major who plans to graduate in the spring, commented on her graduation day preferences.

“I am trying to register for Saturday, at [any] of the times,” Guzman said. “I want this day because this is the day my sister preferred, but personally, I don’t have a preference. I just want to graduate.”

Analisa Haidinger, a spring 2024 alumna who graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in sustainable environmental design, commented on her experience registering for spring commencement.

“My biggest worry was just not getting the day I wanted, which was Friday at 2 p.m.,” Haidinger said. “I ended up getting that [day], thankfully, since, I think, Friday is the least-desirable day.”

Amanda Li, a fall 2024 alumna who graduated with a B.S. in biological sciences, commented about her differing experiences with registration.

“[Registering] was easy — there was no website crash and it was pretty straightforward,” Li said. “My only concern was being on the website too soon and it [not being] open yet.”

Chrisman conveyed that, if she is unable to register for her preferred time, the lack of organization on the commencement website could result in an anticlimactic end to her four years.

“I’d feel really disappointed, because I feel like [graduation] is an achievement I’m proud of,” Chrisman said. “I [want to] share it with people that have heard me ranting about midterms and the worst [times], and it’d suck to be with these people for four years and get separated just because the site crashes.”

Fortunately, Chrisman was able to get the Saturday 9 a.m. time slot.

The website did crash as soon as the commencement registration link went live on Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. As soon as the website was refreshed, a blank webpage with the words “Service Unavailable” continued popping up on students’ screens.

By 10:15 a.m., the Saturday ceremony reached full capacity.

Two years ago, one Reddit user on the subreddit r/UCDavis also noticed some discrepancies within the website, asking how the Saturday at 2 p.m. commencement time slot met capacity just minutes after the registration portal opened.

Their screenshot showed that the 2 p.m. slot was unable to be selected due to full capacity. Other users noticed that the link went live well before 9 a.m. and didn’t alert students, adding to the confusion.

“The site is going to crash,” Chrisman said. “Definitely.”

Guzman instead expressed ambivalence to the idea of a website malfunction.

“If I don’t get Saturday, then I’ll try to get Sunday, and if I don’t get Sunday then I’ll try to get Friday,” Guzman said. “I’m just hoping to get a day.”

Guzman was able to find a spot for the Sunday at 9 a.m. though it wasn’t her ideal choice.

“A little irritating, but I’m graduating, so whatever,” Guzman said.

Despite not registering for the chaotic spring commencement times, Li still recalls what her friends, who were graduating in spring, experienced.

“I remember being at my internship back when it was happening in spring and people were refreshing the page and the website wouldn’t work,” Li said. “Glad it wasn’t me — stay safe out there. I am fortunate to not have faced that hardship.”

Commenting from first-hand experience, Haidinger commented on the annual crash.

“Since everyone is interfacing with the website at the same time, no matter what day you want, [the website] just couldn’t handle it,” Haidinger said. “So, after repeated crashing at various stages, I finally got it.”

Guzman expressed that she is primarily concerned with the outcome, rather than the time.

“I’m not too nervous about the website potentially crashing,” Guzman said. “If it crashes, there isn’t anything I can do about it. I just know that I’ll end up registering for something.”

The actual commencement ceremony has also seen its struggles. Traditionally held at the UC Davis Health Stadium, spring 2022 saw record heat waves since the reimplementation of in-person ceremonies following COVID-19. The June 10 ceremony was continually pushed later into the day, resulting in overheating on the plastic turf within the enclosed stadium.

The Los Angeles Times reported that there was a lack of water, shade and organization that led to the eventual 36 heat-related medical calls. Makeup ceremonies had to be organized last minute and many students were unable to attend the listed dates.

Since then, commencement ceremonies have been held at the air-conditioned, shaded Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

Commencement registration has sparked frustration and confusion among UC Davis students. While some emerged from spamming the refresh button with victory, other students across campus couldn’t say the same. Regardless of commencement time slots and dates, UC Davis students look forward to the ceremony and celebration of their years of hard work and dedication to their academic careers.

Written by: Evelyn Sanchez  — features@theaggie.org

As homemade skate spots across Davis are taken down, patrons grapple with how to rebuild

By EMME DUNNING — features@theaggie.org

In the past year, multiple patron-made skate spots have been taken down across different jurisdictions including UC Davis land, city of Davis land and across rural Yolo County.

The do-it-yourself (DIY) skate spots have been built and maintained by their patrons, who are now coping with the loss of a beloved community gathering place.

Ben Salko, a third-year landscape architecture major, has been skating since elementary school. Salko asserted the importance of skating in his daily life and the role it plays in building positive connections in the community.

“It’s been a source of community and friendship since then, as well as being a great way to push myself physically and express myself,” Salko said.

Since coming to Davis, Salko expressed disappointment in the park options that the city of Davis offers for skating.
“The Davis skatepark fails to meet the needs of the majority of skateboarders and is very run down,” Salko said. “It has been ranked as one of the worst skateparks in the [United States] a couple of times.”

Salko and his friends recognized the importance of an adequate skate park in cultivating a thriving community and set out to create a halfpipe ramp in an open field tucked behind The Domes. The halfpipe was made primarily out of wood and could comfortably support multiple people. At one point, couches were even brought to the spot, providing a multi-functional place for people to skate and socialize.

“Word of this place quickly spread,” Salko said. “Every time I went, I would meet new skaters from the area excited for the opportunity to skate a fun ramp in Davis. We quickly had a third space — a true home away from home — where everyone could hang out and push each other to learn and improve.”

Despite the growing popularity of the ramp, it was taken down last August by an unknown party, causing a rift within the skateboarding community. Other DIY parks, including the Davis Ditch, a converted concrete bowl in a field off of County Road 32A, have faced similar instances of demolition.

The Davis Ditch featured curbs, quarter pipes and boxes made primarily from reused and found materials that came together to make a functional skatepark. It was a longtime local hub for recreation and creativity, something that UC Davis students and locals have come to appreciate.

Colin Carter, a Davis local and avid biker, enjoyed the collaborative nature of the DIY spots.

“The people you’d meet at a DIY spot were all super into constantly improving and maintaining it,” Carter said. “You knew every time you would show up, there may be a new feature or some work to be done, which was part of the fun.”

This unique feature has made the recent demolition even harder for those who frequent the spots.

“Coming back and seeing them slowly being taken apart over the last few months has definitely been sad to say the least,” Carter said. “I’ve been able to get out and see them again, which may be the last time.”

Trey Brown, a third-year global disease biology major, was introduced to the DIY spots through a friend and was immediately drawn to their innovative models.

“You knew that people had put time and effort into making the park,” Brown said. “It was different, but encouraged you to get creative to make the space work.”

Brown asserted that the DIY spots were not a safety or waste concern and that patrons were committed to their maintenance.

“They caused no harm and weren’t in the way of anyone,” Brown said. “They remained clean and were purely a place for people to gather and enjoy themselves.”

He also expressed worries about the future of skate culture in Davis if the crackdown on homemade spots continues.

“The Davis Park is beyond insufficient — so without these locally constructed spots, there aren’t too many options,” Brown said.

Looking forward, proponents of the DIY skate and bike spots hope that more collaboration could take place between the university, city officials and DIY park users to facilitate the re-establishment and expansion of skateboarding spaces that allow for creativity and community connection.

“Having a place to skateboard that is easily accessible to people and is enjoyable defines the skate community in the area,” Salko said. “I would like to imagine a future where universities — especially one like Davis with such strong DIY roots and spirit — can create spaces to promote skateboarding and the wider range of activities that their population enjoy[s].”

Written by: Emme Dunning — features@theaggie.org