In response Charlottesville riots, seven professors engage in discourse with students

On Oct. 18, the UC Davis History Department hosted the event “Ask A Historian,” a forum in the multipurpose room of the Student Community Center. Seven professors from the department volunteered to deliver five-minute speeches on issues related to the white nationalist rallies that occurred in August in Charlottesville, Va. After the speeches, the presenters participated in group discussions with students and community members in attendance to further explore the ideas presented.

“We decided pretty early on that we didn’t want to do the ‘stand up and lecture’ mode,” said Sally McKee, a UC Davis history professor and an event coordinator. “We wanted to engage with students and talk to them. We wanted to make it a […] small group experience so that students feel like they’re really talking to faculty rather than just receiving what faculty has to say.”

Provost and Vice Chancellor Ralph Hexter reached out for a response from the Department of History following the demonstrations of white nationalism in Virginia and President Trump’s lack of immediate condemnation. According to Hexter, the purpose of the “Ask A Historian” event was to create student-led discourse on how “history, even in the distant past, affects us today.” On the day of the event, attendees filled in each seat of the multipurpose room as Hexter introduced the speakers.

The forum kicked off with David Biale, a professor of Jewish studies, who touched on the presence of fascism in the United States and its traces in the country’s past. He offered his opinion that a group of neo-Nazis rallying in Virginia isn’t the sudden reappearance of fascist ideas in this country.

“There’s a tendency we have [to think] about ourselves as an enlightened country,” Biale said. “I think it’s really important for us to be aware of the dark chapters in our own history.”

Current political disputes, such as the controversy over preserving Confederate statues, were discussed by history professor Gregory Downs. An analysis into the hatred of minorities throughout history was discussed by history professor Susan Miller.

Conversations over the government’s treatment of refugees and Mexican immigrants were also addressed and then explored further in group discussions following the talks. Groups were composed of small clusters of roughly 10 individuals, including at least one of the speaking professors.

“I think the number of students that came shows that there are a lot of students interested in these questions,” Downs said. “My hope is that there are a range of ways that students are working out to talk to each other.”

McKee also said she was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and hopes to see more opportunities for peaceful dialogue between students and faculty in the future.

Biale, Downs, Miller and McKee all spoke to the importance of meaningful communication with students in a time when hatred toward minorities and the mishandling of history has become increasingly prominent.

Faculty members involved made themselves available to answer ideological questions in a way a classroom setting might otherwise not have provided.

“Professors in my day were not interactive,” Miller said. “Having this kind of open discussion where students and faculty are at least accessible to each other was really, very special.”

The four professors also stated their observations about the willingness of students to approach and condemn racism, xenophobia and white nationalism.

“This is the way we send a message that the university and its students are taking all these issues very seriously and are going to resist,” Miller said. “We want to give them the tools so that they can go out and debate.”

Written by: Elizabeth Mercado — campus@theaggie.org

Annual Diwali festivities light up the ARC

On Oct. 21, the UC Davis Indian Graduate Student Association kicked Diwali festivities into high gear when it brought the vibrant colors and luminosity of the Indian festival of lights to the ARC Ballroom.

According to IGSA’s website, the organization caters to the “Indian and Indophile population at UC Davis.” Plant science professor Sham S. Goyal started the organization in the 1980s with the goal of bringing the Indian community closer and celebrating its culture.

Diwali, or Deepavali, is an extremely significant and widely observed event in India and many Indian communities globally. This Hindu-originated event is marked by the lighting of diyas, or clay lamps, to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

IGSA President Satyabrata Sarangi, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in electrical and computer engineering, detailed the extensive planning behind this popular event.

“We started our preparation around August,” Sarangi said. “I submitted the application on Aug. 5, and then it took a month for overall approval [since] we had to talk to [the] venue and food [catering]. We have our IGSA board meeting every week, […] so we started to think about who to invite. We thought [to] invite some of the renowned artists from [the] surrounding areas, […such as] LA and [the] Bay Area.”

Preethi Indian Cuisine provided catering for the event, which included boxes filled with spicy chana masala, a chickpea curry, vegetable korma, a coconut-based mixed vegetable curry and vegetable biryani, a mixed rice dish.

“This is Diwali, so people love to eat good food,” Sarangi said.

The lineup for the evening totaled nine acts — Sunatya, Rita Sahai Ji and her accompanists, the IGSA Girls Dance Group, Ayal Vishnitzer, the Mona Khan Dance Academy and Bombay Jam, Miran Solanki and the GSM Dance Group.

As the melody of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” flooded through the speakers, audience members looked around, bewildered at the relationship between the famous pop star and the Indian festival. However, their confusion was short-lived as Sunatya’s performance included a fusion of the beats and style of classical Indian dance, Bharatnatyam. The group was followed by Rita Sahai Ji, accompanied by the tabla — a South Asian drum — and sitar, an Indian string instrument.

Jhankaar, UC Davis’ only co-ed South Asian a cappella group, gave a performance that had the audience clapping along. The group fuses Bollywood music with South Asian and Western music.

“We are an a capella team, so basically all the sounds that we make are all vocal,” said Kirthana Srikanth, Jhankaar’s co-captain and a fourth-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major. “We have no instruments [on stage], and we just come together, compose and produce the music ourselves and compete around.”

Srikanth and co-captain Daivik Dinesh, a third-year computer science and engineering major, both said performing was a “great experience” and emphasized the responsiveness of the crowd to their act.

Members of the Mona Khan Dance Academy and Bombay Jam, marked by their colorful sashes and gregarious personalities, provided a different interpretation on the typical Hindi movie dance moves. The group of women soon had the stage overflowing with people after inviting audience members to participate in a demo filled with a medley of popular remixed Hindi songs.

Ayal Vishnitzer, a Los Angeles-based composer, treated the audience to an eclectic performance on the electric guitar. The renowned musician performed for the first time here at UC Davis and was met with an enthusiastic round of applause.

“The initial goal was [to] invite some of the performers to perform some Indian dance or Indian music, and then we thought of [going] toward the Western [side of] things, so we invited Ayal,” Sarangi said.

Toward the end of the lineup, solo artist and current UC Davis student Miran Solanki, a third-year design and computer science double major, sang three well-known Hindi music songs.

“I performed at a number of […] other IGSA events before,” Solanki said. “[The audience members] were amazing. They all came to support, and I knew a lot of them, so it was great to see everybody having a great time. The highlight for me [was] the last song where I saw people clapping and dancing.”

Sarangi said that overall, the event was a success based on positive feedback from the audience.

“We had a feedback form [which] everyone submitted […and] most of the people liked the event,” Sarangi said. “There [were] some […] technical glitches with the sound, […] but otherwise [the audience] was super happy with the performances, and it was a variety of performances.”

The IGSA hosts Diwali Night annually and plans to hold next year’s event in early October 2018. Its next major event, Holi, the Indian festival of colors, will take place in early March 2018.

Written by: Priyanka Shreedar — campus@theaggie.org

Gary May confirmed as UC Davis chancellor at formal ceremony on Oct. 27

The Investiture of Gary May as the seventh chancellor of UC Davis took place on Oct. 27 in the Mondavi Center, the first event in UC Davis’ annual Homecoming weekend. The ceremony consisted of musical performances, speeches by UC community members and the presentation of the Chancellor’s Medal by UC President Janet Napolitano, officially inaugurating May into his new position. Speakers repeatedly mentioned May’s community and academic spirit, desire to promote diversity, sense of humor and, of course, his love of Star Trek.

Guests were welcomed into Jackson Hall by a musical prelude from the UC Davis Concert Band, which was followed by an academic procession of UC chancellors, regents, faculty representatives and other senior leaders. Andy Jones, a UC Davis writing professor and a two-time Davis poet laureate, was the master of ceremonies and presented opening remarks after the procession and national anthem.

“The investiture is a public recognition, an acknowledgement of the faith and confidence we have in a leader,” Jones said. “It bestows on that leader the official mantle and trust of the university. It instills as well our confidence and belief in the Office of the Chancellor, most specifically in Gary S. May as the new chancellor of UC Davis.”

George Kieffer, the Chair of the UC Regents, followed Jones’ remarks with a welcome speech that discussed the unofficial founding of UC Davis in 1906 and recognized how the university has become “the world’s preeminent university for agriculture, veterinary science and environmental sustainability.” He also emphasized May’s reputation for fostering diversity and advocating for the success of all students, which has the potential to influence the future of UC Davis and California as a whole.

A video presentation then reflected on May’s childhood, his background as an electrical engineer and former dean and his appreciation for his family. It also showcased May’s accomplishments at UC Davis thus far and highlighted his goals for the future, including plans to develop Aggie Square — a technology and innovation hub in Sacramento.

Next, UC Davis students, staff, faculty, alumni and other community members delivered remarks, wishing May well in his future as UC Davis chancellor. Speakers included ASUCD President Josh Dalavai, GSA President Roy Taggueg, UC Davis Staff Assembly Chair Kate Shasky, UC Davis Academic Senate Chair Rachael Goodhue and Cal Aggie Alumni Association President Debby Stegura. Each speaker expressed their confidence in May’s ability to work with their respective branches of the UC system and to help UC Davis grow.

“Chancellor May has already been a great partner to the Academic Senate,” Goodhue said. “His energy, his enthusiasm and his ambitions for UC Davis match the faculty’s own. He has brought to his first months an eagerness to learn and engage, which is essential to understanding the complexity and the depth of UC Davis and its impact on California and the world. In addition, Chancellor May recognizes that the story of UC Davis remains, in many ways, unwritten.”

Audience members also heard from May’s family — his wife LaShelle and daughters Simone and Jordan. LaShelle delivered a heartfelt letter to her husband in which she said “the bottom line is [that in] my very short time here at Davis I have realized this is a family community, and in my eyes, UC Davis is getting a remarkable family man.”

During the event, Fred Taverner, a board director of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and a UC Davis alumnus, commented on his impression of May thus far.

“I met [May] yesterday and spoke with him about his projects during a meet-and-greet session,” Taverner said. “[May] is from Georgia Tech and turned around their College of Engineering there. I found him to be very personable [and] very intelligent, and I think he will be a good addition to this campus.”

G. Wayne Clough, May’s longtime friend and colleague from Georgia Tech, presented after the May family. Clough, the President Emeritus of Georgia Tech and former secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, said that May’s experiences in Georgia will help the him adapt to “opportunities and challenges” that UC Davis will face going forward.

Napolitano gave a short address before presenting May with the Chancellor’s Medal: “We are indeed fortunate to gain a chancellor whose accomplishments, breadth of academic and administrative experience and distinguished record of public service [will contribute] to the role of UC Davis chancellor.”

May’s inaugural address came directly after the presentation of the Chancellor’s Medal. He spent time thanking friends, family and colleagues from UC Davis and Georgia Tech for standing by him in his career. To recognize the support he has received throughout his life, May referenced a Southern saying that reads, “If you see a turtle on a fence post, it didn’t get there on its own.” The new chancellor also talked about his belief in a strong work ethic, the power of education and the importance of diversity.

“With diversity comes a wider and more interesting range of experiences, ideas, opinions and perceptions,” May said. “The greater the mix, the more likely we will make discoveries and solve problems — the hallmark of academic excellence.”

The address continued with May’s recognition of UC Davis’ world-renowned reputation and its potential for continued worldwide impact.

“I have heard many alumni and others describe Davis as kind of a ‘sleeping giant,’ a powerful institution that is yet to show the full extent of its power,” May said. “Well I’m here to tell you it’s time for this giant to wake up. Whether it’s our record fundraising, our record research expenditures, our athletics teams making campus history, our noteworthy achievements in scholarships or our overall ranking as a top-10 public research university, UC Davis is unmistakably on the rise.”

In closing, May delivered his slogan: “I am ready to help UC Davis go boldly, as no university has gone before.”

After May’s speech, attendees stood for the performance of the UC Alma Mater “Hail to California,” which was followed by the recession of the UC deans, chancellors, regents and senior leaders. Guests were then invited to a reception outside of Jackson Hall, where they could meet other attendees and UC Davis community members.

Jones’ words from the beginning of the ceremony summed up the Investiture’s common theme — “Chancellor May has made an immediate impact on our campus and on our region. His openness, his candor and his sense of humor have appealed to everyone he’s met.”

Written by: Olivia Rockeman — copy@theaggie.org

Two interim senators sworn in on Oct. 12

The ASUCD weekly Senate meeting was held in the Mee room of the Memorial Union on Oct. 12. With nine senators present, a quorum was established.

Two interim senators were confirmed — Michael Swalberg, a fifth-year political science major, and Manasa Gogineni, a first-year international relations major. Senators then asked the new interim senators questions. When asked about concrete plans for campus improvement, Swalberg said Chapter Four of the elections committee should be streamlined and bylaws should be made more clear. Gogineni said she plans to increase safe drinking information for first-years.

The interim senators then discussed how they plan to increase student outreach. When asked about actions they’re taking as part of their new positions, the interim senators said they have been reviewing bylaws.

ASUCD senators had no objections to the interim senators or their answers, and the two were confirmed after taking the official oath.

The platform was then opened to a member of the public.

Paul Medved, an alumnus and the father of a former student affected by water sports budget cuts, cited that former chancellor Linda Katehi removed four UC Davis sports teams that had no state funding to begin with. Since then, the budget for athletics has increased and Medved called for a re-institution of historically inexpensive water sports teams. Medved also urged for an independent audit on all student fees since 2010, claiming that $3 million had been illegally mishandled by Katehi from 2010 to 2012.

Medved, who has presented to the Senate four times in the past, questioned the integrity of this decision, claiming it was purposeful in order to allocate money for higher-earning UC Davis sports teams like men’s basketball and men’s football.

“It was a typical Katehi move, if I do say so myself,” Medved said. “Because of the high-profile nature of those sports, it was a great chance to increase the profile of the university, perfectly consistent with everything else she did as chancellor. I maintain that in no uncertain terms that’s fraud.”

Greg Ortiz, the promotions director for UC Davis Athletics, publicly spoke up and told the senators to always fact-check information they are presented with.

Next, the elections chair confirmation was held. Out of five applicants, Senator Julie Jung said Naeema Kaleem, the elections committee chair, was the strongest candidate due to her vast experience in student government. Senator Michael Gofman asked about her plans to increase voter turnout and, in response, Kaleem said she would focus on streamlining communication, stating that a media marketing committee could help.

After the confirmation, senators took part in a moment of silence for the victims of the California wildfires and other natural disasters that have affected other states.

Committee assignments were then given. Gofman was assigned to the Housing Task Force, Gogineni was assigned to the Food Security Task Force and Senator Rahi Suryawanshi was assigned to the Sexual Assault Awareness and Advocacy Committee.

The bylaws, which mandate attendance at the Fall Summit, were called into question due to low turnout. The summit, a meeting of ASUCD unit members and directors, commissioner and committee chairs and members as well as senators and other staffers, took place on Oct. 28. According to the agenda posted on the event’s Facebook page, the summit discussed matters related to hiring and payroll, presented an elections update from Kaleem and facilitated a session on writing bills, among other sessions and presentations.

Controller Jin Zhang argued that the bylaws were needed, saying “it’s a copout answer to drop a summit because of low attendance.” Other senators agreed that attending the summit was important as a brainstorming session to create new legislation.

No new legislation was introduced, leaving room for consideration of old legislation. Senate Bill #3 was first reconsidered, regarding the dissolvement of the Department of Outreach and Recruitment and transferring its duties to Creative Media — this unanimously passed.

Senate Bill #2, to establish an ASUCD controller, was unanimously passed. This bill also allows the ASUCD president to designate another individual to attend the meetings in their place.

Senate Bill # 4 to move the secretary of outreach’s salary into Creative Media was passed unanimously.

Written by: Aaron Liss — campus@theaggie.org

Celebration takes place on Oct. 27, brings downtown Davis to life before Homecoming football game

On the evening of Friday, Oct. 27, police blocked the roads of downtown Davis, loud chanting was heard in the distance and attention on Second Street was turned to the C Street intersection. A UC Davis fire truck pulled around the corner, and following behind was a massive, pajama-clad crowd — the ensemble was celebrating UC Davis’ annual Pajamarino.

Pajamarino is a UC Davis Homecoming tradition planned and executed by the Student Alumni Association. With over 500 people in attendance Friday night, the annual festivity has transformed since its inception in 1912.

“[105 years ago], the alumni were returning for the homecoming celebrations and a group of freshmen [snuck] out of their dorm rooms back when there was a curfew,” said Daniel Erenstein, the SAA traditions director and a third-year undeclared student in the College of Biological Sciences. “[They] met [alumni] at the train station in their pajamas, and, since then, the tradition has been carried on for over a century.”

UC Davis students, alumni, faculty and community members gathered in Central Park at 4:30 p.m. before the parade.

“[Pajamarino] bridges that gap between the Davis community and students,” said Samantha Teshima, the president of SAA and a third-year pharmaceutical chemistry major. “[It promotes] the fact that Davis is not just a college that [we] attend, […] it’s also the whole community as well.”

The Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! and Alumni Band — decked out in pajamas — put on a show before the parade commenced at 5:15 p.m. The fire truck that led the parade carried the parade marshal, the current business manager of ASUCD, Janice Corbett, and Morgan Hashimoto, a student representative and the SAA vice president of outreach.

Upon arrival at the train station, the celebratory crowd was welcomed by UC Davis Chancellor Gary May and head football coach Dan Hawkins. Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan Club, the Popping Club and the Liquid Hotplates put on performances for the audience as the Sacramento train pulled in.

“I love Pajamarino and my kids love it too, because it’s getting to be part of the UC Davis spirit and [listen] to the Cal Aggie Marching Band and the Alumni Band,” said Janna Tolla, the Memorial Union director, who attended the event with her family. “That’s probably our favorite part, plus seeing the [student performances].”

As the pep rally came to a close, the packed crowd began to disperse into downtown Davis.

“[Pajamarino] has evolved into an event that celebrates the connections between alumni and students,” Erenstein said. “[It has turned] into an event that welcomes alumni back to our community and [bridges] connections between students and alumni while also celebrating homecoming and the football team and Aggie pride.”

Written by: Rodney Tompkins — rdtompkins@ucdavis.edu