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Davis dance community comes together for a good cause

Arts Editor
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RELEASE CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY / COURTESY
RELEASE CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY / COURTESY

Released Contemporary Dance Company hosts Dance for a Cause to benefit Camp Kesem.

Released Contemporary Dance Company (RCDC) is hosting their second annual showcase to benefit Camp Kesem, a national nonprofit that supports children whose parents are or have been affected by cancer. The showcase began last year as an alternative to the Davis Dance Revolution (DDR) event, an annual competition held on Picnic Day.

Dana Sever, a fourth-year political science and psychology double major, current Co-Director of UC Davis Camp Kesem and member of RCDC, explained that the company sought to create a more community-oriented dance event.

“We had been doing DDR for a while and it was fun, but it almost got too competitive, to the point where we weren’t enjoying performing for the sake of performing,” Sever said. “We decided last year as a team to do a showcase that was purely for the fun of dancing, to bring all of the different teams together and really try to build this Davis dance community.”

Sever has been involved with Camp Kesem since her first year at UC Davis, and offered to be the liaison between RCDC and the non-profit so the showcase could also serve as a fundraiser. Last year’s Dance for a Cause was a sold-out event that raised over $3,000 for Camp Kesem. This money goes toward providing a week of camp over the summer, where UC Davis students serve as camp counselors and organizers.

“When you have a parent who is affected by cancer, the emphasis really goes on making sure that the parent is okay — chemo is hard, losing your hair sucks and they are constantly fighting for their lives — so kids are watching this happen and seeing their parent disintegrate before their eyes,” Sever said. “They don’t get to be kids. They have to grow up fast and often take on some of the parent’s responsibilities. So one of our goals is to give these children a week of childhood.”

This year, 10 different dance groups will be competing, with the winners chosen by a three-judge panel consisting of a counselor and a participant from Camp Kesem as well as an alumnus of RCDC. The winners will be determined by their performance as well as how much they fundraise for the event. The number of tickets a particular group sells also factors into their overall score.

The first-place team will receive $200 to donate to their charity of choice. Agape, a non-audition-based Christian dance team, won the showcase last year and donated their winnings to World Vision, a charity that provides children in third-world countries items such as food, water, shelter and education. Angela Pak, a fourth-year comparative literature major and director of the team, was in awe when the winners were announced.

“We never really expected to win, because Agape never participates to compete. We mainly do so to perform,” Pak said. “We honestly thought that other teams would win, so personally, I remember being ready to clap and cheer for whoever won first place.”

Samira Monshietehadi, a third-year psychology major and co-director of RCDC, was particularly inspired by the way the Davis dance community came together for the cause.

“Last year we had no idea how successful the show would be. Learning that we could use [performance] to bring together such a versatile group of dancers as well as raise money for such a worthwhile cause was so humbling,” Monshietehadi said.

RCDC’s Dance for a Cause promises to be a night of community building, passion and entertainment. The 10 groups that are performing offer a diverse array of dance, including cultural, contemporary and hip-hop.

The event will take place at the Richard Brunelle Performance Hall at Davis High School on Feb. 6. Tickets are $5 for UC Davis students and $7 for non-students and can be purchased from any of the performing groups. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will start at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit the Facebook event page.

WRITTEN BY: Sara Williams – arts@theaggie.org

Guest Opinion: E-cigarettes are not what they appear to be

Opinion
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guestchau_op_WodrichSeeing my grandfather pass away from smoking-related lung cancer ignited a passion in me. Since his passing, I have committed myself to educating the Davis community on the dangers of tobacco use. Unfortunately, while talking to students on campus, I’ve learned that the progress made towards a smoke-free society is being threatened, with my generation as the target.

As a Millennial, I grew up knowing that smoking was bad for my health. I, along with most of my generation, have never had to eat dinner or have a drink in a smoky restaurant or bar. And that should make Californians proud. However, all of this forward progress is being undone by the tobacco industry’s new best friend: electronic cigarettes.

E-cigarettes appeal to youth and young adults with fruit, candy and alcohol flavored e-juice. This might be a reason why individuals ages 18-24 in California are almost four times as likely to use e-cigarettes compared to those ages 25 and older.  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarette use among young adults increased from 2.2 percent in 2012 to 9.7 percent in 2014.

What shocks me the most is the large amount of people who believe that e-cigarettes are safe. They couldn’t be more wrong. E-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals like diacetyl, the flavoring agent responsible for “popcorn lung,” and nicotine, a dangerous neurotoxin as addictive as heroin. And as for the “water vapor?” Well, that’s actually aerosol, and it contains chemicals like lead, formaldehyde and nickel. These chemicals not only pose health risks to those who use e-cigarettes, but to the people around them as well.

So, the question begs to be asked: what can we do to protect the community from the tobacco industry’s influence? It’s simple. Be aware of what is going on around you and educate yourself. Education is critical in protecting yourself from the influence of the tobacco industry. Just because e-cigarettes may be less harmful than cigarettes does not mean they are safe.

Together we can protect the health of all Californians and especially make sure that youth do not fall victim to the tobacco industry’s marketing. Go to stillblowingsmoke.org to learn more.

For smokers who are interested in quitting, there are plenty of resources available. Some of these include: the This is Quitting app (a free customizable smoking cessation tool), free nicotine replacement therapy from Rite Aid pharmacy and one-on-one assistance with the UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services. UC Davis students looking to quit smoking can also visit Breathe Free UC Davis for more information.

Raymond Chau is a third-year double majoring in human development and psychology. He has a passion for educating others of the growing dangers and harms of tobacco and the tobacco industry. He has worked with the California Youth Advocacy Network, Yolo County and the Breathe Free campaign as a campus Smoke and Tobacco Free Ambassador.

Humor: Wind shuts down UC Davis on Tuesday

Opinion
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JAY GELVEZON / AGGIE
JAY GELVEZON / AGGIE

Due to extreme winds, UC Davis cancelled all classes on Tuesday and encouraged students to remain indoors until further notice. Gusts up to seven miles per hour have forced students to slow down their biking or stop altogether. Indicating the severity of this storm, leaves have fallen from trees. Early reports suggest as many as 6,891 have fallen in just the past day.

The school has taken preventative measures after the large rains of the 2014-15 school year, when large parts of campus flooded.

“We want to avoid the fiasco that followed last year’s storm,” said Thomas Hunt, the head of Transportation and Parking Services. “Campus needs to be more accessible, and winds of such a speed are not safe to ride in. The winds are supposed to die down late Tuesday night, so students should be back in class by Wednesday.”

There are mixed emotions from students.

“I’m pretty disappointed that I’m missing out on class,” said Brent Wilson, a third-year economics major. “It’s midterms season, and I want to learn as much as possible right now.”

Others feel differently. Ruben Taylor, a first-year biology major, is just happy to not have to go outside.

“Honestly, I’m feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work I have,” Taylor said. “Any break is necessary. I don’t care why we have it.”

However one feels about the situation, local meteorologists have stressed the importance of being safe and taking shelter indoors. Winds at this speed are dangerous, and leaves flying in one’s face while biking pose a great safety hazard.

You can reach ETHAN VICTOR at ejvictor@ucdavis.edu or read the nonsense he posts in the Twittersphere @thejvictor.

Flowers and trees and molecules! Oh my?!

Features Editor
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Tantillo and Zerbe labs bring chemistry out of the lab with the Arboretum exhibit, “A Walk in the Park with Chemistry.” (VENOOS MOSHAYEDI / AGGIE)
Tantillo and Zerbe labs bring chemistry out of the lab with the Arboretum exhibit, “A Walk in the Park with Chemistry.” (VENOOS MOSHAYEDI / AGGIE)

“A Walk in the Park with Chemistry” exhibit in the Arboretum is an example of art, science fusion on campus.

From a distance, the thirteen fist-sized molecules that are scattered throughout the UC Davis Arboretum look like strange fungi that have inexplicably attached themselves to small metal rods.

Each molecule is stationed near the plant that produces it. With no more than three sentences, a few pictures and a Quick Response (QR) code, the display is just a detail that is easily dwarfed by the surrounding oak and walnut trees that line the hundred-acre Arboretum.

Nhu Nguyen, a UC Davis Chemistry PhD candidate and the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the “Walk in the Park with Chemistry” exhibit, never intended to teach a big lesson. Instead, she hoped the exhibit would act as a tiny window into the vast work done in campus labs.

“We think [molecules] are really interesting, but [non-scientists] don’t always see how they’re connected to daily life,” said Nguyen.

Professor Dean Tantillo, Nguyen’s advisor and head of the Tantillo theoretical group on campus hopes that someone who comes across the molecules might start to wonder about the chemistry of trees and the significance of their 3D shapes.

Outreach projects, unlike science, are often executed in uncontrolled environments. Research goes into exposing the exhibits to specific target audiences, but once the pieces are in place, those involved can only rely on a hope that people will take notice — that they will connect to the project.

The exhibit tries to connect science to the everyday by focusing on what might be of relevance to non-scientists: wine, the smell of perfume and Alzheimer’s treatment are just a few examples. Though they were attempting to connect with the general population, to actually make the project come to life, the group mimicked the collaborative work they do in their actual labs.

Part of Dr. Tantillo and Nguyen’s work on campus involves collaborating with experimental synthesis groups in order to bridge the gap between experimental and theoretical chemistry. In order to actually locate the trees of interest for the exhibit, extract the relevant compound mixtures and model the molecules, the two reached out to Professor Philipe Zerbe, a UC Davis plant biologist, who provided a certain level of expertise.

“Philip knows what trees have molecules that might have interesting uses. He helped us narrow down the list [of plants], which would take me forever,” said Nguyen. “And, without our modeling there wasn’t going to be 3D compounds and the catalyzation input for the 3D models.”

The exhibit lies a bit outside the realm of pure science, but it gives the scientists an excuse to indulge in their interests outside of the lab. In fact, this project didn’t even start with outreach in mind, but instead with a piece of cover art and a painting.

“There is always this idea that when you do science you have to look professional and spend all of your time in the lab,” said Nguyen. “But it helps my research to do something that is not chemistry. I think I would go crazy if I just kept doing chemistry. Art really helps.”

Both Tantillo and Nguyen paint in their spare time, and Tantillo often incorporates these paintings and photos into scientific articles. The cover art provides a metaphor for the more abstract scientific concepts covered in the literature. In the cover art that inspired “A Walk in the Park with Chemistry,” an image from Tantillo’s family trip to Yosemite conveys the essence of the chemistry in the article.

“The photo shows a natural barrier, a fallen tree in this case,” said Tantillo. “And the article had a lot to do with the energetic barriers to chemical reactions that occur in trees.”

Nguyen noticed her advisor’s affinity for this particular cover, and, in need of a subject to paint herself, she decided to base a painting off this cover piece, which she later submitted to an Art / Science fusion event held on campus, “The Art of Science.” It is there where she and Tantillo met Elaine Fingerett, the academic advisor of the Arboretum, and the idea for an experiential chemistry exhibit began.

“We weren’t sure where to start, it was a very broad idea,” said Nguyen. “But that’s how you start everything, you have this idea and then you start to nail down what you want to do.”

That is where Fingerett came in. The Arboretum, where she works, focuses on exhibits that look at science in an artistic way, and art in a scientific way. The work spans from natural ceramics to plant installations to scientific murals.

“When people come to campus they aren’t necessarily going into the labs,” said Fingerett. “The exhibits connect to people who might not necessarily see themselves as scientists, but they provide a portal into science, and that might speak to some aspect of their own experience.”

Fingerett considers museums a type of science experiment themselves. Alongside volunteers, she places mock signs in the Arboretum that detail possible future exhibits and document the reactions of those who pass by. Her team uses stopwatches to quantify the length of time people remain interested in an exhibit, and jot down observable reactions in order to gauge general interest. Though this is perhaps a technical approach to what many consider a non-technical activity, Fingerett, who was originally trained as a botanist and is active in the Art / Science Fusion Program, does not see the two approaches as mutually exclusive.

“I’m one person who has, in my lifetime, explored both areas — not one or the other,” said Fingerett. “I see science informing art and art informing science, not a tension between the artist and the scientist.”

Of course, not everyone is going to seek out the science displays when they walk through the Arboretum. In fact, many don’t even know these exhibits exist —The Arboretum is, after all, very big, and the exhibits, very small. But regardless of an individual’s intent when walking through the park, Fingerett says she seeks to capture what she calls the “authentic moment” for an individual interacting with exhibits.

“Maybe someone is jogging through the park, and though they don’t see themselves as a scientist, through the exhibit they find a portal into science through the art, which speaks to some aspect of themselves,” said Fingerett.

The Arboretum provides volunteer, internship and exhibit opportunities. For more information you can visit the Arboretum website.

Written by: Anna Nestel — features@theaggie.org

Aggie Reuse Store hosts Spread the Love campaign for Valentine’s Day week

Campus Editor
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ANGELICA DAYANDANTE / AGGIE
ANGELICA DAYANDANTE / AGGIE

Campaign seeks to redefine holiday by bringing attention to mental health, creating an inclusive space for students.

From Feb. 8 through Feb. 12, the Aggie Reuse Store will be hosting the Spread the Love Campaign, a Valentine’s Day event designed to bring awareness to mental health issues and encourage support among students and their peers.

Nicole Garcia, a second-year computer science and engineering major and director at the Reuse Store, hopes that the campaign can help students look at the holiday differently this time of year.

“The Spread the Love Campaign is designed to redefine what Valentine’s Day means and return it to its more positive virtues,” Garcia said in an e-mail interview. “It can be an exclusive and toxic time for many people who don’t fit a specific cliche as dictated by society. Spread the Love is designed to change the season into one of inclusiveness, appreciation, validation, recognition and more.”

The event, which will be held at the ASUCD Coffee House, is set to hold a number of activities throughout the week, including Valentine gram giveaways with prizes from various mental health groups and love-themed crafts from the store. Additionally, the event will host a social media contest to win a Valentine’s Day-themed prize bag of handmade items, and a three-day Valentine’s sale from Feb. 10 through 12 at the Reuse Store.

The campaign will have canvases set up where students are encouraged to think about someone that they love and write about the reasons for loving them.

“We often don’t take the time to reflect on the reasons why we love others and why we as individuals are special to others in our lives. It’s important we don’t overlook our capacity to actively campaign and spread the love to those in our lives,” Garcia said in the e-mail. “Make a gesture and give a manifestation of that appreciation and love. It could be anything, like a gift, a note or a meaningful conversation. The purpose is to convey your sentiments in a way that is genuine and sincere.”

Sarah Hahn, a director at Student Health and Counseling Services, said that she is impressed by the campaign and its goals in bringing awareness to mental health.

“We absolutely applaud [the campaign] because mental health is such an important issue for so many reasons,” Hahn said. “What we need to do is create this culture of caring throughout the university — where people are inspired to take care of each other, listen to each other, appreciate each other just like people are encouraged to do in this campaign. And through those connections, people can learn when their peers are hurting and when they need help.”

Garcia also talked about the stress that many students feel in the middle of the quarter. As many begin to focus more on their school work, she also encourages students to look out for one another.

“As a student, this especially becomes important, since we’re in a highly stressful and difficult time in our lives. It’s hard to escape the negative feelings when we’re constantly barraged with stress, lack of sleep, pressure to succeed and much more,” Garcia said in the e-mail. “Therefore, we should never doubt the power and importance of supporting others around us through these difficult times and beyond.”

As a first-year mathematics major, Phillip Van notes the importance of having a space for students to feel included.

“Having a community to be a part of, I think, is very important because you have someplace where you can belong and a place to go so you don’t have to feel like you don’t have anyone to talk to,” Van said. “Everybody usually just keeps to themselves so having this open hand is nice to give people a chance to open up and have a safe environment.”

The event is free and will be open to all. For more information, visit the Spread the Love Campaign’s Facebook page.

Written by: Ivan Valenzuela – campus@theaggie.org

This Week in Sports

The California Aggie
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TIFFANY CHOI / AGGIE
TIFFANY CHOI / AGGIE

UC Davis athletics from Jan. 25 to Jan. 31

Men’s Basketball (9-11 overall, 4-3 conf.)

UC Davis vs. Cal State Fullerton (W, 69-64)

UC Davis vs. Cal Poly (W, 66-52)

In the first of two home games, the Aggies defeated the Cal State Fullerton Titans 69-64 on Wednesday, Jan. 27. With 12 points for the night and three three-pointers from junior guard Brynton Lemar in the last seven minutes of the game, a victory was secured. Senior forward Josh Fox added 19 points, freshman guard Siler Schneider had 15 and junior guard Darius Graham helped the Aggies secure a 10 point lead during the crucial second half of the game.

Read a full recap of the game by sports reporter Michael Martinez here.

Coming off of their victory, the Ags continued their winning streak and now hold a 4-3 record in the Big West Conference. Junior center Neal Monson made 20 points for the game and Fox had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. A great effort was made by Brynton Lemar, who grabbed 15 points. The Aggies never let the Mustangs close the margin and played great defense throughout the game, finishing it out 14 points over Cal Poly.

Check out the recap by sports reporter Veronica Vargo here.

UC Davis will take on the Titans again at Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Feb. 4.

Women’s Basketball (12-8 overall, 5-2 conf.)

UC Davis vs Long Beach State (L, 75-62)

UC Davis vs UC Santa Barbara (W, 80-51)

The Aggies played a hard game against Long Beach State, where senior forward Celia Marfone scored 18 points, setting a personal season high. Senior forward Alyson Doherty finished with 12 rebounds and redshirt freshman Morgan Bertsch ended with 6 rebounds and 14 points. Pele Gianotti, a sophomore forward, scored 10 of her own, but the Ags fell short as Long Beach State made 58 percent of their shots, resulting in a final score of 75-62.

Sports reporter George McConnell covered the game.

Making 59 percent of their shots throughout the game, the UC Davis women’s basketball team now stands at a 12-8 overall and 5-2 in the Big West Conference after taking down the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 80-51. Gianotti collected 18 points, three assists and five rebounds. The Aggies wavered a bit during the second half of the game, but managed to keep a 16 point gap.  Marfone finished with 17 points, not letting the Gauchos get the upper hand at any point throughout the game.

Peruse a recap of the game against UC Santa Barbara, which was covered by Aaron Sellers.

With their strong performance, the Aggies will continue on to UC Riverside to challenge the Highlanders on Feb. 4.

Women’s Gymnastics

UC Davis at Sacramento State (2nd, 193.100)

The Aggies placed second in their meet at Sacramento State, as senior Stephanie Stamates earned her career high of 9.875 on the beam and junior Katy Nogaki tied her personal best of 9.850 in the same event. While the bar rotations presented a challenge for the Aggies, the overall score of 48.875 on the vault resulted in a season high, and they earned a 48.975 on the floor and 48.800 on the beam.

Men’s Tennis (4-3)

UC Davis vs. Pacific (W, 4-2)

UC Davis at Northern Colorado (W, 6-1)

UC Davis at Abilene Christian  (L, 4-3)

UC Davis at Air Force (W, 5-2)

The Aggies, ranked No. 53 in the nation, defeated the Pacific Tigers 4-2 in a singles match up at home on Jan. 27. Junior Eli Whittle earned the No. 6 singles spot, while juniors Bryce McKelvie and Jesse Ross were at No. 4 and 5, respectively. Senior Brett Bacharach came in at No. 3, and each individual effort secured the victory.

The Aggies secured a three match winning streak against Northern Colorado two days later.  Junior James Wade defeated his opponent 6-3, 6-1, while junior Alec Adamson, senior Adam Levie, sophomore Tommy Lam and McKelvie all garnered 6-3 victories.

Though they fell to Abilene Christian 4-3 on Jan. 30, the Aggies put forth a good performance, as  Adamson and Levie won their doubles match, as did the pairing of Bacharach and McKelvie. Wade and Whittle fell during the third set of the match, and McKelvie triumphed in his singles match for the fourth consecutive time.

To finish off their slew of back to back matches, UC Davis beat Air Force 5-2 to bring their overall record up to 4-3, winning five of the six singles match-ups for the day.

The UC Davis men’s tennis team returns home with the first of four home games that begin on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. and end on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Women’s Tennis (2-1)

UC Davis vs. Portland State (W, 4-2)

UC Davis vs. Santa Clara University (L, 6-1)

The spring opener scheduled for Friday, Jan. 29 was pushed back to Saturday due to bad weather, but the Aggies weren’t phased and brought in a 4-2 win. Junior Alex Huie and senior Tiffany Pham were able to secure a doubles victory after going 6-2 against their opponents, while the Aggies won four of the six singles matches for the day.

The following day, the UC Davis tennis team lost to Santa Clara University and the only Aggies to come away with victories were Pham, who beat her opponent 6-2, 6-0, and juniors Kamila Kecki and Frederique Sleiffer, winning their doubles match 6-4.

The women’s tennis team will travel to face San Diego State on Feb. 6.

Swimming and Diving

UC Davis at Pacific (W, 136-114)

With the fastest time in the 100 fly at 54.91, junior Hilvy Cheung also won the 200-yard medley relay with teammates senior Hailey Ferko, freshman Mia Facey and junior Kirsten Brand (1:44.83). In the 200-meter Freestyle, sophomore Robin Lampron won with a time of 1:53.43, and Brand (1:53.91), Facey (1:55.00) and sophomore Courtney Schultz (1:55.07) came in close behind. Freshman Eva Chung touched first in the 200-yard Butterfly with 2:08.10, and was followed by redshirt senior Sara Ramos (2:09.23), freshman Solie Laughlin (2:12.27) and senior Lexy Troup (2:12.69).

As the Aggies finish their season with a 5-2 overall record, they start to prepare for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships that begin on Feb. 17 in Monterey Park, Calif.

Written by Iman Farahani – sports@theaggie.org

Defensive panacea for a Gaucho itch

Sports Editor
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ANH-TRAM BUI / AGGIE
ANH-TRAM BUI / AGGIE

Fiery first half leaves UC Santa Barbara in Aggies’ rear-view

The last time the UC Davis women’s basketball team faced off against UC Santa Barbara, the Gauchos were able to control the pace and come out with an 11-point victory. This time, the Aggies didn’t allow the Gauchos to have the satisfaction of beating them on their home turf, and destroyed them 80-51. Limiting the Gauchos to a 28.9 percent shooting conversion proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered.

“We knew that the last time we played them, we didn’t play as well as we could have,” said sophomore forward Pele Gianotti. “We really wanted to show UCSB, but especially ourselves, that we were the better team.”

Gianotti opened up the game with a pair of treys that put the Aggies in a quick 6-3 lead and they never surrendered for the rest of the game. Backed up by a defense firing on all cylinders, the Aggies held the Gauchos to eight points for the first period and scored a massive 14-point lead.

In the first period, a press defense by the Aggies stifled the Gauchos offense. Just after halfway through the period, the Aggies were able to hold the Gauchos to the back-court, forcing a turnover.

The shots kept on flowing for the Aggies into the second period, with key scoring opportunities from senior forward Celia Marfone and redshirt freshman forward Morgan Bertsch. The Aggies closed out the half, shooting 70 percent both from the field and from outside the paint – their best shooting for half of the season.

Not giving up, UCSB went on a 14-4 run that cut into the Aggie lead. However, Marfone was able to rally the Aggies with a dagger from far outside, leading to an unanswered 11-point run.

The key to their Saturday success had to be defense, which the Aggies will look forward to using to open the door against the undefeated UC Riverside.

“If we can limit them on offense, then we’re the better team I believe,” Marfone said. “I think it’s going to be a defensive battle.”

The Aggies will be away and facing off against UC Riverside Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

Written by: Aaron Sellers – sports@theaggie.org

This week in sports

Sports Editor
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TIFFANY CHOI / AGGIE
TIFFANY CHOI / AGGIE

UC Davis athletics from Jan. 25 to Jan. 31

Men’s Basketball (9-11 overall, 4-3 conf.)

UC Davis vs. Cal State Fullerton (W, 69-64)

UC Davis vs. Cal Poly (W, 66-52)

In the first of two home games, the Aggies defeated the Cal State Fullerton Titans 69-64 on Wednesday, Jan. 27. With 12 points for the night and three three-pointers from junior guard Brynton Lemar in the last seven minutes of the game, a victory was secured. Senior forward Josh Fox added 19 points, freshman guard Siler Schneider had 15 and junior guard Darius Graham helped the Aggies secure a 10 point lead during the crucial second half of the game.

Read a full recap of the game by sports reporter Michael Martinez here.

Coming off of their victory, the Ags continued their winning streak and now hold a 4-3 record in the Big West Conference. Junior center Neal Monson made 20 points for the game and Fox had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. A great effort was made by Brynton Lemar, who grabbed 15 points. The Aggies never let the Mustangs close the margin and played great defense throughout the game, finishing it out 14 points over Cal Poly.

Check out the recap by sports reporter Veronica Vargo here.

UC Davis will take on the Titans again at Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Feb. 4.

Women’s Basketball (12-8 overall, 5-2 conf.)

UC Davis vs Long Beach State (L, 75-62)

UC Davis vs UC Santa Barbara (W, 80-51)

The Aggies played a hard game against Long Beach State, where senior forward Celia Marfone scored 18 points, setting a personal season high. Senior forward Alyson Doherty finished with 12 rebounds and redshirt freshman Morgan Bertsch ended with 6 rebounds and 14 points. Pele Gianotti, a sophomore forward, scored 10 of her own, but the Ags fell short as Long Beach State made 58 percent of their shots, resulting in a final score of 75-62.

Sports reporter George McConnell covered the game.

Making 59 percent of their shots throughout the game, the UC Davis women’s basketball team now stands at a 12-8 overall and 5-2 in the Big West Conference after taking down the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 80-51. Gianotti collected 18 points, three assists and five rebounds. The Aggies wavered a bit during the second half of the game, but managed to keep a 16 point gap.  Marfone finished with 17 points, not letting the Gauchos get the upper hand at any point throughout the game.

Peruse a recap of the game against UC Santa Barbara, which was covered by Aaron Sellers.

With their strong performance, the Aggies will continue on to UC Riverside to challenge the Highlanders on Feb. 4.

Women’s Gymnastics

UC Davis at Sacramento State (2nd, 193.100)

The Aggies placed second in their meet at Sacramento State, as senior Stephanie Stamates earned her career high of 9.875 on the beam and junior Katy Nogaki tied her personal best of 9.850 in the same event. While the bar rotations presented a challenge for the Aggies, the overall score of 48.875 on the vault resulted in a season high, and they earned a 48.975 on the floor and 48.800 on the beam.

Men’s Tennis (4-3)

UC Davis vs. Pacific (W, 4-2)

UC Davis at Northern Colorado (W, 6-1)

UC Davis at Abilene Christian  (L, 4-3)

UC Davis at Air Force (W, 5-2)

The Aggies, ranked No. 53 in the nation, defeated the Pacific Tigers 4-2 in a singles match up at home on Jan. 27. Junior Eli Whittle earned the No. 6 singles spot, while juniors Bryce McKelvie and Jesse Ross were at No. 4 and 5, respectively. Senior Brett Bacharach came in at No. 3, and each individual effort secured the victory.

The Aggies secured a three match winning streak against Northern Colorado two days later.  Junior James Wade defeated his opponent 6-3, 6-1, while junior Alec Adamson, senior Adam Levie, sophomore Tommy Lam and McKelvie all garnered 6-3 victories.

Though they fell to Abilene Christian 4-3 on Jan. 30, the Aggies put forth a good performance, as  Adamson and Levie won their doubles match, as did the pairing of Bacharach and McKelvie. Wade and Whittle fell during the third set of the match, and McKelvie triumphed in his singles match for the fourth consecutive time.

To finish off their slew of back to back matches, UC Davis beat Air Force 5-2 to bring their overall record up to 4-3, winning five of the six singles match-ups for the day.

The UC Davis men’s tennis team returns home with the first of four home games that begin on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. and end on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Women’s Tennis (2-1)

UC Davis vs. Portland State (W, 4-2)

UC Davis vs. Santa Clara University (L, 6-1)

The spring opener scheduled for Friday, Jan. 29 was pushed back to Saturday due to bad weather, but the Aggies weren’t phased and brought in a 4-2 win. Junior Alex Huie and senior Tiffany Pham were able to secure a doubles victory after going 6-2 against their opponents, while the Aggies won four of the six singles matches for the day.

The following day, the UC Davis tennis team lost to Santa Clara University and the only Aggies to come away with victories were Pham, who beat her opponent 6-2, 6-0, and juniors Kamila Kecki and Frederique Sleiffer, winning their doubles match 6-4.

The women’s tennis team will travel to face San Diego State on Feb. 6.

Swimming and Diving

UC Davis at Pacific (W, 136-114)

With the fastest time in the 100 fly at 54.91, junior Hilvy Cheung also won the 200-yard medley relay with teammates senior Hailey Ferko, freshman Mia Facey and junior Kirsten Brand (1:44.83). In the 200-meter Freestyle, sophomore Robin Lampron won with a time of 1:53.43, and Brand (1:53.91), Facey (1:55.00) and sophomore Courtney Schultz (1:55.07) came in close behind. Freshman Eva Chung touched first in the 200-yard Butterfly with 2:08.10, and was followed by redshirt senior Sara Ramos (2:09.23), freshman Solie Laughlin (2:12.27) and senior Lexy Troup (2:12.69).

As the Aggies finish their season with a 5-2 overall record, they start to prepare for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships that begin on Feb. 17 in Monterey Park, Calif.

Written by Iman Farahani – sports@theaggie.org

Defense makes all the difference

Sports Editor
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BRIAN LANDRY / AGGIE
BRIAN LANDRY / AGGIE

Aggies buck Cal Poly before setting off for double road games

When players step off the court, they are just like everyone else. But when they step on, it’s a whole different ball game.

In a 66-52 Aggie win on Saturday, the combination of the seven players who saw playing time was enough to set Cal Poly on a desperate quest to distract the Aggies with aggressive play.

“It was physical,” said senior forward Josh Fox. “A lot of the guys, we know each other so it gets kind of heated on the court. We don’t want to admit it, but we kind of don’t like each other.”

Yet the Aggies remained on their feet while the Mustangs flew — literally. Freshman guard Siler Schneider landed a nasty foul on a Cal Poly guard in pursuit of a rebound, who was examined on the court for any signs of concussion before being allowed to sit on the bench.

Freshman forward Garrison Goode played predominantly defense, matching Cal Poly’s game, and Fox had a double-double with 10 rebounds and 18 points.

Junior center Neal Monson attributed most of the Aggies’ success at home to the balance between offense and defense.

BRIAN LANDRY / AGGIE
BRIAN LANDRY / AGGIE

“The defense has been a focus the entire year,” Monson said. “Especially coming off of last year where we had such offensive firepower and so many people who could score the ball, we knew that this year we were going to be more limited so we have to rely more on our defense […] it kept us in a lot of games.”

Head Coach Jim Les also noticed his team’s big defensive presence on the court.

“We talked about defense being the difference,” Les said. “I thought the key was the second half defense. We held [Cal Poly] to 37 percent from the floor 11 percent from three […] which was the difference and those were the hustle plays.”

Challenging Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside this week will be a test for the UC Davis men’s basketball team as they manage to pull away at home and head out on the road. Regardless of their 4-3 Big West Conference record, Les still values the mentality of his team.

“What I like about the maturity of this team is when the shot doesn’t go in or something doesn’t happen or go right offensively, they are not taking it to the defensive end,” Les said. “They’re turning the page and sticking to what is really working and that’s a good solid [four] guys: disciplined, energetic, intense [and] defense.”

Written by Veronica Vargo — sports@theaggie.com

Bend it like Beckham

Features Editor
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BRIANA NGO / AGGIE
BRIANA NGO / AGGIE

Students discuss which athlete they could trade lives with

Which star athlete would you want to be and why?

Anna_Sada_rovingreporter_fe_NgoAnna Sada, second-year environmental policy major

“I would be Nick Young from the Lakers because I’d want to be a parent to his adorable child. He’s so cute and he has so much style that he’d help me improve my style, too. And I’d have courtside Lakers seats.”

 

 

 

 


Jonathan_Ngo_rovingreporter_fe_NgoJonathan Ngo, second-year economics and statistics double major

“I would be Tom Brady because he’s very handsome and he grew up right by my house.”

 

 

 

 

 

Rafael_Chuman_rovingreporter_fe_NgoRafael Chuman, first-year chemistry major

“I want to be David Beckham because I like soccer and girls find him really hot.”

 

 

 

 

 

Jin_Zhang_rovingreporter_fe_Ngo

Jin Zhang, second-year international relations and economics double major

“I would want to be Steph Curry because he’s more than a basketball player. He’s a good husband, dad and public figure. He does [everything] really well and I think that’s something everyone can learn from.”

 

 

 

 

Kendal_Shapses_rovingreporter_fe_NgoKendal Shapses, fourth-year psychology major

“I’ll be Rob Gronkowski from the Patriots because he’s the best tight-end in football. Also, he happens to be really gorgeous and he loves kittens.”

 

 

 

 

 

Ellen_Coughlin_rovingreporter_fe_NgoEllen Coughlin, fourth-year sociology major

“Oh God, none of them.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katherine_Domenici_rovingreporter_fe_NgoKatherine Domenici, third-year microbiology major

“I’d be Ashlyn Harris because she’s really great on the U.S. soccer team.”

 

 

 

 

 

Rosa_Song_rovingreporter_fe_NgoRosa Song, fourth-year managerial economics major

“I want to be Michael Phelps because he’s really strong, muscular and has such great stamina in the water.”

 

 

 

 

 

Quentin_Karn_rovingreporter_fe_NgoQuentin Karn, third-year managerial economics major

“I’d love to be Kobe Bryant because I really look up to him. I’m a big Lakers fan, [so] I’m really sad to see him retire.”

 

 

 

 

 

Hanks_Zhou_rovingreporter_fe_Ngo

Hanks Zhou, third-year computer science major

“I think I would be Yao Ming because he’s from China, like me. He’s an amazing player and I’m really proud of him.”

 

 

 

 

 

Written by: Anjali Bhat — features@theaggie.org

Burrowing owl population in Davis faces drastic decline

City Editor
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SCOTT ARTIS / COURTESY
SCOTT ARTIS / COURTESY

Owls threatened by construction, dwindling food sources

One of the last breeding pairs of burrowing owls in Davis are living in Fermi Place, an empty lot adjacent to Highway 80 East and Target. The lot is currently for sale for $4 million, a price too high for conservation groups to purchase.

The Burrowing Owl Preservation Society (BOPS), a nonprofit that advocates for the burrowing owl population and educates the public about the species’ needs, conducted a census that showed an alarming 76 percent decline in the population between 2007 and 2014.

Catherine Portman, environmental activist and president of BOPS, explains that new construction, including stores, golf courses and housing developments, have consistently pushed the owls out of Yolo County. She explains that burrowing owls are highly threatened by land development because they exclusively burrow underground to hide from predators and receive shelter from extreme weather.

“If they had a burrow in one place and successfully had babies there, they will return. But when they return to buildings, they cannot do that,” Portman said. “The empty lot on Fermi is all that is left for [the owls]. This happens a lot in California, where development and new buildings pushes them out.”

According to Portman, although conservation efforts have been put into place, they are often inadequate.

“The [California] Department of Fish and Wildlife does not monitor the birds or require that they be tagged in any way. But they require proof for their protection. It is my position that, because the department has allowed this practice to go on, they have actually contributed to the decline of the burrowing owl population,” Portman said.

Without tagging, Portman explains that it is impossible to officially document the decline in the owl population and therefore earn legal status as an endangered species.

Portman plans to meet with members of the Davis City Council to ask for more aggressive protection of the owls. She has spoken at several city council meetings, asking the city to hire biologists with knowledge about burrowing owls to help conduct environmental impact statements for development projects.

Proposed solutions to protect the owls from construction are not effective, according to Portman, making it necessary for biologists who know about the species to be involved.

“Currently, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will require the developer to hire a biologist to put one-way doors on each burrow, but the biologist is not required to have knowledge of the burrowing owl,” Portman said. “These one-way doors actually trap the owls out of their own burrows.”

John McNerney, wildlife resource specialist for the City of Davis, agrees that the burrowing owl population has dropped in recent years but in addition to construction, a variety of factors could be contributing to the decline.

“They could be disappearing due to disease and drought. Food is less available, so they are not doing as well and have to search out new territories,” McNerney said. “[The] West Nile virus also came in and affected many of our bird species. When the owls get sick they have to go undercover, and when they die underground we cannot go and test them. Also, secondary agricultural anticoagulant pesticide poisoning affecting birds is well documented. With burrowing owls, this happens when they eat small mice and is certainly a concern.”

McNerney has also conducted censuses on the local burrowing owl population and documented a decline in the number of breeding owls since 2008 in the Yolo County region.

“It definitely raises concern and opens up questions about why the owls are in decline,” McNerney said.

Although the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has also tracked the declining burrowing owl population, the species is not listed as endangered and therefore lacks complete legal protection against land development.

Dr. Janet Foley, who holds a doctorate in ecology of infectious diseases in veterinary medicine from UC Davis, explained that the Center for Biodiversity rejected a petition to list the burrowing owl as endangered, citing a lack of evidence on the species’ population size.

“Getting a species listed as endangered is very, very difficult. It takes years and money, because you have to have the data to prove the status of the species,” Foley said. “Many people, however, are starting to talk about that process within a year or two. But the owls over by Target do not have a year or two.”

Written By: CAROLINE STAUDENRAUS – city@theaggie.org

This week in senate

Campus Editor
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HANNAH LEE / AGGIE
HANNAH LEE / AGGIE

Senate continues discussion on Wells Fargo prison divestment

On Jan. 28, ASUCD Vice President Gareth Smythe called to order the fourth senate meeting of the quarter.

The meeting began with a public discussion led by Senator Josh Dalavai concerning Senate Bill (SB) 28. Dalavai’s bill concerns the university’s divestment from Wells Fargo. His bill is part of a continuing discussion concerning the University of California’s relationship to private prisons.

In the meeting, Dalavai requested that the bill not be overseen by ASUCD’s Business and Finance Commission (B&F). Instead, SB 28 should be sent to ASUCD’s business manager, Janice Corbett. According to Dalavai, since the bill concerns ASUCD’s investment portfolio, Corbett would be better suited to oversee the contents of it.

Joe DeAngelo, chairman of B&F, as well as others on the table, argued that it is only appropriate for SB 28 to pass through B&F since the bill concerns student funds. Additionally, DeAngelo mentioned the importance for greater oversight behind legislature.

At the beginning of the discussion, the senate voted 7-5-0 in favor of removing B&F’s oversight. After further discussion, another vote was held with a 6-6-0 tie. Finally, Dalavai resolved to review the bill before any further action or discussion.

The meeting proceeded with an announcement from Matt Farrell, director of expansion at Phi Gamma Delta, one of the newer fraternities at UC Davis. Farrell hopes to gain a better sense of the university’s student environment by keeping in close contact with the senate.

Afterward, Nolan Matter, a third-year political science major, presented on behalf of the Transfer, Re-entry and Veterans Committee (TRAVC). Matter informed the senate of TRAVC’s progress. Since the committee is new, it has just created positions for members. According to Matter, the committee is in the process of planning collaborations with Aggie Studios as well as utilizing social media beyond Facebook to reach students.

Senate then introduced five pieces of legislation, concerning a variety of issues such as the senate’s approval of the Nishi Gateway Project, to a revised process of distributing resolutions to various commissions.

President Mariah Watson reminded the senate of future discussions concerning mental health and self-care for student leaders within the association.

The meeting ended with elected officer reports. Senate was adjourned at 7:46 p.m.

Written by: Katrina Manrique – campus@theaggie.org

Couldn’t beat the Beach

Sports Editor
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ANH-TRAM BUI / AGGIE
Redshirt freshman Morgan Bertsch navigates her way through traffic on her way to the basket. (ANH-TRAM BUI / AGGIE)

UC Davis women’s basketball team falls 75-62 to Long Beach State.

The excellent three-point shooting and high-energy full-court press of Long Beach State proved to be too much for the Aggies to handle Thursday night as they fell, 75-62, to the visiting 49ers. The Ags coughed up the ball 21 times throughout the course of the night, due in large part to the overwhelming defensive pressure provided by the Beach.

“To beat a press, you have to be confident, you’ve got be poised and you’ve got to make good decisions with the ball, and we just made too many questionable decisions,” said Head Coach Jennifer Gross. “The thing about Long Beach is they get all their momentum from their pressure and so if you’re breaking that easy, you can run offense and score in half-court, but you’re playing into their hands if you turn it over as much as we did.”

ANH-TRAM BUI / AGGIE
ANH-TRAM BUI / AGGIE

Despite the final outcome, senior forward Celia Marfone set a personal season scoring high with an efficient 18 points on 7-11 shooting while fellow senior forward Alyson Doherty tied her career high mark in rebounds with 12 boards.

In the first quarter, the Beach came out of the gates with a sense of urgency, jumping to a quick 16-7 lead and forcing six turnovers in the process, before UC Davis could call a timeout. The second part of the quarter belonged to the Ags, however, who closed out the period on a 10-0 run off including a pair of three-pointers from sophomore forward Pele Gianotti and freshman guard Kourtney Eaton, followed by a jumper from redshirt freshman forward Morgan Bertsch to pull UC Davis within one.

The Ags carried the momentum into the second quarter, taking their first lead of the game on a deep ball from Gianotti. With 6:08 to play in the half, Marfone hit a corner three to give UC Davis their biggest lead of the game (32-28), extending the scoring run to 20-5.

CIERA PASTUREL / AGGIE
CIERA PASTUREL / AGGIE

The Aggies could not sustain the push, however, and a combination of continued second half turnovers and lights out shooting from Long Beach insured the UC Davis defeat. The Beach claimed 33 points from beyond the arc, shooting an impressive 57.9 percent, compared to the Aggies’ abysmal 25.0 percent from long range.

The Ags struggled to get the ball down low, typically a cornerstone of their offense. The Beach consistently denied the ball into the post,

limiting season scoring leaders Bertsch and Doherty to 14 and seven points respectively.

“We have a day to make sure we sharpen up. And more than anything, to make sure our minds are right and that we’re not hanging on to this loss. Tomorrow is a new day and Saturday is another game,” Gross said. “We’ve shown that we can bounce back, so we just need to stay positive and confident and we’ll be ready to go on Saturday.”

The Aggies look for revenge Saturday afternoon as they again face Santa Barbara after falling to the Gauchos on the road less than a week and a half ago.

Written by George McConnell – sports@theaggie.org

Aggies protect The Pavilion against Titans

Sports Editor
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The Aggies' leading scorer senior forward Josh Fox drives past Cal State Fullerton junior forward Tim Myles. (HANNAH WODRICH / AGGIE)
The Aggies’ leading scorer senior forward Josh Fox drives past Cal State Fullerton junior forward Tim Myles. (HANNAH WODRICH / AGGIE)

UC Davis men’s basketball team defeats Cal State Fullerton in Wednesday night game.

The UC Davis men’s basketball team sent the California State University, Fullerton Titans packing in a rare Wednesday night showdown. The Aggies picked up their fourth straight home win, 69-64.

As the game got underway, the Aggies came out with energy and moved the ball well across the court. The defense was solid and the momentum looked to be in favor of the Aggies, who led for the majority of the quarter.

After a timeout by Cal State Fullerton with a little over 12 minutes in the first half, the Titans started to find their groove and went on a 17-4 run in a span of just over seven minutes. The Aggies’ defense slowed down as Fullerton shot lights out, 54.2 percent from the field in the first half.

The Aggies were down at half, 37-35.

The Titans came out with more energy after the break, going on a 7-2 run to start the half. The Aggies fought back and kept things close, but after quick bursts of offense on each side, both teams struggled to get points on the board.

The Aggies continued to play a tough defensive game, and they held the Titans to a 31.8 shooting percentage in the second half.

“We talked a lot about defense at halftime,” said Head Coach Jim Les. “That was the difference, that got us going and got us some separation when we did get hot.”

With both teams knotted up at 47 apiece, freshman guard Siler Schneider hit a three-pointer to give his team the lead. The Aggies never looked back, in big part to junior guard Brynton Lemar,who had a cut lip from the first half after taking an elbow to the face.

Though he struggled in the first half and had some good attempts fall in-and-out, Lemar did not shy away from stepping up for his team.

“Just being one of the team leaders,” Lemar said. “I knew that our team was kind of down and we needed a little offensive spurt so I wanted to just be aggressive.”

Les also gave Lemar the green light in the second half, knowing that he would find the net eventually.

“Our comment was keeping shooting,” Les said.

Lemar did just that, and nailed back-to-back threes, forcing Fullerton to call a timeout with 7:45 remaining in the second half. Lemar followed up with another three at the seven-minute mark to give the Aggies a 10 point lead, putting all momentum in the Aggies’ corner.

Lemar finished the game with 12 points, 10 of which came from the second half. Schneider totaled 15 points, continuing to be an efficient scorer for the Aggies.

The Aggies’ points per game leader, senior forward Josh Fox, scored 19 points and added seven rebounds to the team’s victory. Fullerton’s freshman guard, Khalil Ahmad, finished with a game-high 27 points.

The Aggies are now 3-3 in the Big West Conference. On Saturday, Jan. 30, the Ags look to pick up a fifth straight home victory and add another win to their Big West total, as they face off against Cal Poly at the ARC Pavilion at 5:30 p.m.

Written by MICHAEL MARTINEZ – sports@theaggie.org

Guest Obituary: Janice Marie Han Aboyte

Opinion
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0

Janice AboytesJanice Marie Han Aboytes died peacefully in her sleep at her Woodland home on January 25, 2016 following a yearlong battle with brain cancer. She was 68.

Janice retired from the University of California Davis after 39 years of service lastly working in the Department of Relations.  She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, and extensively traveling with friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents John and Antoinette “Veda” Fowler Han, brothers, Eddie, Robert, and Kenneth Han, Aunts Helen Han, Neva Fowler Spalding, Aida Naismith and nephew Schell Han.  Janice is survived by daughter and son-in-law Terri Aboytes Price and Tom Price, son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Erinne Aboytes, and grandchildren, Trey, Jacob, and Jenna Price, and Grant, Max, and Gianna Aboytes. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Jeanne Beebe Han, Nephews Stig Han and Jamie Han and nieces, Robyn Han Dinkins, Marie Ferrera, and Clelia Vanoy-Mossi.

A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Rosary Church in Woodland on Friday, February 5 at 1 PM with burial immediately following at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Hotel Woodland.

Janice wished for friends and family to remember fun times they have had with her and to share humorous stories at the reception. Her family wishes to express thanks to her caregivers, Api, Akosita, and Lani as well as her family friends, Sue Torguson, Mary MacNichol, Janet and Steve Ruggiero, Paula Gimenez, and Joe and Dawn Gimenez–all  devoted weekly visits during this past year. Janice will be dearly missed.

Donations in her memory may be made to Holy Rosary School in Woodland, Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, or the charity of your choice.

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