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This week in Senate

Campus Editor
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HANNAH LEE / AGGIE
HANNAH LEE / AGGIE

ASUCD appoints new senator.

On Jan. 21, ASUCD Vice President Gareth Smythe called to order this week’s senate meeting at 6:15 p.m.

The meeting commenced with the appointment of second-year human development major Tiffany Lung as an ASUCD senator. Prior to her appointment, Lung shared her ideas of adding extension cords in UC Davis buildings, working with Transportation and Parking Services to offer more parking permit options and integrating OASIS with Schedule Builder. Lung replaced former senator Gabriel Lee Johnson and was appointed by ASUCD President Mariah Kala Watson after a series of interviews with several candidates.

Following Lung’s appointment was a presentation from University of California Student Association (UCSA). UCSA president Kevin Sabo briefly discussed working on a new mental health campaign titled “How Are You?” and hosting the Students of Color Conference this past November.

Next, senators appointed third-year history major Malcolm Rivera as the new Chief Justice under ASUCD’s judicial branch. Rivera shared his concerns about the attendance problems and suggested to make meetings more productive by requiring mock trials for practice.

Two representatives then presented the Davis Dance Marathon, a nationwide movement that raises funds for local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Students can sign up as a team or as an individual online. All proceeds will go to the UC Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento. The Dance Marathon will take place on April 2 from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. in the ARC Ballroom.

Afterward, a representative from the Elections Committee announced that nearly 20 people had signed up to run for senate this year. She also announced that a candidate workshop will take place Feb. 5 to promote ASUCD elections. The representative encouraged members of the senate to attend and offer advice to the potential candidates.

The senate then appointed two committee members to the Sexual Assault and Awareness Committee. The committee members suggested implementing more lighting throughout campus and resource groups for victims of sexual assault.

The senate also appointed seven committee members to the Transfer, Re-entry and Veterans (TRV) Committee. Before being appointed, the committee members discussed having more focus on veterans and hoped to plan more events for TRV students throughout the year.

The meeting continued with senate appointing three committee members to the Gender and Sexuality Committee. The committee members emphasized education and allyship in gender and sexuality acceptance before being appointed.

After, ASUCD President Mariah Watson proposed Constitutional Amendment 44, which would create an ASUCD Investment and Accountability Board to advise senate members as to how the annual budget should be spent.

Several senators expressed their concerns regarding how far the amendment could escalate. Senator Sevan Nahabedian underscored the importance of senators making financial decisions as a part of their job.

After a discussion, the senators finally approved Watson’s amendment.

The meeting concluded with ex-officio and elected officer reports. It adjourned at 11:30 p.m.

Written by: Emma Sadlowski – campus@theaggie.org

UC Davis alumna, breast cancer survivor develops new breast cancer test

Campus Editor
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Angela Courtney and Michael Gilson talk about their company, Adrastia Biotech, which they created to develop a commercial platform that would offer a simple, non-painful urine test that could distinguish breast cancer positive from breast cancer negative. (JOE PROUDMAN / UC DAVIS)
Angela Courtney and Michael Gilson talk about their company, Adrastia Biotech, which they created to develop a commercial platform that would offer a simple, non-painful urine test that could distinguish breast cancer positive from breast cancer negative. (JOE PROUDMAN / UC DAVIS)

New breast cancer test will only require urine sample to detect cancer.

Angela Courtney, a UC Davis postdoctoral graduate in integrative pathobiology, recently developed a new breast cancer test that could help women detect breast cancer earlier, while delivering personalized results.

This new test can determine the presence of breast cancer and be conducted during routine doctor’s visits.

“It’s super easy from the patient’s standpoint,” Courtney said.

According to Courtney, a patient will have to provide a urine sample that will be sent to a lab for testing. Once the urine sample is sent, the lab will identify patterns of protein and genomic material to determine if they match a breast cancer positive or a breast cancer negative pattern.

“But here’s the beauty of this test over time: Say you take it now, when you’re young, you’re healthy and you don’t have breast cancer. [N]ow, this is your personal pattern of negative and normal,” Courtney said. “So down the road, you’re actually comparing you to you.”

When Courtney originally started working on her postdoctorate, she was interested in researching infectious diseases. However, during the first year of her postdoctoral program, Courtney, along with three other family members, developed breast cancer.

“I went from breast cancer being nowhere in my world, nowhere on my radar, to suddenly [being] the most important thing in my life,” Courtney said.

It was this moment that Courtney decided to change her research focus to breast cancer. When Courtney began her journey to find a cure for cancer, she turned to the source many researchers had looked to before for answers – blood. One day, it then dawned on her that urine is actually filtered plasma.

“We think of it as a waste product, but in reality it […] is filtered plasma,” Courtney said. “And so that is actually giving you a look at what is truly in the blood stream.”

According to Courtney, the difference with this urine test is that it does not just look at DNA, which gives people their probability of developing breast cancer. Rather, it looks at the different protein changes and whether the controllers of the DNA are present or not.

“Right now, women who have genetic mutations […] in their DNA code have to make a choice,” Courtney said. “They have to decide, ‘Okay, if I have an 89 percent probability of developing breast cancer, am I just going to take the wait-and-see approach – in which case what they have to monitor is mammograms, which you can only do once a year every two years – or continue to do self exams and hope I can feel it when it’s really small.’ That’s really scary, and that’s why a lot of them choose to have a double mastectomy because there’s really no other way to monitor.”

However, with Courtney’s urine test, women will have a way to monitor themselves for breast cancer.

“A test like this actually gives a way to monitor [it], and because it’s not a blood draw, it’s not invasive; you can actually monitor as often as your doctor and you feel necessary,” Courtney said. “So if you want to take a look every month, you can because there’s no harm to you to actually do the test, and that’s pretty incredible. It’s an option that women who are genetically positive just don’t have right now.”

The creation of this new breast cancer test caught the attention of fourth-year NPB major Nisha Patel, the primary leader of Colleges Against Cancer at UC Davis. As the daughter organization of the American Cancer Society, this club shares a similar mission to eliminate cancer.

“A urine test like this only encourages us to continue to fundraise for patient and caregiver support services and advocate for more funds to be put towards cancer research,” Patel said. “It is wonderful to see fellow Aggies continue to help us with the fight against cancer, and with Courtney being a cancer survivor herself, a personalized medicine approach like this becomes even more meaningful.”

In addition, Courtney said this test will allow the spectra of women who have gone through the full double mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy to monitor themselves.

“Once the double mastectomy is done, there is nothing to do a mammogram on,” Courtney said. “So basically they are hoping that this thing doesn’t come back, because if it does, the only way you’re going to know is when it has severely compromised wherever it has metastasized to, and that is usually bone marrow, the liver, the brain – the huge organs that you don’t know there’s a problem, until there’s a really bad problem.”

Courtney partnered with Michael Gilson, a UC Davis alumnus with a bachelor’s in political science, to found Adrastia Biotech, where they have started working to develop a commercial platform for the urine test.

Courtney met Gilson in 2014 during a business competition called “Big Bang!,” which was sponsored by the Child Family Institute at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management. For the competition, Gilson was assigned to be Courtney’s mentor.

“I met this remarkable scientist by the name of Dr. Angela Courtney, and the idea of possibly finding a way to save lives through a diagnostic process for breast cancer, I couldn’t walk away from it,” Gilson said. “And when we won one of the prizes in Big Bang! it sure was an affirmation.”

Gilson, a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, provides the business expertise behind Adrastia Biotech, but he too has been affected by breast cancer.

“I had a friend who was in her early 30s when she was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Gilson said. “I read enough to know that women who are now under 45 are really caught in this dilemma that there’s no recommendation from any important source like the American Cancer Society that says, ‘What do you do if you’re under 45?’”

According to Courtney, the problem with being under 45 years of age when diagnosed with breast cancer is that if these women want to have children one day, they may have to harvest their eggs prior to undergoing chemotherapy, because the chemotherapy could shut down their fertility forever.

“Our goal is really to try to make it so that this type of cancer [breast cancer], basically gets diagnosed early enough that a biopsy is removing that mass, and you’re done,” Courtney said. “There would be no chemo, no radiation, no double mastectomy, no loss of child-bearing, if we can just have a way to know that it’s there when it just starts.”

Adrastia Biotech is still in the beginning stages of developing its breast cancer test, but if they receive the funding they need at a high level, Courtney hopes their test will be able to hit the market by the end of 2017 or early 2018.

“Adrastia Biotech is a prime example of how UC Davis is helping to make the world better by empowering our brilliant students through unique and effective programs like the Big Bang! Business Competition,” said AJ Cheline, director of marketing and communication at the UC Davis Office of Research. “It is inspiring to see people like [Courtney] take such a great challenge and turn it into an opportunity to help others.”

While research can be both a rewarding and an arduous process, Courtney has some advice for researchers out there who are working to make a discovery.

“Don’t follow the herd. Look in the places where other people aren’t looking, and look in the obvious places,” Courtney said. “Because sometimes, something that can seem so obvious just because no one’s looked there before, doesn’t mean that there isn’t something to find – like I tell my children all the time, in the words of Audrey Hepburn, ‘Nothing is impossible; even the word says ‘I am’ possible.’”

    Written by: Jennifer Puza – campus@theaggie.org

Wins, losses, season-highs and drive

Sports Editor
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Josh Fox scores 20 points against UC Riverside while engaging in small competition with another Daly City native Taylor Johns. (DEVIN McHUGH / AGGIE)
Josh Fox scores 20 points against UC Riverside while engaging in small competition with another Daly City native Taylor Johns. (DEVIN McHUGH / AGGIE)

Aggies motivated to win against Titans after road loss against Hawai’i

UC Davis vs. UC Riverside (W, 58-55)

Hearts were racing this season for the UC Davis men’s basketball team as the Aggies gained another last minute win last Thursday against UC Riverside, 58-55.

Junior guard Darius Graham lead the team with a season-high 21 points, confidently making four of six three-point shots. His last shot was a game saver to give the Aggies the lead after trailing the Highlanders at the two minute warning.

KATIE LIN / AGGIE
KATIE LIN / AGGIE

“Darius was awesome,” Head Coach Jim Les said. “I told him, ‘Hey, I just got done watching you hit a huge shot [after rewatching previous games against UC Riverside]’ and he said, ‘Well I’m ready to do it again,’ and sure enough, he prophesied it.”

Graham and senior forward Josh Fox, who scored 20 points, were the two dominating members on the court; no other member on the team made more than six points.

“They didn’t hang their head,” Les said. “These guys were really defendant.”

In order to match the fast paced Highlanders, the Aggies played defensively as junior center Neal Monson led the team with nine rebounds.

Fox was also reunited with a hometown friend from Daly City, Calif. Taylor Johns, who played only 15 minutes for the Highlanders, was unable to handle the constant pressure put on him during the game.

“Part of a good defensive scheme is making their better offensive players defend,” Les said. “I thought […] Josh Fox was really aggressive.”

 

UC Davis at Hawai’i (L, 78-62)

Two days later, the Aggies arrived at Hawai’i holding a 2-2 Big West Conference record, 7-10 overall, with goals to match the intensity of Thursday’s game and return home with a road win. Unfortunately, the Rainbow Warriors picked up their game in the second half to beat the Aggies 78-62.

However, the night on the island was not a huge disappointment, as Fox set a career-high 25 points and junior guard Brynton Lemar turned it on in the second half, where he made 10 of his 12 total points. The win advanced Hawai’i to a 5-0 conference record, which maintains their first place standing in the Big West Conference. UC Davis holds the sixth place slot.

Today, the Aggies will welcome Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m., and will remain at home for a game against Cal Poly on Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m.
Written by Veronica Vargo – sports@theaggie.org

The newest addition to your playlist: Vulfpeck puts an even funkier twist on classic motown beats

Arts Editor
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ANDREW McFARLANE / FLICKR
ANDREW McFARLANE / FLICKR

vulfpeck_ar2‘Wait for the Moment’ approaches clichéd themes in new ways

I like to pretend everybody cares about music as much as I do, so here’s the first of many earfuls of miscellaneous musical information — but mostly just some great additions to your playlists.

A friend of mine recently asked me about my favorite song. And so begins the longest and most tedious explanation she never hoped to receive, beginning with three examples — from a list of thousands — of my favorite music content:

The rhythm-focused Norah Jones’ single “Happy Pills” from her 2012 album, Little Broken Hearts, sounds infinitely superior in the speakers of a beat-up Toyota Camry while making the trek to your roommate’s log cabin in the middle of a forest without GPS than, say, the headphones of a sweaty treadmill victim.

The funk of Marcus Marr and Chet Faker’s “The Trouble with Us”— from their collaborated Work EP — combined with the range of Faker’s voice that you just can’t find in any of his solo work, isn’t fully enjoyed until it’s blasting through your headphones as you make a long walk across campus, forgetting, at about the minute mark, that you are indeed not starring in the theme song to your life’s movie.

And of course, Nelly’s classic (and one of my personal favorites), “Hot In Herre,” is simply never as gratifying if you listen to it on a weekend in which you question the second ‘r’ in the title.

Music, in short, depends on circumstance; what you listen to is entirely influenced by how and when you do so. I can think of no better example of such circumstance-based music than the funky, rhythm-based group, Vulfpeck.

This group, whose national tour was funded by the release of a completely silent — yes, silent — album on Spotify titled Sleepify, has all the quirkiness of a start-up band, but maintains a unique sound of fused funk and jazz, comparable to classics like Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. Their most recent release, a full-length album titled Thrill of the Arts, features songs like “Back Pocket” and “Funky Duck,” which all but lack the Motown influence they were founded on.

In fact, this group’s intrigue is best exemplified by their recent performance of “1612” on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Nov. 21, 2015. If you don’t watch it for the music, watch it for the tuba.

My personal favorite, however, remains “Wait for the Moment,” a song from Vulfpeck’s 2013 EP, My First Car. This song, unfortunately for my roommate whose bedroom adjoins the bathroom wall, has unwaveringly been my shower song of choice. The endearing nature of the lyrics is complemented by swinging vocals and a perfect balance of emotive ooh-ing. Which, nevertheless, makes the risky combination of slippery floors and poor dance moves entirely worth it.

Vulfpeck’s overall sound — not to be simply put — is raw. It imitates the sounds of live music, never bothering to edit in hopes of unrealistically smooth vocals (though they never fail to achieve this anyway). Their emphasis on production — a pivotal characteristic of their music, considering the group’s background in the record industry prior to that of performance — can be partially attributed to a unique audio plug-in (software used in the process of music synthesis and production): the vulf compressor. Created by band mate Vulfmon and engineer David Kerr, this plug-in is unlike any other. There is an excellent video — which, might I add, is also hilariously informative such that only Vulfpeck could achieve — explaining the history behind this creation. If you don’t watch it for the music, watch it for the story of a shady purchase from a naïve Berkeley co-op.

The lyrics, ranging from a boy pining after “produce girl” Sharon and the importance of self-truth, more importantly contain underlying themes of patience and the innocence of young adoration. Better yet, Vulfpeck manages to phrase “I love you” in a way that idealizes love itself — without extravagance or pomp: “Butt dialed – I smiled/ Listen dialed – I smiled/ It was so nice to get a call.” But don’t mistake this song for anything like Taylor Swift; while the lyrics may sound cheesy on their own, coupled with Vulfpeck’s unique sound, the song creates a more matured image of love as opposed to the embarrassment and nostalgia associated with the memory of your junior high crush.

And so, with much conviction, I suggest listening to Vulfpeck in the shower — tub vibrating with the bass of good speakers — and a sheet of lyrics ziplocked in a waterproof bag, plastered to the tile in front of you. However, if for some reason this is unattainable, unappealing or perhaps relatively dangerous, simply find a way to listen.

Written by: Ally Overbay – arts@theaggie.org

Cheap Dining: How to get that extra bang for your buck in Davis

Opinion
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NICKI PADAR / AGGIE
NICKI PADAR / AGGIE

Disclaimer: In this column, I’m going to suggest you eat at Applebee’s. At the risk of ruining all of my credibility, please read on:

Here in America, we love a good deal. We love paying exactly one dollar for things. We love having the option to get multiple sides. We love being friends with the person making our TxMx taco salad at the Coffee House so we get 10% more stuff in it (or 200% more if you have the right ins). The point is, for the vast majority of your meals in Davis, you’ll be looking for cheaper options rather than expensive ones. This week, I’m not just going to tell you how you can eat for cheap. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to stretch your dollar the farthest when eating around Davis. Get ready for the best tasting deals this side of the Mississippi. Cue Applebee’s:

Applebee’s: Sometimes you just want a quiet, secluded place to watch a televised sporting event without fear of running into Rosetta from BIS 2A or Norvin from Classics. On Monday nights, Applebee’s does this really cool thing where on top of being a place nobody from UC Davis would ever go ever, they also offer a better-than-you-would-expect-but-still-mediocre burger that comes with unlimited fries for $6.99. If the game’s on and it’s Monday, you have nothing to lose (except the $7 in your wallet, and the appetite in your belly). Don’t worry, I won’t tell anybody I saw you there.

Dumpling House: This place, while terrific, can really add up. That’s why I’m here to let you in on a little trade secret that will allow you to get as many of those ridiculously delicious fried dumplings in your mouth for as cheaply as possible. Dumpling house allows you to purchase 50 raw dumplings for only $20 bucks. Don’t worry, you can get their sauce to-go as well. Fry ‘em up at home as a snack and you’ll save a bundle.

El Burrito: This taqueria is more than just the number one Davis drunchie favorite. It’s actually not half bad— I’d argue it’s at least as good as the Chipotle you probably go to across the street. If you’re a fan of their coveted carne asada fries (complete with melted cheese, guac, and sour cream), I have some good news for you. Monday’s through Saturday’s from 3 to 6 p.m., El Burrito offers $5 carne asada fries for happy hour. It’s too bad though, because you probably won’t be drunk before 6 p.m., and you’re judgement is too good to order something that greasy and caloric otherwise (or is it?).

Ohana’s: Tuesday night is $6 BBQ Chicken night and Wednesday night is $6 Chicken Katsu night. I’m still pissed they changed it from $5 to $6, but it’s still a good deal and their Katsu sauce is the nectar of the Gods.

El Toro Bravo: Taco Tuesday means each taco is $1.50. The chicken taco isn’t that good even though it has guac on it. Don’t fall for that trap. Chorizo, carnitas and veggie are all much better options. Also, don’t pay extra for the asada. Lastly, if you want tips on how to properly show face at Taco Tues, check out my article on the Davis Classics.

Open Rice Kitchen: ORK has great deals, especially during finals week. In order to get these deals, you have to “check-in” on their Facebook page and pay cash at the register. So hit the ATM at Bank of America/Wells Fargo/US Bank/Chase (they’re all a block away) and set the audience of your check-in to “just me” so that you’re not actually offering ORK any free marketing. Now you’re ready to enjoy your $2 potstickers, $5 orange chicken and, most importantly, their $1 boba teas.

Chipotle: If you want to get the most out of your Chipotle burrito on E Street, watch this video. It was made by Buzzfeed and you’re a millennial, so you’ll probably love it!

P.S.: El Burrito white sauce and Chipotle is a rare mix. If you go in and order a side of chips, they probably won’t notice your burrito’s from across the street (plus, they have cheaper chips than Chipotle, and they’re unlimited).
Stamp Cards:

They say a penny saved is a penny earned. And if I had a penny for every time I heard that expression, I’d be rich. But in the age of debit cards, Venmo and Aggie Cash, spare change is playing less and less of a role in our day-to-day life. Let stamp cards replace the feeling of budgeted bliss you get from scrimping up enough spare change to treat yourself to lunch. Here’s some stamp card strategy: invite your naïve, non-foodie or out-of-town friends to eat with you and soak up their stamps. Here are all the places in Davis that offer stamp cards (to the best of my knowledge):

  • Ali Baba – Six breakfast burritos or specials and the seventh is free.
  • Rajas – Your tenth buffet purchase is free (and your fifth earns you a free Mango Lassi).
  • 3rd and U Cafe – Your eighth breakfast burrito is free.
  • Dutch Bros Coffee Stand – Your 11th cup of coffee is free (which is great because that eleventh drink could be anything, including the insane $6 ones) .
  • Open Rice Kitchen – Your ninth boba tea is free.
  • Whole Foods Market – Your ninth sandwich OR salad bar purchase is free.
  • Red 88 – Ten purchases of over $10 gets you $10 off your 11th purchase (kinda lame but you might as well).
  • Yoloberry – Get your ninth cup of froyo free!
  • Taqueria La Piñata – Nine super burrito’s and your 10th is on the house.
  • Mr. Pickles Sandwich Shop – MP has a “Pickle points” system. Every dollar spent equals one pickle point. One hundred points gets you a free sandwich. Forget a gentleman’s bet: next time try wagering your pickle points.

Keep an eye out for these deals and keep stamping away at those stamp cards, folks! Do remember though: the best deals in town are usually going to be the least healthy. If you want something healthy and you’re truly strapped for cash, I recommend Raja’s Healthy Indian Food, or lunch at Delta of Venus. Now you’ve got a friend in the dinin’ business!

JONAH VERSMAN is a third year economics and communication double major. He can be reached at jiversman@ucdavis.edu (or found at Applebee’s on Monday nights).

Humor: CoHo celebrates 48 years by giving students free water

Opinion
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ANGELICA DAYANDANTE / AGGIE
ANGELICA DAYANDANTE / AGGIE

Yes, you read that correctly. After 48 years of selling burnt lattes and giant cinnamon rolls, the ASUCD Coffee House (CoHo) wants to give back to the student community by giving students free water.

“We’re really excited to be doing this,” said Noah Jenkins, a CoHo representative. “We thought long and hard about what menu item we should give out for free, and water was the cheapest, so that’s why we’re doing it.”

Jenkins wants the CoHo’s 48th to have record sales, so they’ve hired a team of ex-CoHo employees to tape off all the water fountains in the school and put labels on them that say: “contaminated with E. coli.” This will ensure that all students with a hankering for water will come straight to the CoHo, and hopefully buy a cup of coffee to wash down their water.

“No, there’s no actual E. coli,” one ex-CoHo employee said. “We just thought it was kind of funny.”

The celebration is set for Feb. 14, and while the campus isn’t usually busy on a Sunday, Valentine’s Day is notorious for bringing out people’s thirstiness.

Herbology major Sierra Lewis had some strong thoughts about the CoHo’s plan.

“I think it sounds hella dope. Free water is a comment on society, you know?” Lewis said. “Like of course water is free, but also, is it? You know what I’m saying?”

We don’t really know what this student is saying, but it was also 4:20 p.m. at the time of her interview. But we’re still fairly positive she’s into the idea.

Chancellor Linda Katehi supports the CoHo’s ingenious marketing move.

“I think it’s a fantastic idea!” Katehi said in a statement sent by her office. “What is it the kids are always going on about? Calling each other thirsty? Maybe this will help!”

The CoHo certainly thinks it will.

You can reach ALEX GUZMÁN at almguzman@ucdavis.edu and on twitter @cactasss.

Search for Davis skier suspended

City Editor
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DANIEL TAK / AGGIE
DANIEL TAK / AGGIE

Placer County Sheriff Department end five-day search for Carson May  

On Jan. 15, Carson May, a 23-year-old Sugar Bowl Resort ski instructor from Davis, Calif. was reported missing. After searching for May for five days following the report, the Placer County Sheriff Department officially suspended the search due to dangerous avalanche threats.

May was skiing with his brother at Sugar Bowl Ski resort before the two were separated from each other due to heavy snow conditions. Placer County Sheriff Department officials speculate that an avalanche might have caught May off-guard, but explained that it is impossible to pinpoint the exact location of the incident. The weekend after May was reported missing, a massive snowstorm hit the Sugar Bowl area, which increased the dangers of the search.

Following this incident, many other ski resorts, including Sierra at Tahoe, have emphasized the risks of skiing and snowboarding alone.

Written by: Tristen Thalhuber– city@theaggie.org

Photo of the Week: 1/27/2016

The California Aggie
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Take exit 27 in 3/4 mile. (KATIE LIN / AGGIE)
Take exit 27 in 3/4 mile. (KATIE LIN / AGGIE)

Artsweek: The best of arts and culture in Davis this week

Arts Editor
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MOSMAN LIBRARY / COURTESY
MOSMAN LIBRARY / COURTESY

Tuesday, Jan. 26
Pajama Storytime, 6:30 to 7 p.m., Yolo County Library, Davis Branch, 315 E. 14th St.

Free

For those of us already stressed about winter quarter midterms, storytime will take place at the Davis library, with stories, songs and activities before bedtime! Teddy bears and blankets welcome. (This may or may not be for children. Turn up at your own peril.)

 

Salsa Tuesday, 9:30 p.m., The Graduate, 805 Russell Blvd.

$6

This week features DJ Miguel, and dance lessons at 9:30p.m. with Cori from Barbara’s Dancing Tonight. 18+. Dance yourself silly and make some groovy friends!

 

Wednesday, Jan. 27
Improv Jam, 6 p.m., Olson Hall, UC Davis Campus

Free

Birdstrike Theatre improv jams are open to anyone who wants to learn more about or do more improv in general. Jams are led by some Birdstrike regulars and take place in a casual, low-pressure environment, every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Olson 6. Try something different and unleash your inner improv!

 

Open Mic Night by ASUCD, 6 to 8 p.m., CoHo near Swirlz

Free

This event is open only to students, but will be a fun night of talented and diverse performers! If you’re interested in performing, you can email ucdavisec@gmail.com with a sample of your work, a blurb about yourself and a photo of yourself.

https://www.facebook.com/events/151820301859323/

 

Thursday, Jan. 28
Brian Rice & Berkeley Choro Ensemble, Noon to 1 p.m., Mondavi Center, UC Davis Campus

Free

Brian Rice is a highly acclaimed performer and one of the most versatile percussionists in the Bay Area. The Berkeley Choro Ensemble celebrates the music, culture and history of Brazil. Together their performances will rock the Mondavi!

 

Black Trans* & GNC Awareness Day ft. Joshua Allen, 6 to 8 p.m., ARC Ballroom

Free

This is a workshop aimed at educating people on the intersection of Black Lives Matter & Gender Justice, with an emphasis on “Ending the Genocide against Black Trans and Gender Non-conforming Women, Femmes and Girls”. The workshop will share tactics and strategies to engage in the movement. Joshua Allen is an “organizer, abolitionist and freedom fighter” who seeks to redress the imbalance against Black Trans Femmes and other marginalised groups.

https://www.facebook.com/events/155551501467098/

 

Davis Hacknights, 8 p.m., Davis Roots, 604 2nd St.

Free

Hacknights is a creative community that provides collaborative workshops giving students an inclusive space to create on their coding side-projects, chat with industry professionals and network with other technology-enthused students. They provide food and an awesome environment to hack in. Newbies are welcome and knowledge sharing in endemic and encouraged!

davishack.org

https://www.facebook.com/events/1495333094103139/

 

Friday, Jan. 29

Davis High Jazz Ensemble, 5 p.m., Sudwerk Dock Store, 2001 2nd St.

Free

Live music at the Dock with some smooth jazz tunes. Sip some of the best craft beers in town and listen to your local high school band.

 

Boca do Rio, 9 p.m., The Root of Happiness kava bar,

$5

Boca de Rio’s deep grooves and The Root of Happiness’ sweet kava will make an excellent start to the weekend. Immerse yourself in Brazilian Space Funk! 18+.

https://www.facebook.com/events/554112134756736/

 

Saturday, Jan. 30

“The Producers”, 8 p.m., Davis Musical Theatre Company, 607 Pena Dr.

$18/$16

This Mel Brooks musical tells the story of a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer, Max Bialystock, and a nerdy, young accountant, Leo Bloom, who concoct a scheme to raise thousands of dollars from backers and then put on a flop of a show. With all the money that will be leftover, the pair will be rich! Only one thing goes wrong: the show is a gigantic hit! Recommended for theater goers age 13+. Also Friday/ Sunday.

 

“I Gelosi”, 2 to 4:30 p.m., Veterans Memorial Theatre, 203 East 14th St.

$8-$15

Acme Theatre Presents. “I Gelosi”, or The Jealous Ones, telling the story of Italy’s first great traveling theatre troupe.

acme.brownpapertickets.com

 

Sunday, Jan. 31

Winter Wonderland and black light themed blues & fusion dance, 7 p.m., Move Studio, 600 Broadway, Sacramento

$10

Sunday blues & fusion! 7 p.m. lesson, 8 p.m. dance until 12:30 a.m., wear white and learn some wonderful new moves!

https://www.facebook.com/events/726537554150465/

 

Storytime Through the Seasons, 1 to 3 p.m., Wyatt Deck, UC Davis Arboretum

Free

Under the Ginkgo Tree: Celebrate the Chinese New Year in the Arboretum is a way to experience Asian culture through stories and activities, and see it in a whole new light. All ages welcome. (Rain location: 146 Env. Hort.).

#OscarsSoWhite: Lack of diversity in mainstream media

Opinion
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HANNAH LEE / AGGIE
HANNAH LEE / AGGIE

The nominations for the 2016 Academy Awards were announced on Jan. 14 and for the second year in a row, people of color received zero nominations in the acting categories. Social media quickly reacted to this glaring lack of diversity, bringing back the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, and big-name stars such as Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Spike Lee announced that they would be boycotting the ceremony in protest.

On Jan. 21, the Academy responded to the backlash by approving a series of changes designed to make the nomination process, and the Academy as a whole, more diverse. These changes include establishing three new seats on the Board of Governors, and making it so that members who have not worked in the film industry for over ten years will be granted “emeritus status” and will no longer be able to vote for the Oscars, ensuring that new voices will be heard in the Academy. These measures, which will not affect voting for this year’s awards, were implemented to help the Academy reach its goal of “doubling the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020.”

While changing the Academy’s membership policies is a move in the right direction, the Editorial Board believes the race problem in the movie industry goes deeper than whatever snubs may have happened in this year’s nominations. Before claiming her comments were misconstrued, Charlotte Rampling, a nominee in this year’s best actress category, declared that the controversy over representation in the Oscars is “racist against whites.” Oscar-winning actor Sir Michael Caine advised black actors to “be patient” because it had taken him “years to get an Oscar.”

But these comments are missing the root of the issue. No, Charlotte Rampling, an Oscar boycott is not racist against white people. And no, Michael Caine, the solution to the diversity problem is not to ask black people to simply wait their turn.

The issue is that mainstream media as a whole is not doing enough to provide substantial roles for people of color. Last year, Viola Davis became the first black woman in history to win an Emmy for best actress in a drama, and in her powerful acceptance speech, she explained the limitations facing minorities in the media.

“The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity,” Davis said. “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.”

And often, the few minority roles that are available are given to white actors. Sir Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for his role as Gandhi and Cameron Crowe caused much controversy when he cast Emma Stone to play a half-Asian character in Aloha.

It is important that roles for people of color exist because representation in the media matters. A child should be able to watch a movie or TV show and see people that represent them–actors and actresses they can relate to.

The Editorial Board urges actors and filmmakers to make movies that provide more opportunities for people of color, to be brave enough to tell narratives that reflect the diverse landscape of our world today.

Aggies get their feet wet for last time

Sports Editor
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LUCY KNOWLES / AGGIE
LUCY KNOWLES / AGGIE

UC Davis swimming and diving team defeats UC Santa Barbara in final home meet of season.

Down by double digit figures with four races to go, the Aggies last home meet looked to be marred by a tough loss to inter-conference rivals UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 23. With the seniors being recognized for the final time for their achievements as part of the Aggie swim team, the crowd, the largest the Aggies have had all season, appeared to be restless for a heroic rally.

“Well, I told them to stay focused,” said Head Coach Barbara Jahn. “It’s always a close one with the Gauchos, it always is, so I needed them to stay focused and be prepared.”

The crowd certainly couldn’t have asked for more, as senior Lexy Troup and junior Hilvy Cheung led the resurgence by winning the final three individual events of the day, recouping an eighteen point deficit to win 154-140.

Troup, who started the comeback by placing first in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:04.71, also had an earlier victory in the 1000-yard freestyle, clocking in at 10:28.30.

In the 200-yard medley relay, the Aggies placed second.

“We had a lot of confidence coming into it, but we usually get the first relay, so when I saw that we got second it was kind of scary and then we never had the lead the rest of the way until the end,” Troup said.

Cheung also won back to back events at the end to seal the victory, starting with the 100-yard Butterfly (56.11), and immediately followed through with a top time of 2:05.83 in the 200-yard individual medley. With yet another win in the 200-yard Butterfly (2:02.24), and a second place finish as part of the 200-yard medley relay (1:43.74), Cheung accounted for 31 of the Aggies’ 154 total points.

With UC Santa Barbara opting not to sponsor a diving team for the season, Aggie senior divers Lucy Lafranchise and Audrey DeNeffe obtained victories in the one-meter dive and the three-meter dive, respectively, securing an essential 32 points that helped lead the way for an Aggie victory.

Freshman swimmer Solie Laughlin was also able to secure a victory for the Aggies. After being edged out by Gauchos swimmer Cheyenne Low in the 100-yard Backstroke, who came away with the victory with a time of 56.12 to Laughlin’s 56.17, the Aggie extracted her revenge, beating out Low’s time of 2:01.69 in the 200-yard Backstroke with her own time of 2:01.04.

With four races left to go, the meet was momentarily suspended in order to allow for the acknowledgement of Senior Day for the Aggie swimmers, recognizing them for their achievements in and out of the water

Troup, Lafranchise and DeNeffe were among those commended for their dedication to the program, as well as seniors Marissa Brown, Hailey Ferko, Madeline Benavidez and Brittany Rojo, in addition to fifth year seniors Sara Ramos and Cara Silvas.

“I don’t think it’s sunk into them yet [that it’s their last home meet as an Aggie], and it’s a bit bittersweet for us even though we came away with the victory,” Jahn said.

After improving to a 4-2 dual meet record for the year, the Aggies look to make it three in a row as they take on University of the Pacific on Jan. 30 in Stockton, CA, before heading to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships in mid-February and the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships in early March.

 

Written by Eric Portillo – sports@theaggie.org

Humor: The five best dark alleyways in Davis

Opinion
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MONICA CHAN / AGGIE
MONICA CHAN / AGGIE

Free time is a precious resource at college. Services like Zagat, Yelp and TripAdvisor are helpful in providing people with systems that determine where time can be best spent. At Davis, there are many experiences you can look forward to, such as wine tasting, rock climbing, dining, theatergoing and relaxing at public parks. But if you really want to make the most of your Friday evenings, here’s a list of Davis’ highest rated dark alleys.

That’s right — we here at The California Aggie sent our best reporters (by which I mean just me), to the best known crawl spaces outside the college. At these locations, you can enjoy many activities, such as meeting your dealer, reenacting a scene from a superhero movie or getting controversial information from an informant. These are experiences you’ll remember for the rest of your life (because your life might end there).

Here are the five highest rated alleys to date:

#5: Tim Spencer Alley

Location: Between F and G St.

Close landmarks: Woodstock’s, Bistro 33, Temple Roasters

During the day, Tim Spencer Alley is crammed full of delivery cars, garbage cases and the mingling aromas of pizza smoke and grimy turf. At night, it’s the classic alley experience: smelly, dark and full of waste. Being near the center of downtown, it’s close to all the best bars and restaurants. If you’re in the area, it’s a place worth visiting (assuming you’re a detective in a noir thriller with a death wish).

Although the alley scores high in easy access and eerie decor, it has its shortcomings. It’s a vital route between many important restaurants, so there’s always a danger you’ll bump into a local employee who doesn’t want to kill you. It’s also too close to nosy witnesses who might spot you trying to sell black market weapons or illegal K-pop music.

I give it a rating of 3 red flags.

 

#4: Orange Court Alley

Location: E and 1st St.

Close Landmarks: Natsoulas Art Gallery, Sophia’s Thai Bar, Thai Canteen, Hotdogger

At first glance, this alleyway has it all: a narrow pathway, a dark foreboding aesthetic and a sweet spot between two, tall imperious buildings. Like the Tim Spencer alley, it’s close to a popular area downtown, but doesn’t have all those annoying witnesses and wide open spaces to make your escape. However, the experience does have a few cons.

Unfortunately, there is no dead end. Orange Court actually leads to the private parking lot behind Thai Canteen. Plus, there is a large opening halfway down the alley that allows you access to Sophia’s restaurant and the Dumpling house. In addition, it’s disappointingly clean and smells okay.

Still, the Orange Court alley gives the claustrophobic intimidation that you won’t find anywhere else (because you’re sane and don’t spend time in dark alleys).

3.5 red flags.

 

#3: D and E street Alley

Location: Between D and E St.

Close landmarks: Pence Gallery, Chipotle, de Vere’s, Tea List

This alleyway is a work of art, and not just because it’s located next to an art gallery and has lots of murals on it. It’s close to downtown, has a long narrow path and is full of places where someone might jump out to surprise you (in the least positive way possible). It has the classic garbage sites for restaurants, the smell of nicotine from waiters on break, and the view stretches to the other side of the block like the light at the end of the tunnel (which you might end up seeing if you’re not careful).

Downsides include its proximity to active businesses, its wideness compared to the Orange Court alley, and its popularity among people trying to make a short cut. And finally, it’s located next to the Pence gallery, where you are very likely to meet your art history professor who will ask you why you’re spending time in a dark alleyway instead of proofreading your homework.

The D and E St. alley does deserve recognition for its intimidating shape, numerous crawl spaces and smoky smell of no-going back.

3.5 red flags.

 

#2: The Putah Creek Path

Location: Between the Whole Foods parking lot and West Chiles Rd.

Close Landmarks: Arboretum, Whole Foods, Mikuni, Redrum Burger, Dutch Brothers

Though technically not an alley, the Putah Creek Path comes second on our list for the way it captures the dark isolated feeling of being in an alley. You can access the path at the east end of the arboretum, Whole Foods, Redrum, under the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and West Chiles Rd. It’s long, dark and on the edge of the city. This all adds up to the best (worst) experience you could get within walking distance of campus.

The path does have drawbacks. It’s relatively wide, clean, has fresh air and too many lamp posts. Despite this, its forlorn appearance is enough to make a grown man fear for his safety in this nocturnal gauntlet that is the Putah Creek path.

4 red flags.

 

#1: Northstar Greenbelt

Location: Sycamore Lane and F St.

Close landmarks: Northstar Park, Hacienda Park, Domino statue

Number one on our list is the Northstar Greenbelt of Davis. Again, it may be more of a path and not an alley, but it scores high on many of the aspects that you would want (hate) to find. It’s dark in most areas, longer than any of the other contenders on our list, has countless hiding spots and is close to parks that look extra creepy when dark and abandoned.The irony of feeling scared in a what is supposed to be a quiet and peaceful neighborhood heightens the fear levels. This element gives the Northstar Greenbelt a gold medal (warning) for walking around at night with one arm around your date’s shoulders and the other in your pocket with pepper spray, ready and loaded.

5 red flags.

For those who feel we could rate new locations for people to see/avoid, please do not contact us.

For those of you who wish to comment on your experience, please do not contact us.

For those of you who wish to use the locations for illegal purposes, please contact the local Davis Police Department to turn yourself in and, again, do not contact us.

But, if you want to contact EVAN LILLEY, you can reach him at etlilley@ucdavis.edu.

UC Davis graduate wins international scholarship

Features Editor
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James Rizzo is the recipient of the Schwarzman Scholarship. (GREGORY URQUIAGA / UC DAVIS)
James Rizzo is the recipient of the Schwarzman Scholarship. (GREGORY URQUIAGA / UC DAVIS)

Alumni James Rizzo wins scholarship to spend year studying in China.

Out of over 3,000 applicants worldwide, recent UC Davis graduate James Rizzo won the Schwarzman Scholarship, becoming one of the 111 members of the inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars to study abroad in China next year.

Started by The Blackstone Group co-founder Stephen A. Schwarzman, Schwarzman Scholars is a year-long master’s degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing. This year, the program consists of scholars from 32 countries and 75 universities who will study public policy, international studies and economics and business.

“We want to build, over time, a global network of people who have deep knowledge of China, […] of the changing role that China is playing in the world and very importantly for this program, direct contact and relationships with each other,” said Schwarzman Scholars Global Director of Admissions Robert Garris. “It really is very much about ensuring that the next generation of political leaders, business leaders, experts in the environment, health and energy actually know each other across the boundaries of China through their experience at Schwarzman Scholars.”

With a bachelor’s degree in political science from UC Davis, Rizzo looked at a number of fellowships for his master’s degree before finding the Schwarzman Scholarship. According to Rizzo, the scholarship stood out to him because of its focus on leadership in 21st century China.

“I’m someone who is really interested in the way technology and public policy intersect,” Rizzo said. “I see China kind of playing an increasingly prominent role in both of those areas which […] led to me wanting to gain a better understanding of that through my graduate studies.”

Though each applicant is accepted into the program for their own academic reasons, Garris said what connects the scholars together is their capacity for leadership. According to Garris, there are various characteristics that the applicants are reviewed for.

“One of them is intellectual agility and we’re very careful in talking about that to not just focus on classroom performance,” Garris said. “We’re looking for people who have a kind of mindset that lets them question what’s going on in the world around them, look for emerging trends and understand solutions and opportunities to either counter those trends or take advantage of them.”

Another characteristic has to do with the candidate’s ability to persuade others to join in on creating change in the world.

“If you use your intellectual agility to identify something that needs to be tackled, you then also need to be able to build a team and inspire people to join you in creating that change,” Garris said.

The program provides scholars with exceptional learning opportunities from leaders in China and across the world through high-level interactions at lectures, an internship program, a mentors network and intensive travel seminars. Its curriculum strives to connect the academic and professional world in order to educate students about leadership and about China’s expanding role in the world.

“I think I’m going to learn a lot and grow a lot as a person through spending the year with these people,” Rizzo said. “I’m really looking forward to kind of building those relationships, taking classes together, traveling together and just gaining their perspective. They come from all different sorts of backgrounds; they come from all around the world. One thing I think everybody has in common is that they’re all some of the best of the best.”

According to Rizzo, the main aspect he hopes to take away from his study in China is the ability to see the world and global issues from China’s perspective.

“I think throughout the course of my career that’s going to be increasingly valuable,” Rizzo said. “To really understand China’s motivations and acting in an X, Y, Z manner — to get that gut feeling about what China’s perspective is.”

Currently, Rizzo works at a software company called Intuit, as part of their rotational development program. The first part of the program was in Tucson, AZ, but he is currently working in San Francisco, CA.

Rizzo credits much of his success to Prestigious Scholarship Advisor Scott Palmer from the Undergraduate and Prestigious Scholarships office.

As the Prestigious Scholarship Advisor, Palmer first informs students about scholarship programs. Then, when students express interest in a certain scholarship program, Palmer makes sure students receive all the information and advice they need.

“As much as a program will allow me, I will go ahead and assist students in basically how to approach a program, how to work on it, what kind of things they need in order to apply, what types of things they need to understand consider about the scholarship foundation in order to be a strong applicant,” Palmer said.

For cases like the Schwarzman Scholarship, in which a smaller group of finalists are chosen for an interview, a panel of faculty might be gathered together to conduct a mock interview for the finalist, or connect the finalist with someone who previously interviewed for a major scholarship in order to discuss the process.

“I will also just usually try to talk through strategy with them a little bit to help them know and understand what to expect and how to approach things,” Palmer said.

Rizzo said the most preparation for this new chapter of his life took the form of his study abroad experience. In Spring 2015, Rizzo studied abroad in Madrid for his last quarter at UC Davis.

“It kind of helped me develop my expectations of some of the things I want to do over there and some of the things I want to experience and how I want to spend my time,” Rizzo said. “I’ve already kind of been through it once on a much smaller scale. But living in a foreign environment, learning a foreign language, taking classes. I’ve done it once so I think [I’m] prepared to go forward and do it again on a much grander scale.”

Written by: Jacqueline Chu – features@theaggie.org

Three Mile Brewing Company set to open in Davis next month

City Editor
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3 Mile Brewery opening on 231 G. St. in Davis, CA opens late February. (MONICA CHAN / AGGIE)
3 Mile Brewery opening on 231 G. St. in Davis, CA opens late February. (MONICA CHAN / AGGIE)

Located on G Street, brewery will be first in Downtown Davis.

Davis beer enthusiasts will have a new reason to celebrate when Three Mile Brewing Company opens in Downtown Davis next month. With Sudwerk Brewery currently being the only brewery in Davis, Three Mile Brewing Company will be the second, and the first to open in Downtown Davis. It will contribute to Davis’ already thriving beer culture, which includes a multitude of bars and pubs, as well as festivals including the Bike and Brew Fest and Davis Beer week, both of which are in August.

The seven founding members of Three Mile  have been friends and brewing beer together for 15 years. The business name was inspired by the ban on alcohol within a three-mile radius of the UC Davis campus, which was in effect from 1911 to 1979.

The Three Mile team started a Kickstarter campaign in the beginning of November 2015 to raise funds to open the business. By the end of the month,  the team had already surpassed their fundraising goal, raising over $16,000.

“Three Mile Brewing Company is headquartered in Davis, CA. Land of bikes, cool hippies, UC Davis and a ton of beer lovers that are clamoring for another local, dynamic, craft brewing company that delivers top notch beer,” says the team’s Kickstarter page.

Founder Joe Runner cited the company’s unique production system as a distinguishing factor of Three Mile Brewing Company.

“What we are doing that’s unique is producing every beer we serve within 25 feet from the tap room. We have a very small brewing system, so we have more agility in what we do,” Runner said. “We don’t need many ingredients per batch, and every time we brew we make approximately seven kegs of beer. With this small system, we can use unique, quality ingredients and be 100 percent in control of our beer.”

Runner made it clear that breweries in the greater Davis area have been very welcoming to the Three Mile team.

“It’s really fun being in the industry,” Runner said. “You would think it would be that some people would be hesitant to welcome us into the industry because of the competition, but the opposite has happened. Local companies including Sudwerks and Berryessa Brewing Company in Winters have been helpful and willing to provide advice from their business models, even offering to sell us equipment. It’s a tight knit community and we have a good relationship with all of the local breweries.”

Runner and several other founders currently work in the pharmaceutical industry, which he said lends itself well to brewing beer due to similarities in the production process.

Tim Mech, another founder, noted that each of the founders brings a different skill set to the founding team.

“I am still working at Wells Fargo, and this is a side venture for me,” Mech said. “I will be the finance guy for Three Mile. I love beer, finance and Davis, so I was happy to come on board.”

Mech also said that Three Mile will have an expansive menu, catering to customers’ individual preferences .

“A lot of people in Davis like West Coast IPAs so we will have a lot of those, but we will have a full spectrum of beers including stouts and browns,” Mech said. “Anyone who likes beer or wants to try beer will be able to try out a lot of quality beers at Three Mile.”

Three Mile will be part of a remodeled retail and office center called The Courtyard, which was formerly called Court ’N Cedar.  It’s part of a series of improvements at the intersection of 3rd St. and G St., including the new 3+G building featuring Temple Coffee Roasters.

The Courtyard and 3+G are owned by the Ruebner family. Property owner Anthony Ruebner said that the buildings have sentimental value because his family has deep ties in Davis as his father was a founding faculty member of the UC Davis Medical Center in the late 1960s. Ruebner explains that the values of Three Mile align with the vision his family has had for the area.

“We met the team from Three Mile, and they are rooted in the community, too. They are passionate about brewing beer and having a community oriented business,” Ruebner said. “It brings something that doesn’t exist to our downtown. They have sophisticated and creative ideas; it’s not just another bar in town.”

The brewery is set to launch its soft opening mid-February. For updates, see Three Mile Brewery on Facebook, or follow the brewery on Instagram and Twitter @ThreeMileBrew.

Written By: CAROLINE STAUDENRAUS – city@theaggie.org

UC Davis makes appearance on ‘Jeopardy!,’, ‘Let’s Make A Deal’

Campus Editor
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JOE PROUDMAN / UC DAVIS
JOE PROUDMAN / UC DAVIS

‘Jeopardy!’ features UC Davis in series of questions, UC Davis student wins car, year’s worth of spa treatments

Over the past couple of months, UC Davis was featured on the hit television show “Jeopardy!,” where the university was presented as a clue in the game show’s answer category.

According to Andy Fell, associate director of news and media relations at UC Davis, the Oct. 21 “Jeopardy!” episode featured the university’s veterinary medicine program. Additionally, the university’s viticulture and enology program was featured on Nov. 12 and the brewing program was shown on Dec. 25.

The collaboration between UC Davis and “Jeopardy!” began when Trevor Davies, a 2015 graduate of UC Davis Extension’s Master Brewers program, met Jimmy McGuire, a “Jeopardy!” clue crewmember, at a party where Davies brought homemade hard cider. The two chatted about the brew and other interesting programs at UC Davis before McGuire offered the idea to shoot a series of clues at UC Davis.

“That one small conversation at a party opened this whole door,” McGuire said.

The show’s Clue Crew arrived on campus in May at the School of Veterinary Medicine, the Teaching and Research Winery and the August A. Busch III Brewing and Food Science Laboratory. Each location served as the backdrop for questions read by McGuire and “Jeopardy!” presenter Sarah Foss.

As a clue on the game show, Foss said “this term for the grain, usually barley, that’s about to go on the journey to become beer can also refer to the finished product.” The answer was malts.

In addition to UC Davis’ appearance on “Jeopardy!,” the university continued its game show appearances when UC Davis student Melissa Fiacco, a second-year math major, won a new Scion xB car on the popular game show “Let’s Make A Deal.”

The taping took place last July and Fiacco was not allowed to mention her win until the episode aired on Dec. 1. Fiacco said she was home for the summer and went with a friend who had an extra ticket to the taping.

“To be honest, I think I blacked out a little once I got chosen,” Fiacco said. “I remember my actions, but it was all such a blur so I didn’t really remember what I was saying. Watching my episode was exciting because I finally got to see if I sounded intelligent and coherent!”

Fiacco also won a year of spa treatments, but she said the car is what she needed the most.

“I have never had my own car, so having my own is just a dream!” Fiacco said.

First-year chemical engineering major Kiera Lowes believes these types of events will give UC Davis great recognition.

“I think it’s pretty amazing that our programs are getting such awesome recognition,” Lowes said. ““Jeopardy!” is a popular show and now I think we just got some nice attention.”

  

Written by: Demi Caceres – campus@theaggie.org

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