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Co-op Bonanza: Cloyne Wars

Opinion
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mug_monizImagine that someone comes along and tells you you can’t live in your house anymore. Imagine they are going to kick you out and undo all your work and keep you from being a part of that space. *Sings* Imagine all the people…

When I think of this happening to my own home, I see the art created by friends and residents being eliminated. I see the collection of posters ranging from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to a Periodic Table of Produce in the trash. Worst of all, I see how empty the house would be without my housemates’ laughter and poetry and out-of-tune renditions of “The Imperial March.” And what about the cat? Oh Zuni…

For the residents of Cloyne Court Co-op in Berkeley, this devastating picture is becoming a reality. I know there’s a group of us that have something in our hearts against Berkeley students, but the issue surrounding Cloyne is one that transcends grudges.

When a Cloyne resident died because of a drug overdose in 2010, his mother sued Berkeley Student Cooperative, the organization that oversees Cloyne and all the other co-ops. The Berkeley Co-op head honchos (collectively known as Cabinet) took action this year after the lawsuit was settled, deciding to turn Cloyne into an academic-themed, substance-free house at the end of the semester.

The last element of this “solution” is the purge — current residents are to be kicked out of the house and not allowed to return. A radical solution, if you ask me, especially considering that the current residents were not residents at the time of the incident. Not to mention, there was no alternative solution presented, and Cabinet crafted this solution behind closed doors.

In a cooperative community where decisions are made collectively, what sense does it make for Cabinet to act without the input of others?

I see an interesting angle to this, one that has to do with basic morality and respect. In the case of Cloyne, the issue circulates around a human life. Part of the issue at Cloyne is that insurance rates, in the case of another incident, would skyrocket, therefore making living costs impossible to meet. So the presented solution aims to prevent another tragedy. Yes, human life is important, but when you whitewash a house to remove the problems you perceive, you’re also painting over the murals and the communities that created them.

In the past six months or so, as a part of a community similar in nature to Cloyne, I’ve learned that communities are where problems are solved. I’ve hashed out issues of my own with the support of my community, supported housemates when they experienced loss and watched community members suffer break-ups. Most importantly, I’ve seen people come out of their shells and open up as they learned to trust those around them. These close, cooperative communities are places to grow and learn and experience. With these things in mind, how does taking away this sense of community affect a group? An individual?

I can’t claim that I’m explicitly familiar with the incident that happened at Cloyne in 2010. I can, however, assure you that I am explicitly familiar with the ways that a community can help a person, regardless of the seriousness of the issue. What I’m trying to say here is this: getting rid of the problem doesn’t solve the problem. Removing the Cloyne residents doesn’t prevent further incidents and doesn’t change the perceived drug culture surrounding Cloyne at this time. Cabinet’s decision pulls the safety net of a stable community out from under the residents. I know the solution proposes to make Cloyne a substance-free house but, let’s be real, rules are broken and the drug culture issue is not unique to Cloyne.

I believe the solution is to find a way to help those who may have a drug problem and allow them to live in a community that is supportive to them. Displacing 150 people at the end of the semester only diffuses the issue and doesn’t solve it. Addressing problems on an individual basis would lead to more problem-solving and risk-prevention in the long run. But that’s not what’s happening.

Cloyne, I know there’s not much that can be done now, but I lift my lightsaber in your honor. May your future episodes be great, but never as good as the originals.

Discuss heartbreak and the psychological benefits of cats with ISABEL MONIZ at irmoniz@ucdavis.edu.

Editor’s note: The student that overdosed in 2010 did not die — he suffered permanent brain damage.

Student Fashion Association holds “Utopia” themed show

Features Editor
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Student Fashion Association holds “Utopia” themed show

Boasting a wide variety of fashion designs by student designers and local clothing boutiques, an a cappella performance and a good cause, the UC Davis Student Fashion Association’s annual charity fashion show hit Davis on April 5.

Fully student-run, this year’s SFA fashion show was held at the UC Davis Conference Center, and featured original clothing and fashion pieces for over 150 community members to view.

“The SFA fashion show is not just a show that we put on for an audience,” said SFA president, and fourth-year textiles and clothing and communication double major Nicky Lei. “It’s also an opportunity for UC Davis students to learn how to put on a show and experience all of the hard work that goes into creating a fashion show. It’s a chance for them to work with other students who have the same interests and to build up their connections and skills.”

Not only did the event serve as a showcase for aspiring student designers, but all proceeds were donated to Project Night Night, a non-profit organization that donates childhood essentials to homeless children.

“The fashion show is an opportunity for us to give back to the community,” Lei said.

This year’s show theme was “Utopia,” which attempted to showcase an idealistic view of the fashion field.

“We wanted to choose a theme that was broad and abstract enough for designers to design their collection towards,” Lei said. “Utopia is the designer’s vision of their ideal world, their favorite personal style or styles or even the reflection of their biggest inspirations as a designer.”

This year’s theme was somewhat inspired by the recent relevance of utopian and dystopian societies in popular culture.

“Utopia was kind of a play on all the movies coming out right now, like Divergent, Hunger Games and all those,” said third-year communication and sociology organizational studies double major, and SFA Public Relations and Marketing officer Bella Ly. “They’re more of a dystopia, but we were thinking of what the designers would see as their utopia fashion-wise and just community-wise.”

After the theme was decided, designers began to interpret and portray their ideal Utopia through their designs.

Third-year design major Shreya Carey has designed for the show since her freshman year, and created a total of four designs for this year’s show.

“I’ve always made it a priority to help SFA,” Carey said. “One because it’s for charity, and two because SFA is so open to the interpretation of what fashion is. My outfits are on the borderline of being costumes and they’re totally cool with it.”

When trying to come up with design ideas, Carey said she drew from fairy tales such as “Peter Pan” and his adventures in Neverland.

“Most of the time I look to time periods or stories of some sort for my inspiration,” Carey said. “To me the concept of not growing up, and living in a place where there’s still a fair amount of adventure and danger but magic — that’s my zone. So I thought ‘okay, how can I portray this concept of Neverland to the audience?’”

From the designer standpoint, Carey said seeing the final outcome of the design can be both exciting and nerve-wracking.

“Most of the time you don’t really know how it turns out until right before because you don’t get to see your fully completed look with hair and makeup until right before the show,” Carey said. “But hopefully it all worked out and what you’re showing people is something really exciting. It’s kind of tense but it’s also really cool.”

Every Winter Quarter, SFA offers a fashion show planning class dedicated to the spring event. All class members are involved in one of five committees that include responsibilities in fundraising, public relations/marketing, recruiting, decorations and stage production.

Although most of the planners took the class, it was not a requirement in order to participate in the event. Many members simply participated in the course to gain skill and knowledge in the fashion field.

“I took the fashion planning class to gain some experience,” said first-year communication major Alison Louie. “I was interested in the marketing committee in particular because I was trying to see if that was something I’d be into pursuing in the future.”

SFA held tryouts and casting for any prospective students who wish to participate as models in the event. A separate application process was required to become a student designer for the fashion show.

“When I was a freshman I applied for [the fashion show],” Carey said. “SFA has open model tryouts for UC Davis students as well — they’re really organized about that.”

As a result of the months of planning, SFA’s charity show has consistently proven to be a great success for the participants.

“It’s amazing and somewhat unreal seeing something you’ve been planning for so long finally come together,” Louie said.

ELLIE DIERKING can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

Courtesy photo.

UC Davis ARC celebrates 10th anniversary

Features Editor
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 On April 17, the UC Davis Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) will celebrate its 10th anniversary.

The ARC’s website states that a number of upcoming events are lined up to pay tribute to the facility’s success as a student hub. The activities include a Zumbathon, or a Zumba marathon, which will be on April 16 and will provide free Zumba classes for up to 100 people.

The ARC will also be giving away branded adhesive cell phone wallets for those with an ID, while supplies last.

According to the Campus Recreation and Union’s website, the ARC was originally planned as a primary location for student fitness and wellness. Since its foundation, it has grown into more than just a fitness center and has become a central locus on campus.

“The ARC has been a leading image for recreation since 2004,” said John Campbell, the executive director for Campus Recreation and Unions, Divisional Faculties and UC Davis Stores.

Before the creation of the ARC, students had to meet their health and fitness needs at the rec hall, more commonly referred to as the Pavilion Stadium, which was built in 1971. According to Campbell, a large number of recreational activities like basketball, volleyball and rock-climbing were all squeezed into the Pavilion.

The space was also used for large gatherings and other sports events, however, and would be closed for recreational activities during these times.

“Now you can use [the ARC] whenever you would like because it is always available,” Campbell said.

Or almost always, since the hours of the ARC during the weekdays are from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Jan Barnett, the associative director for Organizational Management, has been involved with the ARC since its creation.

Barnett said that, unlike its predecessor the Pavillion, the ARC has provided a lot of other services that are not generally associated with health and wellness. Some of these services include providing study space, meeting spaces and passport services.

“We have this kind of great facility for multiple purposes and activities. That was unique in the day,” Barnett said.

The ARC was also a pioneer in the growing idea of having a fusion facility.

“It’s the fusion of student life and union. The ARC was kind of a union because of the services it brought forward. A lot of campuses across the nation have followed that course,” Campbell said.

According to Barnett, this fusion setup is a result of trying to meet students’ needs.

Campbell also says that the ARC is the most popular selected service on campus. It is a selected service in the sense that students go there willingly and not out of necessity, unlike other popular campus locations like the financial aid office.

In addition to providing a new space for student congregation and fitness, the creation of the ARC has also spurred the reorganizing of recreation management on campus.

According to Campbell, two primary departments handled student recreation before this reorganization: the Pavilion and the Union, which oversaw things like the Equestrian Center, Craft Center, Outdoor Adventures and the Rec Pool. Now, all recreational activities are managed under one department: The Campus Recreation and Unions.

“The model we have today, you’ll see in 90 percent of the institutions for higher education. It’s very common,” Campbell said.

Today, about an average of 5,000 to 6,000 people pass through the ARC per day. And most of the people who use the ARC are students. Weston Selna, a second-year biomedical engineering major, regularly visits the ARC.

“I come to the ARC three times a week, at least. It’s part of my daily routine. It’s made me stay on campus more and it works with my schedule. If I have a two-hour break between classes I can come here and get my workout in and go home and shower, and then come back to school,” Selna said.

Selna also said that the ARC provides many other facilities that you wouldn’t normally get at other gyms, like a rock climbing wall, abundant basketball courts and racquetball courts.

Megan Ma, a second-year landscape architecture major, also said that she goes to the ARC because it is the sensible and economic thing to do.

“We don’t really get this at home because you have to pay for membership. But I guess in a way we pay through tuition. So that’s why I think it’s something that every student should use,” Ma said.

According to Jennifer Eting, the associate director of Communications and Marketing, the 10th anniversary celebration this month is a way to commend the heavy involvement of students with the ARC.

According to the ARC’s website, it was initially students who wanted to expand recreational facilities on campus. In 1999, the Facilities and Campus Enhancements (FACE) Initiative was passed, funding the construction and the maintenance of the ARC through student fees. To this day, the facility is funded 100 percent by students.

“We want people to understand that it came out of a student-driven initiative and it has had an impact on the lives of students for the past 10 years,” Eting said.

  Eting said that the celebration and its activities aren’t just a celebration of an anniversary, but a way to tell the story of the students and members of the campus community. The partnership between the ARC and students has been the foundation for student opinions to impact the development of the campus.

“We had a small food service in there when we opened. We would say that it was a failure because it didn’t meet the needs of the students. So we got together a group of students and asked them what they would want. The name Starbucks came up,” Campbell said.

Campbell said that students’ input will also be vital for the upcoming expansion of the ARC. It it currently projected that the ARC is going to be given an additional 25,000 square feet of space, though the exact location for the expansion has not been determined yet.

The Campus Recreation and Unions is deciding between expanding towards the west side near La Rue, expanding into the ARC’s courtyard or moving into the Starbucks, though they intend to keep Starbucks intact.

Campbell said that it shows the remarkable performance of the campus that, only after 10 years in service, the ARC is already prepared to change.

“This is the 10-year anniversary, and it’s a growing and thriving facility. The popularity of the ARC has allowed for it to evolve and continue evolving,” Campbell said.

LEYLA KAPLAN can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

 

Local groups demand greater food producer responsibility

Features Editor
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Local groups demand greater food producer responsibility

Local groups and students in Davis are pushing for greater food producer and consumer rights, according to the recent lobbying and education efforts of both the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) and the newly initiated Fair Trade Club on campus.

Among the topics being discussed by these Davis organizations, the three issues of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) food labeling, the overuse of antibiotics in animals intended for human consumption and an increased presence of Fair Trade Certified food products in stores are the most prominent.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Since GMOs were introduced to the U.S. public market 20 years ago, they have flooded store shelves. Though 64 nations currently require producers to identify GMO products on food labels, the United States does not, despite the fact that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 90 percent of corn and 93 percent of soy grown in the U.S. were genetically modified varieties as of 2013.

“CALPIRG is lobbying for a bill that would require labeling of all GMO ingredients on packaging because it believes that consumers should know what they’re ingesting,” said Donna Farvard, a fourth-year economics and international relations double major and the president of the CALPIRG at UC Davis.

Concern about what consumers are ingesting stems from the environment that GMOs are grown in. GMOs are modified so that large amounts of pesticides can be sprayed on them to kill weeds without harming the crops.

According to the National Resources Defense Council, GMOs are highly exposed to pesticides, which associate them with cognitive decline, cancer and negative birth outcomes.

Throughout the years, weeds have become resistant to pesticides, which require a higher concentration to be used for it to be effective. According to Farvard, this is an issue that Monsanto, a leader in GMO development, ruled as “highly unlikely” 20 years ago.

“Studies are being funded by Monsanto, which contributes to corporate control over GMOs,” Farvard said. “That makes it hard to say whether or not they are totally accurate because of the way that funding works. There have been independent studies that have shown the harmful effects of GMOs.”

Currently, CALPIRG at Davis is raising consumer awareness through canvassing while contacting individual stores to encourage them to label GMOs on their own store brands.

“We’ve had a mixed reaction,” Farvard said. “Safeway hasn’t taken a clear stance on it yet, and we’ve been mainly targeting them. There is a concern with the cost of redeveloping their packaging.”

According to Farvard, the most important thing for the campaign right now is to get support from the public.

“We need to make sure we’re getting student and citizen support on the issue,” Farvard said. “We want to show that consumers are concerned.”

Antibiotics in Meat

AB 1437, a California bill that is also supported by UC Davis’  CALPIRG branch, would stop the overuse of antibiotics in animals intended for human consumption.

Food animals raised in squalid conditions are frequently dosed with antibiotics to prevent the spread of disease and infection among the animals — the majority of which are caused by those living conditions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture pointed out in a 2009 report that antibiotic use can be reduced simply by improving the cleanliness of animal housing and increasing disease testing.

Significant research on animal cleanliness and its effect on antibiotic use has been done at UC Davis, specifically in the Meat Lab on campus.

The antibiotics that are given to the animals are absorbed into the animal’s body, and are then consumed by humans in trace amounts.

“Antibiotics should be used at precise amounts … failure to follow these rules increases the likelihood that some of the bacteria will survive and mutate to become drug resistant,” Garo Manjikian, a CALPIRG legislative advocate, said in a letter to Assembly Member Kevin Mullin. “We need to protect their effectiveness so that they can continue saving lives.”

Farvard said that while some meat production companies have been supportive of the bill, others have said that reducing the amount of antibiotics used in their animals will drive up the costs of their products.

“A consumer group compared the prices and did the math — it’s something like a couple more cents a pound, or even less,” Farvard said. “Any price increase was purely due to a redesign of the way that meat animals are raised.”

CALPIRG’s focus is to give consumers a choice by informing them of the potential of chemicals in their food products.

“Let the consumers make the decision,” Farvard said.

Fair Trade Products

According to Selina Schweitzer, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — People’s Army (FARC), a violent non-state actor in Colombia that has terrorized the nation since 1964, received funding from Chiquita, a major worldwide banana producer, until 2007.

Schweitzer is a third-year managerial economics major, and though she is a second generation American citizen, her family still lives in Colombia, and she was inspired to start a Fair Trade Club at UC Davis.

The club seeks to increase the amount of fair trade products available to students on campus. According to Schweitzer, fair trade certified products, in a nutshell, are non-GMO, don’t cause environmental degradation and are grown by workers who are paid a living wage, work in ethical conditions and are not children.

Schweitzer wants to make UC Davis into a fair trade certified university, which would mean that all retail locations on campus would have to offer at least two fair trade products.

Sodexo, the food service company in charge of the Silo and Dining Commons on campus, has started to offer fair trade chocolate as a result of Schweitzer’s effort, but wants to see the demand from students before starting to offer other products consistently.

“The main thing is, you’re voting with your dollar,” Schweitzer said. “To make a difference, it starts with consumers.”

TAYLOR CUNNINGHAM can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

Photo by Amelia Evard.

Police Briefs: Picnic Day Edition

City Editor
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Saturday, 4/12

Super Size Me
Someone on Mace Boulevard tried to go through a drive-thru in a U-Haul, got stuck and damaged the roof.

Life’s a picnic
Several people called to report a large party on L Street with people running around naked.

Stick in the mud
On Alhambra Drive, someone had a problem with her neighbor hitting her with a stick.

The sky’s the limit
On Anderson Road, there were approximately 50 people on the roof of a building.

You must be new here
A guy wearing a T-shirt with “21” printed on it urinated twice in front of the same location on Second Street.

Nosy parker
A drunk guy tried to steal the “No Parking” sign on Fourth Street.

Police briefs are compiled from the City of Davis daily crime bulletins. Contact EINAT GILBOA at city@theaggie.org.

Yolo County overturns concealed weapons law

City Editor
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On March 5, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a memorandum to reverse a 2011 ruling by a Sacramento federal judge that weapon holders needed to show they face “credible threats of violence or carry large amounts of cash and need enhanced protection.”

A three-judge panel voted 2-1 to overturn this policy, saying that it “impermissibly infringes on the Second Amendment right to bear arms in lawful self-defense.”

Before this policy was deemed unconstitutional in Yolo County itself, it was put under scrutiny in a San Diego County case earlier in February.

The judge who voted not to overturn the policy, Judge Sidney Thomas, stated that Yolo County’s “good cause” policy fell squarely within the U.S. Supreme Court’s definition of a regulatory measure that must be presumed to be lawful.

Several factions of government, including Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto and California Attorney General Kamala Harris, are considering attempts to appeal the recent appellate decision.

Firearm policies are variable depending on county, based on local legislation. This idea of local control allows the policies to associate by necessity to the immediate members of the community.

“Local sheriffs have the authority to decide the requirements for carrying a permit. In some counties, those desiring a permit need to pass a background check, demonstrate special needs that include job necessity or threatening circumstances; some counties allow anyone to have a firearm that wants one,” said Cody Jacobs, staff attorney at the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

Currently, according to the Concealed Weapons Law Policy of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, weapon carriers must be at least 21 years old, a resident of Yolo County, fill out the appropriate application, be free of any legal, medical and character deficiencies, own the firearm and also have proof for all of the aforementioned requirements.

Several members of the public and firearm-related organizations have strong opinions related to this legislation.

This appellation on the grounds that the “good cause” policy is “unconstitutional” has been a victory for firearm advocates and gun enthusiasts; it has influenced members of other regions to support a more relaxed firearm policy.

“For my daughter’s 16th birthday, she wanted a handgun. Kids these days need to be able to learn to protect themselves,” said Paul Gladstone, firearm advocate, tabling for relaxed firearm legislation in Contra Costa County outside of Trader Joe’s.

Others take a medial stance on the subject, supporting conditional ownership and adherence to the Second Amendment. The Yolo County Concealed Weapons Law does suggest the permit holder take a training course prior to firearm ownership.

“Growing up in Oregon, everyone has a gun. When boys are 11 years old, we sign up for a hunter safety course. After you pass, you get a .22 rifle,” said Osky Smedson, firearm owner and California resident. “I would be scared to hunt in California because I don’t want to get shot by a stray bullet. You shouldn’t own a gun unless you know how to use it.”

The blame for firearm danger has been shifted to the gun owners themselves.

“Guns aren’t the problem; the problem is people misusing the guns. People should be allowed to own guns for personal protection. There should be a test for sanity and self restraint,” said Dan Tompkins, international public health advocate and vice president of the Global Public Health Brigades.

There is still concern regarding dissolving of the stricter regulations in Yolo County.

“Our organization’s position supports allowing local authorities to have discretion; unelected judges should not be allowed to dictate the laws,” Jacobs said.

Gun safety is questioned on several grounds, including human incompetence, psychological and situational skewing and mechanical error.

According to the California Department of Health Services, Yolo County has averaged 7.9 deaths out of 100,000 residents over the last three years resulting from firearm accidents.

Legislation regarding gun usage in Yolo County has been much debated, but is awaiting possible appeals for appellate reversal.

SHANNON SMITH can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Senate bill passes to transform operation of student advocacy

Campus Editor
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On March 13, ASUCD Senate passed a bill to consolidate advocacy sectors into one single unit, as the Office of Advocacy and Student Representation (OASR).

Prior to Senate Bill (SB) #53, student advocacy was represented by three separate units: University Affairs, Lobby Corps and City and Community Relations. To establish a more cohesive and efficient unit, ASUCD and the directors of each unit agreed that grouping together would best utilize their capabilities.

“We’ve had issues in the past where we felt that having the three be separate from each other causes disconnect, an inefficient expense of resources and it causes all our limbs to move in different directions,” said Gareth Smythe, president pro tempore of ASUCD Senate.

Certain advocacy issues are handled by officials according to their concerns but often overlap.

“The main problem was that while we operated as separate units, the issues our students face have no regard for those borders,” said Dillan Horton, director of University Affairs and author of the bill.

According to Horton, UC Davis and City of Davis police and fire departments typically handled public safety issues, while various University, state and federal officials took care of financial aid concerns.

“In designing SB #53 we had to create a unit that was versatile enough to handle projects spanning multiple areas, yet also allow for specialized research and policy making,” Horton said.

The consolidation would also allow Lobby Corps to shift focus from mainly addressing student issues on a state level to more federal advocacy.

While the OASR continues to work with UC Davis, University of California Office of the President and the Board of Regents, the Division of Academic and Student Affairs will take on a majority of University Affairs’ duties.

Projects that overlapped amongst the separate units were often not time efficient when more than one unit had to conduct the same research. By dissolving the three units, ASUCD intends to reduce the amount that the advocacy units in total cost the association. A $12,000 contract that Lobby Corps has with a research agency for legislation analysis will cease. Ultimately, one central budget will take place of the three.

“Right off the bat there’s going to be more cohesion,” Smythe said. “I think that if anything this will get these three units to start talking to one another. That’s a really important facet of why they were consolidated.”

The bill was tabled numerous times prior to its passing in a 7-3-2 vote. A previous consolidation attempt with SB #105 in 2012 died in legislation due to its incompleteness but played an influential role in SB #53’s success. Demonstrating what wouldn’t work, the failed bill helped advocacy units draft a better outline for the potential consolidated unit.

SB #53 was driven by the efforts of all three advocacy unit directors as they were greatly involved in the process and co-authored the bill.

“As a co-author, I assisted in reviewing and making any necessary changes to the bill that pertained to City and Community Relations [CCR],” said Beyza Seflek, CCR director. “I was also present for all of the conversations that occurred in planning and drafting prior to the legislation being presented to the commissions and senate.”

The OASR will become official after the budget hearing on May 18 and will begin operating in July to start off the 2014-15 fiscal year. Writing of the long-range plan that outlines the unit’s specific functions is in motion but will still be a draft by the time of the hearing.

“Once the long-range plan really starts coming together, we’re going to start transitioning everyone and ironing out all the projects from this year that will be carrying over to next year,” Lobby Corps Director David Kuwabara said.

Hiring of senior staff positions will take place this quarter, and interns will be selected in the fall.

OASR’s first item on its agenda is to prepare for the transition and see how well the unit functions together. Now with more flexibility in its operations, the overall goal is to improve advocacy while focusing on more than just policy changing.

“Early on we will focus on developing a capability in federal policy, organizing student representatives to committees, expanding cooperation with municipal governments and increasing our connection with the student body,” Horton said.

NICOLE YI can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

UC Davis Police enhances traffic stop practice

Campus Editor
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UC Davis Police enhances traffic stop practice

Beginning in February, the UC Davis Police Department (UCDPD) began recording its traffic stops of bicycles and cars online according to age, gender and race. The records will be updated monthly and can be viewed on the UCDPD’s website.

According to Matt Carmichael, UC Davis police chief, if not noted on the subject’s driver’s license, the records will be based entirely on the working officer’s perception. While Carmichael admits that perception is not the most accurate method of recording, he argued that this method is necessary in order to prevent disrespecting people by asking them personal questions.

“This program is about respect so I want to make sure that we travel this road with a good balance which is respecting everyone we interact with out in the field versus collecting the data,” Carmichael said. “It’s a tough line to walk because it’s important data and it’s information, I can promise you, our students want to know, but at the same time we have to be conscious that it’s not intrusive.”

According to Carmichael, the idea behind the practice arose from complaints he often received that the police were profiling. In order to improve transparency, Carmichael decided to put the records online to make them more accessible.

“I’ve been here 12 years now, and in my 12 years, there have been voiced concerns from the community that we profile people who we stop,” Carmichael said. “So in the past, I’ve had the ability just to speak to it; it’s just Matt talking. But I’m a very factual driven person. So we came up with a process where we can actually capture the data.”

Kennedy Simon, a first-year sociology major, views the perception-based practice as another form of profiling.

“I do think that they should ask because it’s kind of another way that’s profiling because what if I’m really not black?” Simon said. “If they’re going to record my race, they might as well be right so might as well ask me. I would rather be asked than for them to assume.”

In addition to recording the race, gender and age of the subjects, the records will also display the amount of citations, warnings and arrests made for traffic stops. The data will be split between bicycle and car stops as well as stops in Davis and Sacramento.

Carmichael said that margin of error will be taken into account. In the case that officers forget to advise the dispatch center of this information, they will be prompted by the dispatch to record the information or be asked for it by the crime analyst towards the end of the month. If the officer cannot remember the specific account, the online record will note for incomplete or partial data.

According to Carmichael, there will also be an unknown section if the officer cannot identify the subject’s race or gender.

Kelsey Stewart, a first-year psychology major, questioned the accuracy of recording police data entirely by perception.

“I think they should ask them what their race is because people appear to be one thing, but they could really appear to be other things,” Stewart said. “For example, people could be Mexican, but they look white. They should definitely ask because it’ll be more accurate.”

The new traffic stop practice is among several new inclusions to the UCDPD’s updated website. Other additions include navigation to the Student Advisory Council, the Chaplain Program, a parent/guardian corner and a link to a Know Your Rights information page written by the American Civil Liberties Union.

“Another thing I always hear about on-campus is our students are always curious about [what] their rights are,” Carmichael said. “This is really good information for international students who may not be familiar with the particular information of the police practice here.”

However, student reactions to the new practice have been fairly negative. Many worry of the statistical inaccuracy of recording by perception.

“To be honest, I respect data coming from a science major, but also, I think nowadays it is hard to make an assumption,” said Nicole Cotes, a first-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major. “Because what if you’re wrong about the assumption? Then your data isn’t going to be as valid.”

Cassandra Rios, a first-year, views the practice as problematic due to the large number of people who are of mixed race and may be mistaken for the wrong race.

“I would say that’s wrong of them to assume because so many people are mixed nowadays,” Rios said. “Why would you make an assumption? It wouldn’t be as conclusive as if you just asked the person what race.”

According to Carmichael, there is room for the practice to be tweaked. He urges students who have any questions or concerns about the service to voice them directly to him. Because the practice arose out of community concerns, Carmichael contended that feedback is vital to effective policing.

“I always knew policy was important to the operations of the police department, but there’s another reader out there and students really help me to see that that other reader is the community,” Carmichael said.

JASON PHAM can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Photo by Rousseau Gleitsman.

UC Davis celebrates Asian Pacific Culture Week

Campus Editor
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From April 2 to April 11, UC Davis celebrated Asian Pacific Culture Week, a week when students can enjoy and learn more about Asian Pacific Islander culture through a series of events including film screenings, culture nights and workshops about identity. The Cross Cultural Center, which annually puts on this week, chose “We Will Be Seen, We Will Be Heard” as the theme for the week as a way to encourage the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community to use its voice to gain visibility in the Davis community.

Created in 1973, Asian Pacific Culture Week has grown over the years to the point where the event now expands to over a week.

“It’s supposed to be a one-week long event, but we got such overwhelming interest from the community that we turned it into a two-week event,” said Linda Nguyen, Asian Pacific Culture Week coordinator. “That really shows how it evolved and how invested the communities are in the week.”

The week’s importance is based on the need for UC Davis students to have an opportunity to showcase and take pride in their API culture.

“I think there’s this notion that there’s a lot of Asian people and there’s no need for a program like this,” said Fong Tran, the Cross Cultural Center’s program coordinator. “But I think this week is important in showing different culture and diversity and what the experiences are between specific ethnic communities as well as some of the key differences.”

Events during the week included a workshop titled “Domestic Violence in API Household,” a film screening of the documentary “Linsanity” and Korean Culture Night.

Some events were more fun, and others more serious, but all focused on a celebration of API culture.

“Asian Pacific Culture Week is a time to celebrate what being [API] is,” said Aditi Shakkarwar, another Asian Pacific Culture Week coordinator. “It’s a week to celebrate your identity and learn more about your history. On one hand, the events are fun to go to, but it’s also a form of activism and social justice. It’s a way of making sure our voices are heard on campus.”

Asian Pacific Culture Week also gives student groups the opportunity to collaborate when planning events.

“There are annual partnerships for events,” Tran said. “Some events are even collaborative. It’s nice to see what student groups put together.”

Collaborative events included a workshop titled “Effectively Managing Stress,” put on by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the Cross Cultural Center, and a dialogue of different religious faiths titled “Beliefs, Faith and Tea,” put on by the Sikh Cultural Association, Middle East/South Asia Studies Program and Muslim Student Association.

Asian Pacific Culture Week culminated with its annual Asian Pacific Culture Night in Freeborn Hall on April 11.

“Asian Pacific Culture Night is the signature event,” Tran said. “That’s where we really see the scale of the [API] community come together.”

According to Shakkarwar, the night was an opportunity for API students to express their culture.

“Asian Pacific Culture Night is about celebrating [API]  talent and showcasing that we are a talented group of people and there is a space for us to perform, and that space is to perform traditional or more modern acts,” Shakkarwar said. “The night reflects the changing face of [API] culture so that we are representing who Asian Pacific Islander Americans are today. We can be connected to our roots and have traditional performances and celebrate our American culture as well.”

This year, the night featured YouTube singer Jenny Suk and comedian Jenny Yang. Students were involved in the night as well, performing in dance groups, spoken word and rap performances.

“The majority of the students came to support their friends that are performing,” Tran said. “Others came to see the headliners Jenny Suk and Jenny Yang. There are people who know about our work at the Cross Cultural Center that came to support diversity.”

 ALYSSA VANDENBERG can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

Arts Week: April 17, 2014

Arts Editor
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POETRY

Poetry Night Reading Series: Hannah Stein
April 17, 8 to 9:30 p.m., free
The John Natsoulas Gallery
The Natsoulas Gallery holds bi-monthly poetry readings and open mic nights. This week, Hannah Stein, a popular Davis-based poet, will feature her works, among them her most recent poem “A Broken Music,” which focuses on music, history and biographies.

DANCE

Elite Dance Company Showcase
April 19, 8 p.m., $5 to $7
The Arena Theatre
This annual showcase will take place in Wright Hall and will feature choreography from several types of dance including jazz and contemporary.

MUSIC

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble
April 17, 12 to 1:00 p.m., free
Yocha Dehe Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center
This free performance from the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and actor David Moore sets Walter Mosley’s short story, “Reply to a Dead Man,” to music. The ensemble boasts flute, oboe, guitar, viola and bass which dramatically carry the audience through the narrative.

HellaCappella
April 18, 7:30 p.m., $10 to $20
Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall
UC Davis’ all-female a cappella group, The Spokes, will host the 10th annual HellaCappella performance. This night of music will feature groups from several colleges including UC Berkeley and University of Oregon.

DESIGN

Design Connections: Ruedi Baur
April 17, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., free
Kleiber Hall
Highly-acclaimed designer Ruedi Baur, who has done work for The Louvre, Vienna Airport and most recently the New School in New York, will be lecturing on “Design in Context: From Visual Language to Orientation Systems.”

OTHER

Movie Showing: La Fanciulla Del West
April 18, 7:30 p.m., free
The International House
The International House will be hosting a screening of the movie La Fanciulla Del West as a part of their International Film Series. Come out for refreshments and enjoy the iconic opera.

UC Davis Powwow
April 19, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., free
The Quad
This will be the 42nd Powwow held by the Cross Cultural Center. Through celebrating the art, music and culture of indigenous people, the Powwow seeks to not only educate the community and campus but to empower youth.

Author Event: Microfiction in Miniature and World’s Smallest Book
April 19, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., free
The Avid Reader
Local writer Rick Palkovic will be signing and discussing his newest book, Limit 55. The book is a miniature book and consists of twenty-six 55-word stories accompanied by illustrations from his siblings. The Avid Reader will also be displaying a copy of the world’s smallest book and other miniature books at the event.

COLEMAN PERKINS can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Column: Smells Like the 90s

Arts Editor
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Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam — The Relentless Debate

“Who’s better?” — how often do we hear that question posed? Whether the discussion revolves around sports, music, politics or pizza, we live in a culture that loves reducing the issue down to two competitors: Beatles v. The Stones, Jordan v. Kobe, Republican v. Democrat.

And so goes the debate between music fans over which band rocked it better: Pearl Jam or Nirvana? But how can you compare the talent of these two iconic groups whose sounds are so distinct yet are both forever linked to the Seattle alt rock/grunge movement from which they were born?

You can’t. But what about a discussion of which band was more influential?

Clearly, both had staggering early success. The difference here is that Nirvana’s landmark Nevermind followed their lesser-known debut album Bleach, while Pearl Jam’s first release, Ten, was a huge breakthrough success.

That said, Nevermind cemented Nirvana as the “face” of a new music movement. Not only did its success help make grunge popular, but it proved the commercial viability of alternative rock in general.

In contrast, the success of Ten brought out a host of early detractors, including Cobain, who accused Pearl Jam of selling out with a guitar-lead style that was less than alt rock.

Much of this changed, however, when the masses began to see Pearl Jam in concert. The band’s powerful live performances helped establish their identity and their refusal to make music videos (after Jeremy) — followed later by their infamous Ticketmaster boycott — further formed their anti-establishment identity.

So the question is: does Cobain rule or is Vedder Better?

Yet another fruitless comparison. While Cobain’s prominence followed by his early demise may have elevated him to cult-like status along the lines of James Dean, Marilyn Monroe or Jim Morrison, Pearl Jam’s remarkable success and longevity (including its lead singer’s solo projects) give Vedder equal iconic claim.

In the end, both Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder represent individual talents of the top order, whose distinctive voices and creative visions helped propel their bands into the hearts and minds of American youth. Although Nirvana’s run was short but sweet, the continued impact of the band’s albums and the success of its progeny (i.e. The Foo Fighters) put them on equal turf with Pearl Jam, who Allmusic named “the most popular rock and roll band of the 90s.”

 

Aggies take two of three from Big West foe Long Beach State

Sports Editor
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After a disheartening loss at Stanford on April 8, the UC Davis baseball team could have withered against a middling Long Beach State team at home. Instead, the Aggies rebounded with a resounding series win against Long Beach State from April 11 to 13. UC Davis took two of three over the 49ers in a series marked by both dominant pitching and outstanding hitting.

In the series opener on April 11, the Aggies (16-16, 3-6 Big West) busted out the bats, pounding out a season-high 18 hits en route to a 7-5 victory. Long Beach State (16-18, 3-3), who had beaten the Aggies in four straight meetings, kept the game close, exchanging leads with UC Davis throughout. Eight Aggies recorded hits, and senior Steven Patterson, junior Nick Lynch and senior Spencer Brann had three hits apiece. Junior right-hander Raul Jacobson (3-0) picked up the win, tossing 2.1 innings of hitless relief, and freshman closer Zach Stone picked up his eighth save of the season.

On April 12, the two teams faced off in a Saturday matinee, which happened to coincide with UC Davis’ 100th annual Picnic Day. The extra crowds on campus seemed to make their way to Dobbins Baseball Complex, as the Aggies drew a season-high of 1,511 fans.

The game was a polar opposite from the series opener for the Aggies, as they scratched out only two hits in falling 2-0 to the 49ers. The pitchers duel was initiated by a pair of righty starters — UC Davis junior Spencer Koopmans and his 49ers counterpart, Josh Frye. Koopmans and Frye matched each other with scoreless frames for six innings, before Koopmans was pulled for freshman lefty Orlando Razo. Razo picked up the loss, allowing one run on one hit and two walks in the top of the seventh before he was removed with one out. Frye proved to be too much for the Aggies, scattering just two hits over seven scoreless innings.

In the rubber game on April 13, UC Davis returned to its hitting form, using a monster third inning to beat the 49ers, 8-4. In the third, the Aggies sent 12 hitters to the plate, plating seven runs on seven hits. Senior third baseman Adam Young (hitting .376 on the year) and Lynch led the Aggies with three hits each on the afternoon.

Senior right-hander Evan Wolf (3-3) earned the win, tossing five solid innings and allowing three runs on five hits, striking out two in the process. Jacobson, Razo, Stone and sophomore lefty Spencer Henderson were spectacular in relief, allowing one combined hit over four innings.

Up next for the Aggies is a home game against rival Sacramento State (21-14, 10-2 Big Sky) on April 15, followed by a conference road series against UC Riverside (14-17, 3-3) from April 17 to April 19.

SCOTT DRESSER can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

UC Davis softball dominates Mustangs once again

Sports Editor
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UC Davis softball dominates Mustangs once again

The Aggies came into the weekend looking for momentum. After a bumbling 1-5 start to Big West play, UC Davis looked to rebound against the Cal Poly Mustangs.

Historically, the Aggies have had the Mustangs’ number, evidenced by the four-game win streak UC Davis held coming into the April 12 doubleheader.

The Aggies once again came out strong against the Mustangs. In the first game of the doubleheader, freshman pitcher Dana Cruse pitched a solid six innings and only gave up two earned runs. Cruse pitched three shutout innings early on and after giving up two runs in the fourth inning, pitched another two shutout innings.

UC Davis got on the scoreboard first, with a double into center field by freshman catcher Lauryn Saunders in the fourth inning, which brought home junior first baseman Amy Nunez. This was followed up by a double by senior second baseman Chandler Wagner, which brought home Saunders, giving the Aggies a 2-0 lead.

However, UC Davis got tagged for two runs in the bottom of the fourth, tying the score at 2-2 at the end of the fourth. However, sophomore leftfielder Cat Guidry scored on a fielding error in the fifth to give the Aggies a 3-2 lead.

From there, both pitching staffs were lights out and did not give up another run. Cruse pitched two shutout innings after the rough fourth inning and handed the game over to freshman pitcher Andrea Reynolds, who pitched a shutout seventh inning to seal the game for the Aggies by the score of 3-2.

The second game of the doubleheader was just as close a contest as the first. The Aggies started Reynolds who gave up a run-off of a sacrifice fly in the first inning. From there, she pitched three shutout innings, finishing the game with only one earned run in 4.1 innings pitched.

The Aggies’ offense came directly from the bat of Wagner, who held the hot bat. Wagner went 3-3 with three RBI, including a two-RBI single in the top of the sixth inning which sealed off the game for UC Davis, 3-2.

UC Davis’ second win of the day also capped off a six-game winning streak against the Mustangs, stretching back to last season. It also bumped the Aggies’ overall record to 14-24 and 3-5 in the Big West.

As the Aggies entered into the final game of the weekend series on April 13, they came in with the desire to attain a sweep of the struggling Mustangs and push their winning streak against the Mustangs to seven games. Unfortunately, this was not meant to be.

The Mustangs started out strong and hit Reynolds early and often. She gave up five runs in a matter of 3.2 innings. However, only one of these runs were earned.

The Aggies’ problems stemmed from their inability to keep the Mustangs off of the scoring path and play solid defense. UC Davis’ three errors really hurt their chances of winning.

Beyond that, the Aggies were ice-cold with their bats, in large part due to the fantastic pitching of Cal Poly’s Sierra Hyland. She pitched a complete game shutout and only gave up three hits in the process. UC Davis only had one runner on third the entire game.

UC Davis’ Wagner, who had been batting .667 during the series, saw a significant dropoff. She went hitless in three at-bats and did not get on base in the series finale.

The Aggies’ frustration with the bats and the lack of solid defense allowed the Mustangs to cruise to an effortless 6-0 victory.

The tough loss brought the Aggies down to 14-25 overall and 3-6 in conference play. They are heading back home for a three-game homestand against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, including a doubleheader on April 18.

The Gauchos will be a solid test for the Aggies as the Gauchos are near the top of the table with a 26-16 overall record and a 6-3 Big West record. UC Davis will need to get the bats going at home in order to upset the mighty Gauchos.

KENNETH LING can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

 

Cal Poly edges UC Davis, 4-3

Sports Editor
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UC Davis men’s tennis team was unable to overcome an early deficit to the Cal Poly Mustangs as the Aggies suffered a 4-3 loss on April 12 at the Mustang Courts in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

UC Davis finished its last road trip for the season with two losses, taking its record to 13-11 overall, 2-3 in conference play. With the win, the Mustangs moved to third place in the Big West standings with a 3-1 record and are 8-12 overall.

Cal Poly started off strong by winning two doubles matches straight, giving it an early 1-0 lead in team points. Afterward, in singles, senior Kyle Miller won the first set, but the Mustangs’ Jurgen De Jager rallied back, winning the match 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, putting Cal Poly up to 2-0 in team points.

After losing three consecutive matches, the Aggies finally rallied to tie the Mustangs in team points with back-to-back wins by sophomore Brett Bacharach and freshman James Wade, both of them coming back from first-set losses to claim their matches.

UC Davis continued its momentum as freshman Bryce McKelvie followed with a victory over Cal Poly’s Naveen Beasley, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The win gave the Aggies their first lead of the day, 3-2. However, the Aggies were unable to keep up the lead. The Mustangs’ Ben Donovan rebounded from a first-set loss and saved two match points in the second set, winning over UC Davis freshman Alec Adamson with the score 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2. The schools were once again tied in team points at 3-3.

In the last match of the weekend, UC Davis senior Parker Kelley took the first set, but the Mustangs’ Matt Thomason stayed strong, taking the second set. Eventually, Thomason clinched the game for Cal Poly, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4, and the Mustangs beat the Aggies with a final team score of 4-3.

The UC Davis women’s tennis team did not play this weekend due to weather problems. They visited Hawai’i on April 12; however, due to the rain, the match was suspended. The women’s team will host San Jose State in their last game for this season on April 19 in Davis, Calif. at the Marya Welch Tennis Center.

JANET ZENG can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

 

Campus Judicial Report

Campus Editor
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We are brought up with the understanding that stealing is an immoral act; yet shoplifting from the UC Davis Bookstore, CoHo and other campus businesses is an ongoing issue. Tuition levels are at an all-time high, so money is understandably tight for college students, but being short on cash is never a justification for stealing.

 Students who are caught stealing on campus end up facing serious repercussions including suspension, fines, deferred dismissal, delayed graduation and dismissal. Don’t let the temptation of stealing and the misconception of its “low risk” encourage you to walk out of the store without paying. Many students are not aware of the many surveillance cameras, loss-prevention staff and other security methods that target thieves.

Interestingly, stealing is an addictive behavior. The first time you steal, and by chance are not caught, your mind starts to positively reinforce that behavior, increasing the likelihood of stealing again and thus, of getting caught.

Also, don’t forget the effects it has on the people around you, particularly your fellow students. In order to make up for the stolen items, prices may slowly increase at places like the CoHo and bookstore. Stealing hurts the UC Davis community, but thankfully there are alternate avenues for students who feel pressured to steal:

 1.     Instead of buying textbooks, borrow them from the library. Professors usually have one or two copies of the course’s textbook on reserve for students to use.

http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/dept/reserves/

 2.     Make some money with a student job.

ASUCD jobs: http://asucd.ucdavis.edu/2010/10/01/job-openings-in-asucd-get-involved/

Aggie Job Link: https://ucdavis-csm.symplicity.com/students/

3.     Contact “We Are Aggie Pride,” a group formed to provide short-term financial assistance to fellow Aggies that need support.

http://weareaggiepride.ucdavis.edu/

4.     Talk confidentially with someone at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Students who seek help at CAPS are not “crazy,” but they are in need of support and help getting out of bad situations.

http://caps.ucdavis.edu/resources.html

5.     Visit “The Pantry” to get free meals.

http://thepantry.ucdavis.edu/

 

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