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Several university buildings, cars vandalized during summer

Campus Editor
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slug: 130926_ca_hate

edits: EL CT

notes:

Headline: Several university buildings, cars vandalized during summer

Layercake: UC Davis Police continue their investigation

By JORDYN MAY

Aggie News Writer

        The UC Davis Police Department is looking into the vandalism of several University buildings, including Sproul Hall, Arboretum, TB 009, South Hall, Dutton Hall, Educational Opportunity, Aggie Village, the School of Education and the University House, that happened early in the morning on Aug. 25. Additionally, a racial slur targeting the black community was written in chalk on a blackboard in Dutton Hall.

Damage was inflicted upon several cars, and more than 30 windows were broken. There was damage to the inside of the buildings, but no private information was stolen.

“The vandalism happened late at night and in early morning so no work was disrupted,” said Martin Ling, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs.

        According to Donald Dudley, the building coordinator for Dutton Hall, the racial slur was written in one of the Student Academic Success Center classrooms on the second floor of Dutton Hall.

        UC Davis Police Chief  Matt Carmichael confirmed the epithet was written in graffiti style in a conference room.

        According to Carmichael, the crimes could have been committed by a single person or a group of people, but there are no suspects in the case as of yet.

        The racial slur and vandalism appear to be connected as both crimes were committed at the same time, according to Ling. It is unknown if Dutton Hall was targeted specifically for the racial slur, as the perpetrators and their motivations are unknown.

“It is interesting that these incidents occurred the same week as the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement,” Ling said.

Although there are cameras in Dutton Hall, the perpetrator was not caught on camera.

“Campus patrol officers walk the affected buildings daily and the buildings are given greater attention at night,” Carmichael said. “It helps to give the people a sense of safety to know that the police are watching and care.”

In response to these crimes, UC Davis Police have increased patrols. According to Carmichael, the police hope to make changes in the next few weeks that include a more structured way of patrol and a better use of resources.

“With a grant we were given we are hoping to purchase new technology and equipment,” Carmichael said.

According to Andy Fell, UC Davis News Spokesperson, there has been a general increase in security and patrols on campus. Volunteers and students assist the police with these patrols.

The Aggie Escort Service is an example of student patrol, hired to check critical buildings seven nights a week as an additional resource to the campus police.

“Students should not be concerned about safety. University of California, Davis is a safe campus overall,” Ling said. “It is important to make people aware and alert of what is happening. People can report any suspicions to the police to help bring the perpetrators to justice.”

According to Carmichael, the email sent out to the community by Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi on Aug. 27 was helpful because it helped facilitate communication between the community and the police in finding new information.

Although this is not the first time a hate crime has been committed on campus, it is not a routine thing, according to Carmichael.

“There are two costs to this vandalism, financial and personal. This hateful, racial slur will have a long lasting effect on the community,” Carmichael said.

If you have any information about this incident, please contact the UC Davis Police Department at (530) 752-1727.

JORDYN MAY can be reached at campus@theaggie.org. xxx

A guide to live music venues

Arts Editor
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Looking for the best venues for live music in Davis? MUSE has compiled a list of the best places to consider for all musical tastes.

Name of venue:
Rockband University
720 Olive Dr. #H
Genres:
All
Description:
Rockband University is the place to go for young artists who hope to get out of their garages and create their own rock band with fellow musicians. The venue matches musicians with others to create bands, teaches them how to improve their skills in their preferred instrument and serves as a place for them to play and perform in live events. Additionally, Rockband University sets up live gigs for the bands at various local venues.
Entry: All ages, free

Name of venue:
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
129 E St.
Genres:
Indie
Description:
For those who are looking to grab a drink and listen to the newest up and coming artists from big indie record labels, Sophia’s is the place to go. Many of the artists booked by Sophia’s, like The Lumineers and The Head and the Heart, go on to become huge sensations in the indie scene, often going on to play at big name music festivals. The live music is played on the outdoor deck, so Sophia’s only books artists in the warmer season (late March to late October). To see upcoming events, visit sophiasthaikitchen.com.
Entry: 21 and up, $5 to $8.

Name of Venue:
Armadillo Music
205 F St.
Genres:
Indie folk
Description:
This is a great place to browse for records and enjoy some live music simultaneously. This record store serves as a live music venue for both local and touring artists, mainly booking indie folk, traditional folk and blues bands. Every second Friday of the month, you can expect music no matter what. Outside of that, bands are booked for Tuesday nights twice a month. The atmosphere is laid back, and artists will play from one to two hours in the store, where they sell their CDs and merchandise. To see upcoming events, visit armadillomusic.com.
Entry: All ages, free.

Name of venue:
Third Space
946 Olive Drive
Genres:
All
Description:
This is one of Davis’ live music venues that also functions as an art gallery. It is a nonprofit, volunteer-run multi-purpose venue where you can shop, use their art studio, do gardening and take guitar lessons. Third Space might have shows where an art installation is present during the show, and books all genres, such as math rock, dream pop, indie rock, bluegrass bands and emerging artists. Shows are twice a week. Doors open at 8 p.m. and shows start at 9 p.m. To see upcoming events, visit facebook.com/ThirdSpaceDavis.
Entry: All ages, $5 suggested donation.

Name of venue:
Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant
330 G St.
Genres:
Jazz, blues, contemporary; Open Mic
Description:
Part of what gives this restaurant its bohemian charm is its frequent and fun live music. In addition to Karaoke nights on Mondays and open mic nights on Tuesdays, Little Prague also has live performances.
Entry: All ages, free

Name of venue:
The Davis Graduate
805 Russell Blvd.
Genres: Country
Description:For country fans, this is the place to go to see both smaller local bands and big name bands and artists. Every Thursday night, local country bands perform. The Grad also has country dancing nights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for all levels in addition to Salsa dancing nights on Tuesdays.

Entry: All ages, 18+ and 21+ events. Ticket prices vary.

Name of venue:
Odd Fellows Hall
415 Second St.
Genres: All
Description:
Odd Fellows Hall is a great music hall to see all kinds of bands up on stage while you sit in the audience or grab a drink at the open bar. On the first Thursdays of every month, you can walk in to see a show for free. Odd Fellows Hall books smaller indie bands, big artists who perform at the Mondavi Center and everything in between.
Entry: All

Name of venue:
Delta of Venus
122 B St.
Genres: All; World
Description:
A block away from campus is Delta of Venus, a small cafe restaurant with earthy vibes and a pleasant outdoor patio. On Thursday and Friday nights, Delta has live DJs and occasional live bands who perform an eclectic mix of music that appeals to people with a more global taste. The music is literally all over the map, from Brazilian to Irish to contemporary DJs.
Entry: All ages, free

Name of Venue:
John Natsoulas Gallery
Genres: Jazz, Spoken Word
Description: This is one of Davis’ art galleries that also serves as a venue for live jazz and spoken word once a month. In their large, open back room, which they also use for their Poetry Night Reading and Open Mic series, a quality jazz ensemble plays for audiences in a casual, yet sophisticated environment on the third Friday of every month.
Entry: Free

Column: On Flashers

Opinion
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When I was 10, my primary definition for the word “flash” was the Pokémon technique used to blind an opponent or light up a cave. By the next year, I was more inclined to think of my newly-learned definition — a (typically male) pants-dropping or coat-opening technique used to lewdly reveal oneself in public.

And then, five months ago, at 11 p.m. outside of the Gap in the Davis Commons, it happened to me.

No, not the former flash — Pokémon aren’t real (still bummed about that one). The latter, in all its crime-logged, high-school-hallway-whispered, true-urban-legend glory. A public penis.

A friend and I were merely trying to enjoy our Thursday night, stuff strewn across several chairs in the Commons, having a very pleasant conversation about dating and sexuality, when a strange guy decided to interrupt us. With his penis.

He had been stretching against the wall a few stores down, wearing a plain white T-shirt and curiously tight running pants. After observing the pants, I thought nothing more of his presence until I looked up and saw him, pants riding about 6 inches lower on his hips, brandishing his erection in our direction while attempting to make an intense level of eye contact with us that could only be described as “Edward Cullenesque.”

I paused in our conversation only to let out an irate “Oh HELL no!”, subsequently followed by a “Put that thing back in your fucking pants before I call the cops on your ass.”

He turned the corner at a slow pace, strolling away cockily (pun intended) as my eyes burned holes into his white T-shirt and ridiculously tight running pants.

After he disappeared into the dim-lit shelter of the bike path, I let out a few more choice curse words and shook my head a bit, pissed off but mostly unshaken, intending to let the incident pass. I couldn’t say the same for my friend.

She took a nervous drag of her cigarette, stubbed it out on the table, and proclaimed, “I feel sick.”

It soon dawned on me that although I wasn’t affected too much by this encounter, my flashee-in-arms most certainly was. She told me she felt angry, worried and unsafe.

So I called the cops on his ass.

As the new opinion editor of The California Aggie, I promise to treat every contentious article or event that presents itself to me as if it has whipped its dick out in public. I will get pissed off, I will lecture, and if it specifically targets a person or group of people so as to make them feel unsafe, I will shut that shit down.

At the same time, I will hold no tongues, mine or otherwise. I want dialogue and discussion, not diatribes and suppression.

I will create soapboxes instead of silences. I will try my hardest to get everyone’s voice heard.

I may or may not run frantically around the Quad once a quarter asking people for their opinions, and then for permission to publish them.

I will also not hold back belly laughs, bad puns and “That’s what she said” jokes (or “That’s what he/ze/they said” jokes. Women aren’t the only ones who “want you to put it in”).

But this desk isn’t about me, the juvenile humor in my hands and the dicks in my public presence. It’s about you: the reader, the writer and the community member. It’s about the columnists, the guest columnists, the cartoonists and the avid practitioners of letters to the editor.

The school newspaper is one of the greatest tools that a student can wield, and The Aggie is no less than Excalibur. It’s just waiting for the right warrior to wield it.

So apply to be a writer at the opinion desk (or any other, for that matter), have 911 on speed dial in case of strange men stretching at midnight outside of the Gap, and don’t hold back.

Tell TANYA AZARI what you think (about anything) by flagging her down during her frenzy in the Quad, or at opinion@theaggie.org.

Tuition covers more than just class

Features Editor
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There are more perks to attending UC Davis than a Shields Library account.

While most of the cost associated with tuition goes toward campus and academic operation, two fees are purely to provide amenities for students. Campus-based fees and the Student Services Fee go toward facilities and programs, such as the Memorial Union renovation and health and recreational services.

The key to making the most of the undergraduate $13,878 annual bill ($36,756, for out-of-state students) is understanding what is already paid for.

The Benefits of Campus Based Fees

According to the UC Davis Student Fee and Tuition Overview, a little over $1,500 from each student’s tuition goes to campus-based fees. This funds groups responsible for everything from renewal projects, to Unitrans, to the Student Academic Success Center (SASC) and the Memorial Union (MU).

Many of these groups offer free services to students. Undergraduates with a student ID can ride Unitrans buses for free, while the SASC offers free academic workshops to all students in Dutton Hall Monday through Friday and weekly small group tutoring in South Hall. Additionally, freshmen can take advantage of free SASC tutoring in their resident hall’s service center.

According to Luci Schmidl, Campus Recreations and Unions (CRU) director of business services and CFO, CRU is also financed primarily through campus-based fees. Seventy percent of its funding is from tuition dollars.

“CRU oversees all recreational and student life venues, so that includes everything you see while walking through the MU, Freeborn Hall, the Pavillion, the ARC, Outdoor Adventures and the Craft Center,” said John Campbell, executive director of CRU.

While the ARC, Hickey Pool and the Rec Pool are free for students, students can also sign up for additional low-cost activities such as group exercise, personalized training workouts, whitewater rafting trips and one of the nearly 100 craft center classes. Although there is a fee, Campbell said that students will always pay the least.

“We index all our prices against students. [Non-students] will never pay less than students do,” Campbell said.

In addition to discounted and free activities, CRU is also entering the final stages in planning the major Memorial Union (MU) renovation which will be completed in 2015.

“In the upcoming renewal project, the Games Area, Bookstore, ASUCD retail area and North and South Quads will be renovated and remodeled. We are updating the area to the current standards that students request and expect. We’re tearing down walls and opening up the MU,” Campbell said.

The renovations will be paid for only using the reserves that tuition has fed into for years.

“The Memorial Union fee [within the campus based fees] was enacted in 1987 and stayed the same, never subject to increase. It was $85.50 a year then, and it is now,” Schmidl said.

While tuition-funded activities, renovations, and programs provide fun and ambiance, other significant services are also covered by tuition.

The Benefits of the Student Services Fee

According to the 2012-13 Undergraduate Student Tuition and Fees Fact Sheet, the $972 Student Services Fee allows for access to a number of free or discounted physical and mental health services.

“All registered students are eligible to receive medical and mental health services on campus at the Student Health and Wellness Center and at North Hall,” said Dr. Michelle Famula, executive director of Health and Wellness in an email interview.

Free services include mental health counseling consultation, individual and group counseling services, alcohol, tobacco and drug education interventions, smoking cessation programs, a call-in advice nurse consultation and free anonymous HIV testing for any registered student, regardless of a student’s enrollment in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP).

In addition, the Health Education Program (HEP) provides information and materials at numerous student clubs and at organizations’ events throughout the year.

Invaluable HEP information is supplied to students on the third floor of the Student Health and Wellness Center, the Women’s Resources and Research Center, the Student Community Center, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center and the Cross Cultural Center.

“[HEP provides tips and resources for] safe partying, fitness and nutrition, sexual health and mental wellness,” Famula said.

Additionally, HEP’s Love Lab travels to common student areas and provides condoms and sexual education materials for free.

For students concerned about their mental wellness, there are a variety of free services available.

“Many student medical and mental health self-help services are free and provided by student peers, including the Stress and Wellness services on the second floor [of North Hall] and the Mind Body Gym managed by The House,” Famula said.
The House, which is normally located in north campus near the co-ops, will be undergoing structural renovations and will be relocated to the first floor of North Hall until the building is able to reopen next year.

At The House, students can talk to a peer counselor or participate in the Mind Body Gym which offers massage chairs and relaxation space for all students. Drop-in counselling sessions with a professional are also available at the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office in North Hall.

Understanding the finer points of where tuition goes to at UC Davis can help students get the most out of their enrollment and take advantage of the services that they are funding.

“All of our activities and services are available because of student fees,” Campbell said.

HANNAH KRAMER can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

Students evacuate Cairo after Egyptian military ousts president

Features Editor
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Students evacuate Cairo after Egyptian military ousts president

UC Davis Study Abroad students were evacuated from Egypt this July when General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and the Egyptian military removed President Mohamed Morsi from office and suspended the Egyptian constitution.

The study abroad program in Cairo, Egypt, titled “Something Old, Something New,” was first approved in 2011, when Hosni Mubarak’s 29-year rule in Egypt was ended and Morsi became the country’s first democratically elected president. This past summer, the “Something Old, Something New” students witnessed the protests leading up to and on the one-year anniversary of Morsi’s election. The students also witnessed the sudden end of Morsi’s presidency.

“It seemed like the Fourth of July. Everyone was in the streets just celebrating the whole time I was there,” said Jonny Goh, a fourth-year history major with a minor in Middle East/South Asia studies (ME/SA).

Goh participated in the Egyptian study abroad program this past summer, and described the protests in June as having a demographic not unlike the Occupy movement back home.

“The Egyptian protest was more of a coalition of people who had issues with Morsi, and that included a lot of pro-Mubarak protesters too,” Goh said. “There were protesters marching alongside the police and the military. Everyone was chanting anti-Morsi slogans, but everyone was also chanting very patriotic slogans.”

Goh’s classmate Caity Tremblay, a third-year comparative literature major with an emphasis in Middle Eastern studies, agreed that there was a noticeable political energy in Cairo throughout their stay.

“There was a feeling in the city that politics were happening,” Tremblay said. “You could feel that people were anxious and were talking about it, and there were flags everywhere.”

UC Davis’ comparative literature and ME/SA professor Noha Radwan, who created and led the “Something Old, Something New” program, was able to carry out their scheduled plans with only minor adjustments for the first two weeks.

“The students went to the pyramids, the museum and the center of the Islamic city,” Radwan said. “We stayed in a particularly safe residential neighborhood, so the students were neither bored nor out on their own where they might face unsafe or difficult situations.”

Though Goh was familiar with the political events in Egypt in 2011, he stated that he wasn’t expecting the magnitude of events that occurred during his own stay.

“I started to realize it on the plane ride over when I was talking to an Egyptian woman,” Goh said. “I’d heard about the protests but I didn’t realize what they were going to become.”

On June 30, nearly two weeks into the program, and the one-year anniversary of Morsi’s election, millions of protesters reportedly took to Egypt’s streets. Tens of thousands were in Tahrir Square, not far from the UC Davis students, who were housed in Zamalek, an island connected to Tahrir by a bridge.

Both Goh and Tremblay stated that Zamalek’s streets that day were unusually quiet.

“It was interesting, because there always seemed like there was a life to Cairo — as soon as you landed you could tell that it was different. There was noise, there was honking and there was chatter,” Goh said.

Tremblay agreed that the silence was strange, and said that many of the shops were locked up and people were staying inside.

The next day, according to Goh, was a celebration.

“People were offering each other tea on the streets,” Goh said. “There was no hint of violence that I could see.”

After checking Western news however, Goh felt like the media inaccurately portrayed Egypt as a country on fire with violence.

On July 3, when General al-Sisi removed President Morsi from power and suspended the Egyptian constitution, plans were already underway to evacuate to UC Davis students.

Professor Radwan and the staff back in California decided it was time to terminate the program after President Morsi gave a speech on July 2 refusing to step down.

“I could see that there was going to be a confrontation and a potential for violence,” Radwan said. “Travel plans were made in less than 12 hours and the students were notified early on the morning of July 3.”

Despite the tension in the city at that time, Radwan said that they arranged to be safely driven to their last field trip.

“We visited the Citadel of Saladin and the 19th century mosques of Mohamed Ali. That night we all had dinner together and stayed up until it was time to go to the airport,” Radwan said.

The airport was on the other side of Cairo, and Tremblay recounted that when they got on the bus to leave on July 4 at 2 a.m., there were people on the streets celebrating.

“I think there were more fireworks on July 4 in Cairo than there were in California,” Tremblay said.

Though the students said, in program evaluations, that they never felt like they were in danger, Radwan maintains that their evacuation was a wise decision.

When Radwan’s proposal for a study abroad program in Egypt was first approved in January 2011, Egypt had just started its revolutionary uprisings against Mubarak’s regime.

“Rather than detracting from my wish to lead a summer program in a country undergoing such political turmoil, I felt that this was an especially valuable opportunity for the students to witness historical events and to gain an in-depth understanding of what was going on in Egypt,” Radwan said.

Though she made many contingency plans with the staff at UC Davis and the UC Education Abroad Program, she and the students were able to complete all of their field trips and talk to authors, activists and journalists.

Though it was cut short, Radwan said that this year was academically similar in some ways.

“The students were able to see the preparation of a massive wave of protests. This allowed for long discussions on the course of political developments and the reasons for the protests,” Radwan said.

Tremblay said that the protests made her more aware of and more interested in the political events, and that after they left, Professor Radwan stayed and they were able to keep in touch with her.

“I felt sad because even though I know a lot of people felt that [Morsi] was oppressive, he was a president and he was elected,” Tremblay said. “I’m afraid that this is going to become the old regime.”

Goh similarly felt like the protest and its protesters had been hijacked.

“I’ve started to feel like it’s back to square one, because who’s really calling the shots now? It’s the military and the police. It’s the pro-Mubarak regime,” Goh said. “These are the same pro-Mubarak people in power now that the Egyptians got rid of back in 2011.”

 

NAOMI NISHIHARA can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

Editorial: Letter from the editor

Opinion
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Believe it or not, The Aggie used to publish five times a week. About four years ago, the newspaper ceased to print on Fridays in order to save money. Last year, the Editor in Chief had the difficult task of making an even bigger change: cutting production down to one day a week, again, to save money.

With each transition to a new production schedule, The Aggie was able to concentrate its focus on bigger projects: elongating investigative pieces, opening up time for design and multimedia projects and allowing for higher-quality writing.

However, what is a great paper without the knowledge of a stable future?

It’s no secret that The Aggie has struggled to keep up with the changing news industry, with production costs rising and advertising revenue decreasing. Not many people seem to reach for a newspaper for information when a piece of technology is right in front of them.

We’re not alone in this struggle. College newspapers nationwide have had problems maintaining readership, staying in print and securing advertisers. So, no, this isn’t something that The Aggie did to itself. We’re one of the remaining college newspapers that is still financially independent. We’re proud, but we’re also realistic.

With no journalism program at Davis, it’s imperative that this almost 100-year-old newspaper exists for the community that reads it and the students that depend on it for employment, experience and the joy of print.

And so comes my task as Editor in Chief: saving The Aggie.

The plan so far is to embrace the changes that were made last quarter, amping up our visual and design content, putting together longform journalistic pieces and increasing transparency within our staff as well as with the public. But this year, we have no choice but to approach business from a different angle, increase awareness of our needs and ask for help.

We want to continue being an outlet for our opinionated colleagues, the place to go for breaking news, the full-page spreads of entertainment and science articles, the spot to read inspiring stories and the location for your weekly sports recaps.

So if you want to get the best hands-on journalism experience on this campus, apply now. If you have ideas or connections that you believe can help us, please share. We’re all ears, because we are your paper. We hope you depend on us, because believe it or not, we depend on you too. Welcome back to school, Aggies.

Please send all questions, concerns, thoughts and sympathies to ELIZABETH ORPINA at editor@theaggie.org.

Q&A with Mayor Joe Krovoza

City Editor
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Mayor Joe Krovoza will vacate his position as Mayor of the City of Davis in June 2014 and will run for the California State Assembly, representing the fourth assembly district. Krovoza was elected in 2010 and he now wants to transition to state level politics. The Aggie asked Krovoza a few questions about his campaign and his plans if he were to be elected.

Q: What motivated you to run for the California State Assembly?
Krovoza: I have been volunteering for over 20 years in Davis and I believe I’ve got a wealth of information and experience on the issues that face the local city, higher education and education in general. I want to bring that to the state house in Sacramento. Through my day job at UC Davis, I’m right at the heart of clean transportation and energy conservation and those are issues that are front and center for the state of California with respect to climate change, mitigation and adaptation. As an employee of an institution of higher education I understand exactly what’s going on in limiting access to students. I’m 50 years old, so it would be a wonderful transition to go from citizen mayor and university employee to assemblyperson.

Q: What does your campaign schedule look like? What’s going to come next?
I announced [my campaign] on May 11. The first reporting deadline for fundraising was June 30 and I raised $118,000 from only my friends and family, not from any Sacramento lobbyists or special interests. It was by far the most money that any of the five candidates raised. Dan Wolk, running against me, raised less than $50,000. He had more expenses and a significant amount of his money was from his mother’s campaign account and the campaign accounts of other politicians in Sacramento. I think I had 340 contributors to my campaign. The foundation of my campaign is externally strong and that’s what [I] need to use to get the message out as we get into the spring and June primaries.

Q: What are some fundraising and outreach efforts you have already undertaken?
I had a wonderful day in August where I went all around the district starting at 7 in the morning with friends. We visited Gypsum American Canyon, Napa, Calistoga, Lakeport, Williams, Woodland and Davis. I’ve been traveling the district and meeting people and getting out to Democratic groups throughout the district and kind of listening to what the common problems are that I faced as the mayor of Davis and what some unique challenges are of other places in the district. I’m very excited representing the fourth assembly district.

Q: What areas does the fourth assembly district represent?
100 percent of Napa, all of Yolo County except West Sacramento, Gypsum, Sonoma County and Williams in Colusa County, so six counties. I could not be more excited about representing a district that is so huge because even though it’s large in size, it’s actually quite united in its interest in [the] agricultural economy of California. All the cities seem to have a great interest in livable communities and respecting the [agricultural] land near them.

Q: What are some of the main issues you would focus on if elected?
I think addressing climate change is the moral imperative of our time and $1 that we spend on mitigating climate change saves us $4 in having to adapt to climate change. This district in particular, given its dependence on agriculture and its environmental values, has got to be paying attention to reducing climate change and keeping our atmosphere stable. I also think that higher education is front and center for the district. For UC Davis and making sure students have access to education, that will be a top priority for me. The district represents Sonoma State and also four community colleges throughout the district. I’m a former student leader and I’ve been working very hand in glove with the Davis school district. I also think that affordable housing is terribly important throughout the district. To support workers being able to live close to where they work. We need jobs but we also need housing that [is] approximate to those jobs.

PAAYAL ZAVERI can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Column: A new form of art

Arts Editor
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Yes, summer was great and all, but remember that horrible summer job that made you curse your luck and question your place in this world? Weren’t there times when you felt like the gods were smiting you, forcing you to go to work when instead you could be painting or writing stories or petting your dog?

I spent most of my summer with my hands, arms, uniform T-shirt and dorky walking shoes caked in ketchup and grease. Between pouring hot coffee on my hands and mopping at the end of the shift, I’d stop and ask myself, “What the hell am I doing here?” I’d think to myself, “You’re better than this! You’re in college! Some professors actually like you!” I cursed the lowly occupation I was engaged in.

Despite working as a restaurant busser, or as some may or may not have called me at one point or another, the waitress’s little helper (am I an elf?), I freaking basked in the glory of the job — that is, once I figured out how. I somehow managed to discover the secret art we must all grow to learn and appreciate.

I’m talking about the art of people-pleasing, or ass-kissing, an art that in this day and age we all desperately need to master, especially in college. I might have saved myself a lot of pain if I had just learned how to do this correctly last school year.

But I’m also talking about finding the little joys of the job, like sneaking yourself a chunk of cake when no one’s watching and finding some pleasure from dealing with your situation creatively. Once you have that creative lens and once you’ve mastered the art of ass-kissing, you’re set.

I gained this wisdom on the job. I found myself flirting with the customers. I found myself throwing extra scoops of ice cream into the root beer floats — anything to make a little more in tips. I said yes and only yes. I’d come back to a table like a magical fairy and grant their every wish, forcing a smile. What sort of educated, maturing young adult, almost-college-graduate had I become?

But suddenly, between bringing out hot plates of food and decorating the desserts with lumps of whipped cream, I began to see the beauty in everything that was going on. In my quest for finding how my day-to-day life could be an art, I came to realize that this little summer job had more artistic value than met the eye.

The desserts I prepared (by which I mean put in the microwave and doused with whipped cream and chocolate sauce) can be an art: in their presentation, the creativity involved in formulating the perfect combination of ingredients and the dexterity of the preparation of the meal. But so can serving a customer.

What do you do when a customer wants something? You give them more, people — because if I’ve learned anything, it’s that people always want more. Chocolate cake? The bigger, the better. What’s that? You’re in a rush? If it wasn’t completely obnoxious and slightly dangerous, I’d have thrown desserts across the room at customers as soon as they’d pop out of the microwave if that would have meant they’d tip me better.

Now, something I’ve learned in the past three years of taking most of my classes in the humanities is that money should never be the object of your academic or professional focus. I’ve taken drawing classes full of students who do it for the sake of creating something beautiful out of nothing — a satisfaction that cannot be measured with dollar signs. I proudly carry my English major badge with the fervor of a Shakespearean love sonnet. Like all artists or those interested in working in the arts, I’m not doing this for the money.

But with this summer job, I’ve found that art can actually help you make a little dough. With all the tips I was getting from my adoring customers, I could have probably flown to Europe and back before my friends working at startups could have gotten their first paychecks. Ass-kissing, a true art form, can and will help you succeed.

What I can take away most from this strange little art called bussing is not the money, but the idea that if you figure out how to do something right, perhaps with help from a creative lens to keep your morale high, then you will be happy. Taking it with levity and finding the few little pleasures of the experience (like flirting or eating cake) will make whatever you’re doing less miserable, maybe even fulfilling in some strange way.

Now that school is starting and I’ve put most of my money into my savings, except for a few hundred I blew on Outside Lands tickets and snacks, I can start being that responsible college student who kisses everyone’s ass in order to get the grades. At least now I know how to do this artfully and with tact. In addition to sending restless e-mails and spending sleepless nights writing the papers I believe my professors will adore, I’ll throw in some delicious desserts and hope for the best. Maybe wink at the TA. I say you do the same.

 

If you have any recommendations on how to kiss a professor’s ass, or if you’d like CRISTINA FRIES to kiss yours, contact her at arts@theaggie.org.

Davis Roots turns dreams into reality

City Editor
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Editor’s note: Hudson Lofchie was a former science editor for The California Aggie.

You know those great entrepreneurial ideas that you come up with, but have no idea how to pursue? Local start-up business accelerator Davis Roots is available to help make those dreams come true.

Davis Roots is a nonprofit organization that accepts a small number of start-up businesses and helps guide their development. The organization has had two companies “graduate” from their program. They are looking for a couple more companies and interested candidates can email arossbach@davisroots.org, or visit davisroots.org.

They are currently working with four businesses: JamHive, Fishrock Laboratories, The Gift of Education and Fuse Athletics.
Davis Roots was founded in 2012 by UC Davis Graduate School of Management professor Andrew Hargadon and Anthony Costello, a local entrepreneur and former chair of the Davis Business and Economic Development Commission.

Davis Roots aims to help companies that come out of UC Davis that would otherwise have to relocate or fail to develop past their initial stages. Additionally, they take a small equity in the companies.

“[Davis Roots] was started because often research that comes out of the university goes to the Bay Area, or nothing ever gets done with it,” said Alex Rossbach, general manager of Davis Roots.

Businesses are developed by UC Davis students and graduates, from the undergraduate through the Ph.D level. Interested businesses must pass an application process in order to join.

“[We] take applications from interested companies, and I review them and meet with the founder of the company,” Rossbach said. “If I like the team and their model, we have an internal meeting [at Davis Roots] and pick a handful of them to go into our program.”

Davis Roots gives these businesses office space for six to nine months, and helps businesses with all stages of development — from creating a viable business plan to helping obtain funding for new business. Davis Roots also connects new businesses with mentors from their extensive mentor list.

JamHive

A music collaboration platform for musicians, JamHive was founded by UC Davis Graduate School of Management graduate James Nguyen and has experienced incredible growth through the Davis Roots program.

“I’ve brought on another full-time technical co-founder, as well as some other developers and marketing people,” Nguyen said in an email. “The resources that Davis Roots has provided have been invaluable for getting us to where we are.”
Davis Roots’ extensive mentor list has also helped Nguyen make valuable connections.

“[Davis Roots]…has led to introductions and opened the doors to meeting people that I would have had difficulty getting in contact with, ranging from music executives for Grammy-award winners, successful entrepreneurs and angel investors,” Nguyen said.

JamHive is currently refining and expanding their prototype before releasing their product. They are looking for interns to help build the prototype, as well as designers to polish their website. For more information, James Nguyen can be reached at james@jamhive.com, or via the beta sign-up list at jamhive.com.

Fishrock Laboratories

Another startup that has been greatly impacted by Davis Roots is Fishrock Laboratories, a bio-engineering company that is pioneering the development of carotenoid (antioxidant)-rich products from Redmelon.

Fishrock was founded by Dr. Le Vuong, a UC Davis Ph.D. graduate in nutrition, chemistry and epidemiology.
“The increased use of Redmelon has the potential to revolutionize the beverage and food industry by lowering the cost and availability of antioxidants,” Dr. Vuong said in an email.

Dr. Vuong said working with Davis Roots has been a tremendous opportunity for his company.

“Being at [the] Davis Roots facility provides stability to obtain employees and exposure to potential investors,” Dr. Vuong said.
Fishrock Laboratories is seeking interns in marketing and business development. Interested candidates can email le@fishrocklab.com and check out fishrocklab.com.

The Gift of Education

Founded by UC Davis graduate and former student-athlete Aimee Hasson, The Gift of Education seeks to help families save money for their child’s education. It is similar to a gift registry website in that friends and family can visit the website in order to contribute to a child’s account.

Part of Davis Roots’ mission is to keep startups in the City of Davis and this is clearly showcased in its work with The Gift of Education.

“Since I live in Davis and I have young children, moving to the Bay Area wasn’t an ideal option for me,” Hasson said in an email. “I applied to Davis Roots in the hopes that I could stay and grow my company in Davis.”
The Gift of Education is hiring social media and marketing interns and can be contacted via email at info@thegiftofeducation.com.

Fuse Athletics

Created by former collegiate athletes, Fuse Athletics was founded by Andrew Ritchart, Ethan Garrett, Hudson Lofchie and Doug Coats as a way to create a sports-oriented social platform that provides an organized online medium for athletic activity.
“Fuse’s goal is to connect athletes, teams and coaches on all levels,” the Fuse Athletics team said in an email.
While Fuse Athletic’s association with Davis Roots has just begun, they have already been given significant guidance for their project.

“Through the [entrepreneur] mixer, we were introduced to a few of the other companies who are part of Davis Roots, and [to] investors who have taken notice of the project,” the team said.

Three of the Fuse Athletics team members, Ritchart, Garrett and Lofchie, graduated from UC Davis in the past year, and have strong ties to the community. They plan to help the Davis business community grow and to keep entrepreneurial spirit alive in the City of Davis.

Fuse Athletics is currently preparing for their soft-launch.

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

New restaurants open in Davis

City Editor
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This fall, Davis will welcome a number of new restaurants. These include new Davis branches of CREAM and The Melt, along with new locations for the familiar Beach Hut Deli and Common Grounds Coffee.

CREAM, standing for “Cookies Rule Everything Around Me,” is a famous ice cream and cookie shop originally located in Berkeley. The hours are noon to midnight on Mondays through Wednesdays, noon to 2 a.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays and noon to 11 p.m. on Sundays.

The Davis CREAM had its grand opening on Sept. 21 and handed out free CREAM ice cream sandwiches from noon to 8 p.m.

There are 18 ice cream flavors and 10 different types of cookies in order to make an ice cream sandwich of one’s choosing.

“I believe the triple chocolate chip cookie with mint chip ice cream will be a popular menu item,” said manager Eric Tu.

CREAM is located downtown on F Street, right across from Regal Cinemas Davis Holiday 6.

The Melt sells sandwiches, soups and desserts. Known to be a grilled cheese sandwich shop, this will be a place where people can sit and eat in or order their food to-go via an account online. The Melt will be opening in November in the Davis Commons next to The Habit Burger and Jamba Juice.

“It’s a good place for college students because the menu is straightforward and simple,” said Sophia Kim, a third-year clinical nutrition major, who has tried their Berkeley branch. “It’s a good place to go for lunch, and it will [provide] warm comfort food for the customers.”

Along with these new restaurants, there will be old favorites — Beach Hut Deli and Common Grounds Coffee are reopening in their respective new locations.

Beach Hut Deli was previously located downtown on E Street, but closed in June due to its relocation. Its new location is on Second Street and Mace Boulevard, right across Target.

“The sandwiches are huge and tasty at a reasonable price,” said Crystal Baik, a third-year communication major. “The idea of it being a little shack at a beach setting is cute; they really put a lot of thought into the decor.”

Known for its wide array of selections for freshly made sandwiches, Beach Hut Deli will be reopening its doors in November.

Common Grounds Coffee is another Davis favorite that has been around for 12 years, but closed in April due to the landlord refusing to renew their lease. Son Chong, the owner of Common Grounds, managed to receive a new lease right next door to its previous location in Oakshade Commons. The old location is now a pet store.

“Due to the community’s support we were able to move back in,” Chong said. “First and foremost, thank you for bringing us back here.”

Common Grounds has upgraded its menu by incorporating grilled cheese sandwiches, panini sandwiches, soups and cookies from Cookie Connection. They will now be able to take orders for larger groups such as clubs, fraternities and other organizations for events. Pour-over coffees and high-end teas will be available as well.

“[There is] a similar menu except bigger,” Chong said. “We will incorporate more things into it, and the prices will be affordable.”

There will also be a selection of beer and wine for customers, which means the hours will be extended and they will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Before it closed, Common Grounds was a place where people in Davis came to socialize and study. Chong intends to create that same ambience for its new location, this time with new furniture and an outdoor patio. During the grand opening in October, all 12-ounce drinks will be $1.

Common Grounds aims to reopen in late September but its grand opening will be toward the end of October. During this grand opening, Common Grounds, Dos Coyotes, Teabo and Mr. Pickles in the Oakshade Town Center will have an event in which people can come listen to music and enter to win great prizes for a night of fun.

TAMMY LEE can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Scientists find target for possible cure for cancer

Science Editor
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According to the American Cancer Society, one out of every three people you know will face cancer at some point in their life. Luckily, a recent study performed at UC Berkeley and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows some promise of a possible cure. Daniel Nomura, a professor of the Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology Department and the main investigator of the study, shed new light on the importance of lipids in the development of cancer.

Although previous research studies have helped scientists to understand that lipids metabolize differently in cancer cells than in normal cells, the degree of such variation and its ramifications were unexplored.

“While it’s been known since the 1950s that a particular class of lipids called ‘ether lipids’ were heightened in levels in human tumors, it wasn’t known whether these ether lipids were just associated with, or were drivers of cancer aggressiveness,” Nomura said in an email.

     The study focused on AGPS, the major enzyme involved in making ether lipids. Nomura and his team injected two groups of mice with cancerous cells. In one group, the AGPS enzyme remained active and in the other, the enzyme was inactivated. In the group with the active enzyme, cancer cells remained aggressive, while in the inactive group tumors were practically non-existent. In doing so, it helped to prove that lipid membranes can be responsible for signaling and fueling cancer growth in other cells.

Daniel Benjamin, a fourth-year graduate student in Nomura’s lab, is responsible for designing and implementing projects for studies such as this one.

“What I found to be extremely challenging was trying to fully understand the extent to which one small change to a cancer cell — in this case, disabling an enzyme (AGPS) that synthesizes ether lipids — could have such extensive and widespread effects on many different aspects of cancer cell metabolism,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin said that the metabolism of a cancer cell is somewhat analogous to a complex chain of dominoes.

“What we essentially did in this study was remove one of those dominoes,” Benjamin said.

The results of the study confirmed that when AGPS levels were high in the mice, the cells turned cancerous. They also found that the inactivation of the AGPS made the cancer cells less viable.

It is no secret that cancer continues to impact the lives of many individuals, such as second-year political science major Stephanie Bonham whose father was diagnosed with brain cancer.

“Watching my dad die of cancer forced me to come to terms with mortality at a young age,” Bonham said. “His death also caused my family members to distance themselves from one another. It wasn’t until our family bonded with my stepdad, who had experienced the same tragedy, that we finally came together again.”

Research like this promises to help make such tragedies a thing of the past. Unfortunately, according to Benjamin, AGPS inhibitors are not a magic bullet to cure all types of cancer, but when used in combination with chemotherapy, they represent a significant step forward in the battle with this disease.

JASBIR KAUR can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

 

A quick guide to art venues in Davis

Arts Editor
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THEATERS
Regal Cinemas
Stadium 5 — 420 G St.
Holiday 6 — 101 F St.
The primary movie theaters in Davis. If you want to watch a big Hollywood movie, it’s playing in one of these theaters. Stadium 5 and Holiday 6 show different movies, so make sure you get to the right one. Both theaters sell tickets for older movies for $5.50 on Tuesdays.

The Davis Varsity Theater
616 Second St.
Davis’ source for independent film. They have two screens dedicated to the kind of movies that win Academy Awards. Like Regal, the Varsity also runs a Tuesday discount; tickets are $8.50 all day with a 50-cent discount if you pay cash.

Davis Musical Theatre Company Performing Arts Center
607 Pena Dr.
This is the headquarters for the Davis Musical Theatre Company, which really does what it says on the tin. This school year will see the Company tackle six musicals: Spamalot! in September and October, Oliver! in November, Cabaret in January, South Pacific in March, A Chorus Line in April and May and Les Miserables in June and July.

Veterans Memorial Theater
203 E. 14th St.
This is a 325-seat theater located in central Davis, between Davis Senior High and the Yolo County Library. While there aren’t many events held here besides the Acme Theatre Company’s performances, there may be a concert or an author appearance sometime during the school year.

STORES
Armadillo Music
205 F St.
This is the record store for Davis. Armadillo has a great selection of CDs and LPs along with throngs of used DVDs. In addition, Armadillo’s bargain bin offers various discounts throughout the month where you might find some great deals.

Bizarro World
223 E St.
This store offers a wide variety of media, including comic books, used video games, board games, LP records and books. The back room of Bizarro World houses Four Star Video, which is the only video rental store in Davis and offers a great selection of DVDs to rent.

The Avid Reader and The Avid Reader Active
617 Second St.
An independent bookstore, spread over two shops on the 600 block of Second Street. The main store offers a selection of novels, nonfiction and children’s books, while the Active store focuses on cookbooks, fitness guides and puzzles. The Avid Reader also hosts events in which authors come to give readings and talk about their books.

Logos Books

513 Second St.
The only used non-textbook store in town. Logos Books offers a similar selection to The Avid Reader, although their entire stock is used and they organize their fiction into classics and contemporaries. Logos Books also has a bargain rack outside of the store.

ART GALLERIES
The John Natsoulas Gallery
521 First St.
A multi-story art gallery located across the street from Whole Foods. Each exhibition at the Natsoulas Gallery generally lasts one month, so there is often new work to see. In addition, Dr. Andy Jones hosts a poetry reading and open mic every second and fourth Thursday at 8 p.m.

The Pence Gallery
212 D St.
An art gallery located in the heart of downtown Davis. The Pence Gallery offers several educational programs for people interested in the arts.

Third Space
946 Olive Drive
Third Space is the home of the Third Space Art Collective, who emphasize both a do-it-yourself and do-it-together ethos. They host music and art shows as well as the Davis Flea Market, which is held on the last weekend of every month.

Nelson Gallery
South of Wright Hall, in the Arboretum
The Nelson Gallery, located in the scenic Arboretum, displays works of art in a huge space. The Gallery won’t be open until Oct. 10 in order to allow for construction of the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art.

Marsh’s defense attorney wants charges dropped

The California Aggie
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At Daniel Marsh’s arraignment on Sept. 24 defense attorney Deputy Public Defender Ronald Johnson said he would seek to have some of the charges against his client dismissed. But declined to comment further on the motion.

Judge Timothy Fall set Nov. 1 as the date for the hearing regarding the motion and Johnson has until Oct. 18 to file the motion.

 Marsh is currently in custody at Yolo County Juvenile Hall. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder with enhancements for using a knife and special circumstances including multiple murders, lying in wait and torture.
— Paayal Zaveri

News in Brief: ASUCD Senator Alyson Sagala resigns

Campus Editor
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On Sept. 25, ASUCD Senator Alyson Sagala resigned from her position after she was forced to graduate early due to financial complications. She was expected to complete her full term this Fall Quarter after her election last winter.

“I believe it would be unfair of me to attempt to serve out my term without being able to commit as much passion, time and dedication that I did these past two quarters,” Sagala said.

She added that the candidate most likely to fill her seat during the countback election would be Olivia Brown. Brown has experience inside ASUCD as [an] ECAC Commissioner, and outside as a Retention Coordinator for the African Diaspora Cultivating Education at the SRRC.

“She is a constant advocate for students at UC Davis, and I have no doubt her unique insight and unwavering passion and dedication will be a great asset to the Association,” Sagala said.

Sagala said some of her proudest moments as Senator were when she was able to create awareness about contentious campus issues such as the UC involvement in the occupation of Palestine, questioning Intercollegiate Athletics and their financial practices, as well as demanding support for critically underfunded cultural events.

“After I leave I hope the SMART slate can continue to serve an invaluable voice for underrepresented students on this campus,” Sagala said. “There is an overwhelming majority in ASUCD controlled by an overbearing Executive office, and I hope the entire Senate — not just those from the SMART coalition — can learn to exercise their voice and take more assertive action in their legislative role in student government.”

— Adam Khan and Paayal Zaveri

Mommy-daughter night at the Mondavi Center: Review of Carly Rae Jepsen concert

The California Aggie
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It’s a bad idea to go stag to a female pop star’s concert and sit in the front row. It’s an objectively bad idea when the audience consists of tween girls and their mothers.

On September 18th, the Mondavi Center hosted Canadian Idol runner-up Carly Rae Jepsen with Nashville pop rock band Hot Chelle Rae (a band that confirms my childhood fear that we are running out of names for things) as the opening act.

Unlike the Morrissey concert I gushed about, I knew very little about the performers when I went through the doors. All I knew was that Hot Chelle Rae have a hit song (“Tonight Tonight”) that I don’t like and that Carly Rae Jepsen has a hit song that I like.

Obviously, I’m not in the target demographic for this concert. I’m a childless, younger-sibling-less 23 year old male who spent all day listening to Swans and Japanese guitar pop. I went to this concert wearing a Joy Division shirt without a hint of irony. I’m really the worst possible person at The California Aggie to review a pop concert. Surprisingly, I actually kind of liked it.

Hot Chelle Rae, in typical rock n’ roll fashion, began performing promptly at 7:30. To be entirely honest—and this is coming from someone whose negative opinion of the band has changed very little since seeing them live—they should have shared the headlining spot with Jepsen. Their set was 15 minutes shorter than the headlining act and I got the feeling that the audience knew their songs better than they knew Jepsen’s.

Also, as of the morning after, I can’t remember anything Hot Chelle Rae played besides a Taylor Swift song, something that mentioned Skype, a Rihanna song and their hit. This is partly because I don’t care about Hot Chelle Rae and partly because the acoustics at the Mondavi Center made the vocals sound like My Bloody Valentine.

Hot Chelle Rae had a great stage presence though. The lead singer, a bleached blonde man named Ryan Follesé, performed with a huge smile on his face the entire time and really engaged with the audience. Unlike the bassist.

I wasn’t really able to focus on the last half of the show because the guitarist, who was fond of throwing guitar picks like they were shuriken, may have thrown one under my seat. The 12 year old girl in front of me noticed this and kept turning around to stare at me, which made the awkward feeling I had even worse. Even when I obviously couldn’t find the damn guitar pick, she kept staring at me. Eugh. Sorry. That was Hot Chelle Rae.

Half an hour after Hot Chelle Rae left my life forever, Carly Rae Jepsen entered it in full force. She just appeared in the middle of the stage and began to sing.

While Follesé had skill with the audience, Jepsen was a natural. She knew exactly how to talk to 14 year old girls. This was unusual for me, because every other concert I’ve been to was by a consciously distant performer, such as Bob Dylan or Morrissey.

The show was a damn spectacle too. Cannons shot giant balloons, there was a mad light show and I got covered in confetti twice. When I left, I felt like I had a fun hangover.

Also, in case you’re wondering, she ended her show with THAT song. She snuck up on the audience with it too, placing it after a five minute bit where she had some audience members (who consisted of four adorable little girls and one college aged male) come up on the stage.

It was a very abrupt ending to an otherwise decent show. She walked into the front rows and then went back up on stage and booked it. No encore. I’ve never seen that happen. I bet she hates singing that song now.

In all, it was a decent way to spend an evening I would have otherwise spent playing video games while listening to music and crying. I wasn’t the target audience for this show and I can say with authority that it lacks any sort of crossover appeal to people who aren’t into bubblegum pop. Go if you’re a fan.

 —John Kesler
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