By ZOEY MORTAZAVI — features@theaggie.org

Davis is known to many people — far beyond just its residents — as a community that is centered around biking. In fact, Davis is widely considered the biking capital of the United States. We have plenty of local infrastructure based around biking, including many bike stores, repair shops and the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. Much of Davis similarly takes inspiration from cycling, including its decor, local art and even community events.  

Davis is home to the very first bike lane that was implemented in the United States; it was created in July of 1967 and was then referred to as a “lane for the preferential use of bicyclists.”

Davis bike culture has skyrocketed in popularity since 1967. Now, the city hosts 102 miles of bike lanes, as well as 63 miles of additional pathways for bikers. A significant amount of the Davis community, both residents and UC Davis students, utilize their bikes as a primary form of transportation. 

UC Davis students quickly grow accustomed to the bike rules and practices once the school year starts, even if they’re not always using their bikes. The campus is filled with cyclists year-round, and even pedestrians have to learn the cyclist rules of the road in order to get around successfully. 

Ashley Rewa, a first-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, shared advice for incoming Davis students about adjusting to the fast-paced bike lifestyle.

“For me, biking around Davis makes the campus feel smaller and more approachable,” Rewa said. “With Davis being the biggest UC campus, walking from the Cuarto dorms to the library can feel like a really long time. But on my bike, it only takes 10 minutes.” 

Rewa also commented on how biking has improved her experiences as a student.

“Not only is biking convenient, but I think it’s something that makes Davis unique and fun,” Rewa said. “A quick bike ride across campus can go a long way [toward] clearing my head after a tough midterm or long lecture, too. My advice for incoming students is to make sure you know how to ride before you get here because bike traffic is no joke sometimes!” 

Today, 98% of the main streets in Davis have at least some form of bicycle provision, according to The Guardian. When new classes of students arrive in September, many have a difficult adjustment period during their first-year induction days. 

During the first few weeks of each new school year, upperclassmen have a tradition of gathering at campus intersections and cheering as inexperienced first-years crash into each other and struggle to adjust to the bike-specific roundabouts and lanes.

Grace Pei, a first-year biochemical engineering major, shared her opinions on Davis’ unique bike-based culture after getting used to it for the first few weeks.

“Bike culture at Davis has been so cool to see and be involved in,” Pei said. “I love how it is a unique factor to Davis and almost brings a sense of comfort as everyone is immersed in the same culture. Biking is a great way to get around, but it’s also important to be mindful of others by following biking guidelines. Trying to bike with other people can be difficult at first, so everyone should learn to be patient while riding.”

Pei continued by sharing some of her favorite activities as a student who bikes to class the majority of the time.

“I love to bike with friends, whether it be going downtown or visiting the Arboretum,” Pei said. “Biking around Davis, surrounded by nature and when there’s a light breeze, is an enjoyable experience that I think everyone should try once.” 

Our city’s logo is a highwheel bike, which was the first practical human-powered wheeled vehicle, and has become a recognizable symbol of Davis. 

Local organizations aim to educate residents about bike safety and infrastructure. A primary example is Bike Davis, a non-profit organization that hosts an annual “Loopalooza” bike ride throughout the city that is open to the public.

There are also many examples of bike-centered events and groups in Davis. Our downtown is even home to the “Bicycling Hall of Fame,” located in Central Park next to where the farmers market is held.  

Whether you are new to Davis or not, it is clear that biking holds a special place in the heart of the community. Students at Davis have reported that the city’s flourishing bike culture makes them feel closer to the community as a whole.

Hazel Henninger, a first-year history major, shared what makes Davis’ biking traditions so special. 

“It’s been so cute to see how Davis took our bike traditions and really ran with them,” Henninger said. “A lot of the town’s identity is based on bikes, and it’s been a really cool thing to be a part of. Seeing everyone on bikes or scooters to get around is a huge part of the charm of downtown and Davis as a whole.” 

She continued by sharing her main takeaways for incoming students who are uncertain about adjusting to Davis’ bike-centered environment.

 “Future Aggies should definitely prepare themselves by dusting off their biking skills,” Henninger said. “Falling off your bike or getting into a bike accident — or a couple — is all a part of the Davis experience. More than that, they should also be ready for a really charming environment with wholesome [bicycle] traditions that will make them appreciate Davis that much more.”

Written by: Zoey Mortazavi — features@theaggie.org 

The post The history of biking culture in Davis appeared first on The Aggie.

By EMME DUNNING — features@theaggie.org 

In the past month, college students in the United States have gained increasing attention from the public through their support of the Free Palestine movement. Students across the country have asserted their opposition to the conflict by erecting encampments, holding rallies and occupying classrooms and administrative buildings. As the UC Davis encampment enters its third week of demonstrations, we take a look back at past UC Davis protests that have paved the way. 

In the spring of 1970, U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War was at the forefront of many people’s minds. This was particularly true for college students, as young people across the nation organized rallies, sit-ins and boycotts in protest of the conflict — and UC Davis was no exception. 

Brett Stone, a UC Davis alum who was set to graduate in 1970, found this issue particularly pressing. 

“There was a tremendous amount of protesting and concern and outrage,” Stone said. “The question was — for me and my friends — what can we do? How do we express our anger? How can we make a difference?”

Their anger was twofold, as students were not only appalled by the actions of the United States in the war but also acutely aware of the direct role they were set to play come their graduation that June. 

“Once we graduated, we would be in line to go there [to enlist in the Vietnam War],” Stone said.

A UC Davis tennis player at the time, Stone decided to join a large group of UC Davis athletes in Jocks for Peace, an organization whose goal centered around the mobilization of athletes against the war in Vietnam. The group engaged in several actions aimed at educating and empowering communities to reject involvement in the war. 

One campaign involved going door to door in the neighboring town of Dixon to encourage people to write letters in protest of the war. Additionally, the UC Davis tennis team came together to pool the money allotted by the university for food at away tournaments and donate these funds to an anti-war organization, a move that garnered intense backlash. 

“The idea was to get people involved and understand what was happening,” Stone said. “We were confident that once they understood, they would realize what a horrible root this had taken. It was time to stop.”

Although the term “jock” is not necessarily associated with civil disobedience, Stone asserted that UC Davis athletes cared deeply about this issue and wanted their actions as a team to reflect that.

“For athletes in Davis, it was not business as usual,” Stone said. “That was the impetus. People saw athletes as disconnected and privileged — nothing was as important as their sports. It was our effort to change that image. Yes, athletes [were] preoccupied with their sports and their training, except when it [came] to this issue. We were sacrificing our education and our concern with ourselves and saying, ‘This is more important.’”

Despite the efforts of Stone and his teammates, two years later, in 1972, the war continued to rage. But as the U.S. war machine refused to let up, so did the student movement. Reignited by President Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia, students saw an immediate need for an escalation of their anti-war efforts. This need was, yet again, embodied by UC Davis students.

Bob Black, a city council member at the time and former UC Davis student body president, remembers the events of May 1972 vividly. 

“There was a very major uprising of students,” Black said. “There was a massive rally on the Quad.” 

This rally morphed into a march through downtown Davis, reaching numbers of up to two or three thousand, the majority of whom were UC Davis students.

In an effort to reach a larger audience and reassert a rejection of business as usual, a group of protestors blocked Interstate 80 in its path through Davis, backing up traffic for miles. 

Despite their shared anti-war goals, Black disagreed with protestors blocking the freeway. 

“To me, this seemed like not a very good way of winning middle-class hearts and minds to be against the war,” Black said. “And so I went down to the freeway. I spoke to people and I said, ‘Instead of blocking the freeway, why don’t we go up and block the railroad tracks?’”

The railroad tracks held great significance in the United States’ involvement in the war, as it was a major form of weaponry transport. In this way, Black believed that blocking the railroad tracks could make a similar statement to blocking the freeway.

Many protestors agreed, and over 100 people migrated to the railroad tracks where they effectively held the route to a standstill until their arrest nearly two days later. 

From the demonstrations of 1972 to the ones seen today, Black acknowledged the important role of student participation in social justice movements. 

“I think students can be regarded as the leadership of the future and their initial efforts to elevate public awareness and provoke the conscience of the people of America,” Black said. “I think it’s an early sign of where the generation would like to take us, and I think that’s a good thing. They’re attempting to reframe the debate as well as alter the course of public policy. It is extremely educational and fulfilling to take action as opposed to being a stand-by or a spectator.”

These sentiments of student involvement have been echoed in the years following the Vietnam War in countless issues. The United Auto Workers Union, which represents UC Davis graduate students, has embraced the importance of protesting for social change.

The Union works to protect the interests of its workers, which for strike UAW 4811 means supporting graduate students UC system-wide to secure fair wages, safe working conditions and adequate benefits. In 2022, the student-led union branch executed a UC system-wide labor strike in the name of fair wages.

Emily Weintraut, a teaching assistant and graduate student researcher in food science as well as the UAW 4811 ASE unit chair, has shown frustration with UC administrators’ lack of regard for student protests and demands. 

“As the [2022] strike went on, we stayed strong, but people got more and more surprised with how the university just didn’t seem to uphold the values that it says it does,” Weintraut said. 

She asserted that although student protestors should be commended for their efforts in ensuring their rights are upheld, it should not be their responsibility. 

“We wouldn’t have to have strike authorization votes, strikes, rallies and protests if the university would just implement the contracts correctly and would abide by the law,” Weintraut said. 

Today, the union prepares for another possible strike, this time on the grounds of safety concerns. The concerns stem from the recent actions of UC police at UC San Diego and UC Los Angeles, who the union asserts endangered the health and safety of their members in their violent response to pro-Palestine demonstrations on the campuses. 

If enacted, the strike would follow in the footsteps of many student demonstrations before it, continuing the legacy of student activism that has remained a pillar of the UC Davis community. 

Written by: Emme Dunning — features@theaggie.org

The post Understanding the history of protest in our path forward appeared first on The Aggie.

By GRETA FOEHR — features@theaggie.org 

The Whole Earth Festival (WEF), a 55-year-long tradition in Davis, took place May 10 to 12. The festival featured a large variety of art vendors, food booths and two stages with live music playing for the entirety of the event.  

Jackie Allen, a third-year linguistics major who has been involved in managing WEF since their freshman year, emphasized the festival aims to be sustainable.

“We attempt to be as zero waste as we possibly can,” Allen said. “We talked to the food vendors in advance and made sure that they’re okay with using [reusable dishes provided by Segundo Dining Commons and the CoHo]. We reduce waste in that way. We also have compost and recycling stations where we sort all the trash that goes through WEF.”

Allen also said the success of the event relies on a team of students that starts working together in January to put the festival together and organizes the student and community member volunteers. 

“Volunteers make WEF possible,” Allen said. “It’s a welcoming place that really ties the community together, which I think is cool.”

This year, they had somewhere between 600 to 800 volunteers helping set up, take down and run the three-day festival. 

Nola Zimdars, a third-year design major, is a part of the student group in charge of WEF. Specifically, she designs the pamphlet that is passed out at the festival with all the bands, booths and a map of the grounds. 

“Staff is around 35 people and we have hundreds of volunteers,” Zimdars said. “There are so many hands that work together to make everything happen leading up to the festival.”

The staff has weekly meetings in the months leading up to the festival, and everyone has their own role and part of WEF that they are in charge of planning. 

“We are all such a hard working group of people who are so dedicated to cultivating community and an experience for everyone else,” Zimdars said.

For example, some students are in charge of selection, screening and communication with vendors, while others do the same with bands and food booths.

This team of students also decides the theme for WEF. 

“The theme this year is ‘Can you dig it?’ which is just a broad statement that we kind of leave up for interpretation,” Zimdars said. “‘Can you dig the Whole Earth Festival? Can you dig sustainability and community and music and art? Can you dig it?’” 

WEF sets itself apart from other music and arts festivals through its commitment to its core beliefs. Allen resonates with what WEF stands for.

“There are four main values of WEF and those are acceptance, expression, sustainability and community,” Allen said. “And honestly, WEF has been one of the best, most inspiring communities I’ve ever been a part of.”

Nonviolence is another important aspect of the WEF, and everyone who volunteers goes through a nonviolence training put on by the student organizers. 

“[Nonviolence] is an active way to de-escalate situations,” Allen said. “We try to handle uncomfortable scenarios with empathy and with appreciation for who that person is, and with respect to ourselves. [The practice of nonviolence] is de-escalatory and it’s applicable to any situation in life. You can only handle your actions and your reactions, so we just give tools and advice for how to best handle a situation that could be stressful or overwhelming.” 

Another important aspect of WEF’s operation is the transmission of knowledge between past and future members of staff. 

Mike Erickson, a Davis resident, is the sound engineer for the Cedar Stage at WEF. He has always been involved in WEF, and he even skipped his eighth-grade classes to attend the very first festival in 1969. 

“The difficulty of all student organizations has always been transmitting your knowledge,” Erickson said.

The students on staff refer to the older community members who assist them in the planning process as “old weffies.”

“Old weffies help pass along the nature of WEF and maybe the WEF magic,” Zimdars said. “It’s kind of something you have to experience face-to-face in real life. Having them come to meetings once in a while [and] having them help out with the nonviolence meetings is really important because I think otherwise the information wouldn’t be passed on as accurately. Students pass through so quickly, so [old weffies’] legacy and active participation is pretty vital.”

The collaboration and support between long-term WEF volunteers and UC Davis students makes WEF a community-building space. 

“The students planning WEF [receive] an educational value and an art value,” Erickson said. “People are working together as a whole. The community, the collective, the collective people working together.”

Erickson said the festival also challenges students to learn how to be self-sufficient.

“The students come out and use their hands to put together this festival,” Erickson said. “Whole Earth is a build-it-yourself type of thing, and if you’re going to build it yourself, you’ve got to learn how to use hand tools. And people who’ve never learned hand tools, learn how to use them and how to put them together.”

The hands-on process of planning and setting up the festival is a valuable experience for many students. Allen’s favorite part of WEF is setting up and taking down the festival with the help of many volunteers.

“It’s the most beautiful thing because we’re able to create two domes, two stages, a bunch of booths — it’s just magic,” Allen said. 

To make space for the pro-Palestine encampment in the Quad this year, the directors decided to move WEF to Russell Field. 

“Moving a whole festival in two days has been a lot, especially for our directors and logistics directors,” Allen said. “They’ve been working 32 hours, moving everything and making it work. But what is WEF without a little chaos?”

WEF is a unique, student-run, arts and music festival committed to its values, bringing both the local and visiting community together. Erickson expresses some other important learning opportunities that arise from WEF. 

“Whole Earth is an alternative to the mainstream,” Erickson said. “I think that it’s an alternative to what the administration thinks of this campus. There are a lot of students who think this campus is here to train them and prepare them to be middle corporate managers. But there are others who see it as a place to learn, to create alternatives to corporate management.”

WEF brings joy and a sense of belonging to students and community members alike. Allen shared their deep appreciation for the energy the festival creates.

“WEF is just one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever been a part of, and I feel really grateful and lucky to have gone to Davis and to have walked onto the quad and gotten involved,” Alan said.

Written by: Greta Foehr — features@theaggie.org

The post Behind the scenes of Whole Earth Festival’s planning and preparation process appeared first on The Aggie.

By EMME DUNNING — features@theaggie.org

The UC Davis women’s basketball team has always strived for greatness. The program has secured six regular season championships since becoming an official member of the Big West Conference in 2007, including five in a row from 2017 to 2022, all under head coach Jennifer Gross. 

This past February the team set out to continue its legacy of excellence both on and off the court. Beginning with a game against UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 1 and continuing throughout the month, all members of the team and coaching staff took a knee together during the playing of the National Anthem at every home game as part of a Black Futures Month pre-game presentation.

Before the National Anthem began, a short speech written in collaboration with the players and coaches was also read aloud by a team member each night:

“We honor and remember the sacrifices, suffering and contributions of Black people to our country. We acknowledge those who have paved the way for us to continue the fight against the racial injustice that is still prevalent today. We challenge you — our family, friends and fans — to think about the ways that our community can fight discrimination and work together to build a more inclusive future through empathy, education and compassion.”

  This presentation was in solidarity with communities across the United States recognizing Black History Month, and with it a celebration of African American culture, achievements and perseverance. Cities across the nation commemorated the historic month through rallies, festivals, demonstrations and more. UC Davis, which has joined a growing movement to rebrand the month as Black Futures Month, showed support with various workshops and performances. 

Among the four UCD players who gave a speech preceding the playing of the National Anthem was fifth-year psychology and history double major, Evanne Turner, who found the presentation particularly impactful. 

“It is a piece of me,” Turner told The Aggie when reflecting on the importance of Black History Month. 

Turner led the Big West Conference in scoring in the 2022-23 season and has been named to the All-Big West First Team for both of the last two seasons. 

Although playing well is a major goal for the shooting guard, Turner wants to ensure that her legacy as a UC Davis athlete includes not only her achievements on the court, but also her commitment to social justice. 

“People should recognize you for more than just your sport,” Turner said. “You’re in the spotlight, so you need to use that platform to the best of your ability.” 

Turner and her team join a rich tradition of athletes using their platform through sports to amplify important issues. Colin Kaepernick, John Carlos, Elizabeth Williams and ​​Muhammad Ali are among these trailblazers. Historically, these athletes have endured intense backlash for their actions not only from fans, but in many cases from their own teammates and coaches. Jennifer Gross, head coach of the UCD women’s basketball team, is working hard to change this narrative. 

“Basketball players, and specifically women’s basketball players, have always been leaders when it comes to social justice issues,” Gross wrote in an email correspondence.

She added that she has “no doubt that [her] players will go on to be leaders in their respective fields where they will have the opportunity to influence systems, policies and institutions in ways that will lead to more equity for everyone.”

Gross also noted that the team’s dedication to supporting Black Futures goes far beyond the decision to kneel for the National Anthem. She highlighted initiatives including building mentoring relationships with a Sacramento elementary school, handing out informative pamphlets at home games and ensuring discussions of Black culture and history are commonplace within the team.

Long-time UC Davis women’s basketball play-by-play radio broadcaster and UC Davis alumni, Greg Wong, has seen the unique culture of the university’s women’s basketball program firsthand. 

“I don’t know if there are many other teams in the country that did something like that,” Wong said while reflecting on the team’s demonstration. 

“I think it speaks to this culture that [Gross] has built over the 13 years as head coach,” Wong continued. “[This culture] does empower their players to make these kinds of statements and have the backing of their coaches and of their community to be able to express themselves this way.”

It’s obvious that players, coaches and fans alike have taken note of the role athletes can play in social justice and movements larger than the game itself. Although Black History Month has come to a close, the UC Davis women’s basketball team’s commitment to Black Futures endures. 

Written by: Emme Dunning — features@theaggie.org

The post UC Davis women’s basketball team kneels for the National Anthem, shining light on Black History, Future appeared first on The Aggie.

By LAILA AZHAR — features@theaggie.org 

On May 4, Columbia University’s radio station, WKCR 89.9FM, released a statement on the importance of journalism on college campuses. 

“While these last two weeks have been an intense moment for anyone on Columbia’s campus, we want to take the time to reaffirm our belief in the necessary value of student journalism,” the statement reads. “The work being done shows us just how valuable and necessary it is to listen to student voices during these times of strife.” 

The statement was put out two weeks after WKCR began covering student protests against the university’s investments in companies that profit from the Israel Palestine war and subsequent police action faced by protestors. 

When the Columbia administration restricted mainstream media outlets’ access to the campus, the journalists at WKCR used their unique position as students to continue to report on the events unfolding. 

Student journalism has played a major role in coverage of events unfolding on college campuses, as demonstrated by Columbia students and other outlets including UCLA’s Daily Bruin and the University of Texas at Austin’s The Daily Texan. 

The same is true at UC Davis. While our university doesn’t have an official journalism program, students interested in the field have many options to practice reporting skills. 

Those interested in written media have the opportunity to write for The California Aggie, the student-run campus newspaper, which robustly covers campus and city news. The paper reports on a wide variety of topics and is made up of seven desks: campus news, city news, opinion, features, arts & culture, science & technology and sports. Students can apply for staff or volunteer positions, which open quarterly, or submit opinion pieces to opinion@theaggie.org for consideration.

Outlets such as Davis Political Review and Her Campus at UCD also provide spaces for students interested in platforms focused around specific topics. 

Additionally, the University Writing Program offers classes specialized in journalism skills, including “Writing in the Professions: Journalism” (UWP 104C), which gives students practical experience researching, interviewing and writing articles.

Alexis Muthoga, a third-year African American studies major, is currently enrolled in UWP 104C and emphasized the class’ focus on hands-on learning. 

“I would recommend the class to people who are interested in learning how to interview and do journalistic-style writing,” Muthoga said. “Having a certain level of curiosity and interest in the subject helps you learn the most you can.” 

The class also provides a friendly space for students to get feedback on their writing. 

“The energy in here is great,” Caitlin Ware, a third-year communications major, said. “It’s upbeat and a really positive environment. When you give feedback, you have to be strict of course, but it’s still a great environment.” 

KDVS News is another example of a way students can get involved with journalism outside of the classroom. It provides a unique opportunity for students interested in broadcast journalism. The group, which is housed under campus radio station KDVS 90.3 FM, produces a bi-weekly 30-minute segment covering campus news, along with a shorter interview-focused segment titled “Keepin’ It Freeform,” which is posted on the group’s Instagram account. 

Remali De Silva, a third-year English major and the group’s news director, commented on what she hopes KDVS News will bring to reporting on the UC Davis campus. 

“We think it’s important to keep the news vibrant and different and show it in all its forms,” De Silva said.

The skills taught through practicing journalism are not solely applicable to those who want a career in journalism. George Miller, one of the UWP 104C instructors, described the ways in which practicing journalism encourages a deeper awareness of the world. 

“To make human connections, we need to be aware of what’s going [on] around us, and to be honoring life by observing it,” Miller said. “If we are patiently observing, if we’re paying attention, then we can remain curious, and we can, as writers, help to satisfy curiosity that readers have, including curiosity they didn’t even know they had.” 

Miller continued by commenting on the role of journalists in today’s technologically adept world. 

“No other form of writing invites distracted browsing to the extent that journalism does,” Miller said. “Every year, the attention span of readers, the different kinds of distraction that readers have, increases. You’re always, as a journalist, trying to get their attention and keep their attention, and you hope to do that honorably rather than through cheap falsifying tricks.”

In an era defined by information overload, the skills learned through journalism are essential for anyone navigating complex issues. As college journalism continues to play an important role in the media, journalistic opportunities provide a path for students to deepen their understanding of the world around them. 

Even without a formal program, UC Davis is still full of these opportunities for students to benefit from the lessons that journalism can teach. 

Written by: Laila Azhar — features@theaggie.org 

The post Even without a formal program, student journalism flourishes at UC Davis appeared first on The Aggie.

By ZOEY MORTAZAVI — features@theaggie.org

If there is one thing UC Davis is known for, it is the university’s deep-rooted connection to animals and farming. When many think of Davis, its association with cows and agricultural life may be some of the first things that come to mind. 

This may be because UC Davis’ Veterinary School is the No. 1 veterinary program in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report. Davis is also ranked as the second-best program worldwide, with the first-place ranking going to the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London. 

Davis’ veterinary residency program is the nation’s largest by far, offering more than 30 specialties and hosting more than 700 students in pursuit of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, as well as other professional and graduate degrees. UC Davis undergraduate students majoring in animal sciences have reported loving the hands-on approach and interactive labs that many courses here include. 

Sadie Liu, a first-year animal science major, shared some of her experiences as a student in the Department of Animal Science.

“As an aspiring pre-veterinary student, I have absolutely loved every second of my experiences here at Davis,” Liu said. “The animal science classes and labs that I’ve taken have been incredibly hands-on and eye-opening, and I adore spending time with all the newborn animals, too.”

Liu is also the current secretary for Davis’ Veterinary Aide Club. She explained that Davis takes an interactive approach to its animal science program that helps it stand out among many other prestigious universities.  

 “I think that these interactive opportunities are truly what sets the Davis veterinary program apart from other colleges, as they not only instill scientific and technical knowledge, but also ethical and moral consideration,” Liu said. “I am so excited to continue my veterinary pursuits at Davis, and I can’t wait to see what the program teaches me next.” 

In addition to boasting a successful program, the veterinary school’s hospital aids over 50,000 patients each year and utilizes over $89 million in annual research funding. The school also celebrated its 75th anniversary in April of 2023. 

The hospital has also received approval from the American Animal Hospital Association, which is the only current organization to accredit companion animal vet hospitals like the Davis veterinary school. The hospital hosts the Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials, which provides undergraduate students with the chance to work with animals, veterinary professionals and other researchers in the field. 

Undergraduate students have expressed that the empirical lab approach at Davis is what makes the program so useful for students trying to become veterinarians. 

“I think anyone who is hoping to pursue a career in the veterinary field has heard about UC Davis’ prestige in both animal and veterinary science,” Olivia Patsch, a first-year animal science major, said. “The action-based labs really go to show why Davis has a top spot in this field. I feel like UC Davis is all about learning by doing; I’ve been exposed to so many different types of animals and different ways of applying concepts that I’ve seen in class.”

Patsch continued to discuss some of the benefits that she has observed as a part of the program as an undergraduate student. 

 “There are so many research opportunities and the professors I’ve had thus far are so caring,” she said. “There’s a pretty massive stockpile of information and resources for students to chip away at, and I’m really looking forward to my next three years here as an animal science major.”

All of the animal science programs at Davis are a subset of the university’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The college offers 27 majors, including the animal science and animal science and management major. 

As students progress further into the animal science curriculum, many choose to apply to veterinary schools when they become upperclassmen. Students who receive their undergraduate degrees from Davis have access to the veterinary school’s resources before applying, which many consider a plus of the undergraduate animal science program.

Chloe Palarca-Wong, a fourth-year animal science major, shared her thoughts on the department as a student who is graduating this year.

“The animal science classes have been really interesting and hands-on, which is something I don’t think you can get at a lot of other schools,” Palarca-Wong said. “The highlight for me is definitely being in Davis, where there are so many opportunities to engage in veterinary medicine — there are clinics, volunteering and a lot of research options.”

 Palarca-Wong continued by explaining what makes Davis’ labs and programs unique. 

“In labs, we work with the dairy cows, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens and other animals too,” Palarca-Wong said. “It’s really cool because we’ll learn things on paper and we get to actually see and apply those concepts to the animals in-person. Another great thing is that all the professors who teach the courses and labs have their own research, and they take undergraduate students and will let you work with them, because Davis is a big research institution.” 

Universities all over the world have specialities and programs that stand out; here at Davis, the veterinary school and animal science program are the primary example of that. Davis’ program has contributed a great deal to veterinary medicine and will continue to do so for years to come as the program continues to develop, expand and flourish. 

Written by: Zoey Mortazavi — features@theaggie.org 

The post UC Davis at the forefront of veterinary medicine appeared first on The Aggie.

By SABRINA FIGUEROA — features@theaggie.org 

As children and innocent civilians continue to be killed in Gaza, students all over the world have come together in solidarity with Palestine, opposing “complicity in the Palestinian genocide,” according to one student group at UCLA — specifically by attempting to convince their universities to fully divest from Israel. 

Columbia University’s students were the first to start a pro-Palestinian encampment on April 17, with many other universities following suit. 

UC Davis became the eighth UC campus to join the protests when Davis Popular University for the Liberation of Palestine (PULP) set up an encampment at the Memorial Union Quad on Monday, May 6.

Students — both undergraduate and graduate — make up most of the participants of the encampment at UC Davis, according to organizers, though it is open for all ages to join. The encampment offers participating individuals food, first aid, mental health resources, community and an area that creates meaningful conversation about the conflict.

Sophia Rapacon, a second-year electrical engineering major, shared her thoughts on the new Davis encampment. 

“I’ve seen people call it ‘disruptive’ to student learning, [but] I thought it was the complete opposite,” Rapacon said. “It exists only as a consistent reminder of the genocide happening in Palestine.”

Ruoda Moler, a second-year political science and psychology double major, also expressed support for the encampments.

“I think it’s great that college students are coming together in large numbers across the country to show their support for Palestine and stand up against a genocide that the entire [U.S.] government and country is turning their backs on,” Moler said. “I’m proud and happy to see that Davis has joined in the movement and I know it will make a difference.” 

Mass pro-Palestinian protests have also helped students find comfort in the fact that their peers and the younger generation are willing to fight for what they want and for their futures, according to Rapacon. 

“Encampments across U.S. campuses have shown the strength students have in their beliefs, despite what [administration] wants them to believe,” Rapacon said. “It makes me proud to be a student, to be a part of a group unafraid of expressing our values.”

Although many students see the encampments in a more positive light, another student who is involved in the encampment and who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said that for them, it’s difficult to see police and counterprotesters push back against the encampment and pro-Palestinian protests.

“Seeing the practice of the constitution take place through freedom of speech and freedom of protest be met with violence has been disheartening,” the student said. “Whether or not people agree with the cause, it’s despicable to have students be met with violence, especially while [protesters are] setting stuff up. It has been really hard to watch.” 

Violence has been enacted against pro-Palestinian protesters at campuses all across the U.S. — including UC Davis — by counterprotesters, aggressors and law enforcement. 

Two recent and violent incidents occurred on the UCLA campus in close succession. On April 30, the UCLA solidarity encampment was attacked by pro-Israel counterprotesters where, as recorded in videos, they were seen throwing fireworks into the encampment, beating students and shouting things like “second Nakba,” which refers to the ethnic cleansing, displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. 

More violence ensued a couple days later, when in the early morning of May 2, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block made a decision to call in outside law enforcement. The Los Angeles Police Department then raided and cleared the encampment, shooting rubber bullets at students and arresting about 200 protesters. 

“It’s a terrible thing,” the anonymous student said. “[Police brutality] is filled with evil and hatred, and the schools simply cannot respond to matters like this. Causing harm to students who pay for your institution and [are] asking you to allocate your money somewhere that doesn’t harm people shouldn’t be an ask that is so difficult that you must cause violence amongst those groups.” 

Moler shared a similar sentiment. 

“From what I’m seeing, it seems like the protests are peaceful, and there’s no reason for police to be getting violent and arresting [students who are] exercising their right to protest and free speech,” Moler said. “There’s no reason to escalate [the situation].”

Chancellors and presidents of universities play a large role in these protests, especially with how they choose to handle them. Many — like UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and Columbia University President Minouche Shafik — have lost support over their treatment of protesters from students, faculty and even donating groups and politicians. 

Rapacon discussed the role of chancellors and presidents in the encampments, saying that they need to listen to their students to try and understand these protests before assuming there will be violence coming from them. 

“Chancellors have to be a funnel of learning for the larger student body, while still giving space and protection for the protesting students,” Rapacon said. “So for chancellors to call police and state troopers on their own students, who simply want to ensure the money they pay to earn a degree isn’t inadvertently funding a genocide, is traitorous.” 

The efforts of protesters have not gone unnoticed on the global stage, and protestors’ families, peers and even children in Gaza have shown them support. 

These encampments are a sign of hope, according to the anonymous student. 

“Watching students work through it and care for one another I think brings a lot of hope, in a ‘If there’s a will, there’s a way’ sort of perspective,” the student said. “It’s really amazing to see how much people will go out of their way to stand up for what they believe is right.” 

Written by: Sabrina Figueroa — features@theaggie.org

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By LYNN CHEN — features@theaggie.org 

The Asian American Association (AAA) at UC Davis organizes social, cultural and professional events to unify Asian American communities on campus.

Charlotte Chow, co-president of the AAA and a fourth-year science and technology, detailed the club’s purpose on campus. 

“The mission of [AAA] is to promote Asian cultural traditions and values, and to create a safe space for those looking to be in a community with other Asians,” Chow said.

Chow added that the club is not exclusive to just Asian students.

“You also don’t need to be Asian to join,” Chow said. “It’s a safe space for people in general.”

Typically, the club hosts general meetings on Thursdays and special team-bonding events on weekends. During meetings, members socialize with each other through activities such as mixers, study sessions and arts and crafts sessions. For weekend events, members get to know each other on a deeper level after picnics, bowling games and cabin trips to places outside of Davis.

A recent project the organization has been working on is a night market which will be open to the public on May 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Memorial Union tables.

“It’s more like an evening market, but we’re going to have vendors there who are also Asian students trying to sell their arts and crafts,” Chow said.

Maggie Lu, a third-year nutritional biology major and the secretary of AAA, stated that at this market, people will sell crocheted items and key chains and games will be hosted for attendees.

“We’ll also be selling some baked goods,” Lu said. “We’re still working on if we want to sell other drinks and food.”

Lu explained that the inspiration behind the night market is to mimic authentic Asian night markets.

“Obviously, we can’t replicate that here — it’s a little hard — but we’re just trying to find something similar [to Asian culture] to bring to Davis,” Lu said.

Chow believes what makes AAA unique is its openness to different cultural backgrounds. 

“With this club, we’re open to everyone and like having all the different cultures and people meet together,” Chow said.“If people don’t feel comfortable going to a club specifically for them, I think AAA is a way for them to also find community with [people from] other [ethnicities].”

Claire Ng, a first-year cognitive science major, agreed with this sentiment. She describes how AAA’s strong sense of community led her to commit to the organization as a freshman.

“I got to meet AAA as they were tabling at the MU,” Ng said. “They were really nice and welcoming, and I got a really good vibe off of them.”

Based on her experience with the organization thus far, Ng believes that AAA has continued to meet her expectations as a social club.

“Every time I’m with [AAA members] and present in their meetings, it brings me a lot of joy,” Ng said. “[The club] helps me relax for an hour each week, and I have a lot of fun with them.”

The organization also focuses on educating its members about various Asian cultures. For instance, Ng describes that every week, the club spotlights a significant Asian American person from history to discuss at its meetings. On its Instagram account, @aaa.davis, the club has a series called “Word of the Day,” which showcases different cultural terms from various Asian languages.

“[AAA] really helps [members] deepen their knowledge of Asian cultures,” Ng said. “It’s also really nice to be able to connect with other Asian cultures and see how different we all are, but also how similar we all are.”

Written by: Lynn Chen — features@theaggie.org 

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By LAILA AZHAR — features@theaggie.org 

From its beginnings as the UC Berkeley University Farm, UC Davis has been known for its emphasis on agriculture and sustainability — in fact, it was ranked first in the 2023 UI GreenMetric World University rankings of “greenest” university campuses. 

For many students, this reputation is a large part of the school’s appeal. 

“One of the first things I ever heard about UC Davis was that environmentalism played a large part in campus culture,” Temo Martinez, a first-year political science major, said. “As someone who cares a lot about sustainability, that was really important to me.” 

The Student Farm is an example of one of the many initiatives on campus that works to further students’ knowledge of agriculture and sustainability. 

Third-year sustainable agriculture and food systems major Adazsofia Lengyel is the lead student farmer and community-supported agriculture coordinator in the Market Garden program within the Student Farm. 

Lengyel first found the farm as a junior in high school, while looking around the campus with her mother. 

“I knew I wanted to be involved in farming while at Davis because of what I am studying, and this space felt like a perfect alignment of my interests, values and goals in learning about farming and sustainable agricultural systems,” Lengyel said in an email.

As their mission statement puts it, the farm’s goal is to “hold a space where students can learn, practice and model an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable agriculture and food system.”

A group of students began the farm in 1977 as a way to further their agricultural knowledge. Today, it consists of 23 acres of student-managed plots, which are home to a wide variety of programs. 

The Market Garden program teaches students about the planting, maintenance and harvest of organic fruits and vegetables. The produce grown in this garden is often sold to campus dining halls. Their farmstand, located on Ext Center Dr., sells flowers and fresh organic produce from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday. 

The Ecological Garden program is a space to learn about small space permaculture gardening with a focus on agroecological practices. It includes a labeled “U-pick section” where visitors can pick flowers and herbs to purchase.

On the other hand, the Fresh Focus program donates produce to student centers at UC Davis to combat food insecurity. 

“Food insecurity on college campuses is such an important issue,” Claire Chen, a second-year sociology major, said. “Resources like the Student Farm are a valuable way to both spread awareness about the topic and provide resources to combat it.” 

The farm hosted a pay-what-you-can “U-Pick Organic Spinach” event, providing students with food and supporting environmental initiatives at the same time. Students were able to pick from an “unbe-leaf-able” variety of spinach, and all proceeds went toward research on the farm. 

Along with providing produce and flowers, the farm also often creates spaces to discuss topics relating to agriculture. In February they hosted a “Farm Forum” for people to voice ideas on how the Student Farm should continue functioning in the future. In March, they hosted a workshop titled “Queers and Queerness in Nature.” 

The farm’s programs contain a mix of agriculture and insightful discussion spaces on the broader context of agricultural practices. 

For Lengyel, one of the highlights of working on the farm is the community. 

“Because there is such a diverse array of identities, experiences and interests people bring, it has been an amazing space to learn from others who also love being outside and growing food for our community and ourselves,” Lengyel said. “There is such a culture of kindness, joy and learning that happens here, it is such a grounding and special place to get to be a part of.” 

As students partake in hands-on learning in the fields, they also learn a communal and holistic approach to farming, serving as a testament to UC Davis’ legacy of agricultural innovation and sustainability. 

Written by: Laila Azhar — features@theaggie.org 

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By EMME DUNNING — features@theaggie.org

The Manetti Shrem Museum of Art is a free museum located on the UC Davis campus and a pillar of the art community in town. Its exhibitions have ranged in content from Roy De Forest’s whimsical “Habitats for Travelers” to the striking work of Mike Henderson’s “Before the Fire.” Despite their differences in theme and topic, they all share a common goal — to help UC Davis students and the greater community connect, whether to the planet, to social issues or to each other. 

One such exhibit, “Malaquias Montoya and the Legacies of a Printed Resistance,” has made a considerable impact on the Davis community. The display, which opened in early October 2023 and just recently came to a close in early May of this year, consisted of a collection of protest prints with topics ranging from union and labor rights to immigration and criminal justice reform. Walking through the exhibit, visitors were encouraged to spend time with each print and understand the varying causes they represented.

Among the collection were prints made by artist and UC Davis Emeritus Professor Malaquias Montoya, who played a prominent role in the creation of the exhibit itself. Montoya has an extensive background in the art community, specifically in regards to protest art. The UC Berkeley graduate has centered his work around social justice issues for decades, integrating these principles into his personal works and as his curriculum during his time as a teacher at Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis and the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. 

For Montoya, these prints hold a deeper meaning beyond aesthetics. In his biography, the artist noted his personal connection to the art he creates and how it serves as a form of activism and expression.

“As a Chicano artist I feel a responsibility that all my art should be a reflection of my political beliefs — an art of protest,” Montoya said. “The struggle of all people cannot be merely intellectually accepted. It must become part of our very being as artists otherwise we cannot give expression to it in our work.”

Montoya remains highly involved in art and protest in his community and is closely involved with an art space in Woodland, Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanece (TANA). The space is part of the Chicana/o studies department at UC Davis and provides both UC Davis students and Woodland community members with the resources and expertise to continue the tradition of printmaking, as well as a gallery and exhibition area to display work. 

Walter Jackson, a third-year design student at UC Davis, worked with Montoya in the summer of 2023 through an internship with the Manetti Shrem. Through this internship, Jackson was able to learn the process of printmaking first-hand at TANA and gain insight into Montoya’s rich history of printmaking.

“[Montoya] wants people to understand the deeper meaning behind what he’s printing and the art piece,” Jackson said. “He wants us to understand these issues. Though they look pretty on paper, they’re something that needs to be dealt with in the real world and we should be talking about it. He uses [art] as an expression, and I feel like that’s what we all should do. You really don’t know what kind of forms of art or projects will be implemented in the history books. He’s created something that’s a form of expression, but it’s also history.”

Historically, protest art has been integral to the success of social justice movements. The process of screen printing is unique from other forms of art in its ability to be quickly reproduced, making it ideal for use at rallies and protests where getting the word out widely and quickly is integral. 

This goal of mass production and distribution also helps to inform how the prints themselves are designed by artists before printing. For the current Manager of Visitor Experience at the Manetti Shrem Cesar Chavez, this rapid distribution is a cornerstone of the unique style.

“[The prints] were meant to be seen from 40 feet away, so it was kind of a quick thing that they could create very quickly and get out there and use, and now it is seen as art,” Chavez said. “That’s always stuck with me. When you’re trying to get the word out and you’re trying to express how you feel about a certain topic, it can be a very powerful tool to use.”

Because the prints must be identifiable and eye-catching from far distances, sharp colors and imagery are trademark features of this art medium. In contrast to the experience of seeing these prints out on the streets in a fast-moving environment, observing them in a museum setting allows patrons to take in all the details of the work and take time to understand the messages behind them. 

Sydney Makar, a third-year aerospace engineering major who recently visited the “Malaquias Montoya and the Legacies of a Printed Resistance” exhibit, took note of this unique style. 

“I saw a lot of words and colors jumping out at you,” Makar said. “The fact that so many people sat down and made entire paintings about [the causes] and put so much effort and detail really shows the emotions people feel. [This art] can allow people like myself to understand in some way how people feel about these topics.”

These prints are not just historical, either. On our own UC Davis campus, screen printing was used at a recent May Day rally for Palestine to print on dozens of shirts and posters for supporters of the cause, continuing the longstanding relationship between art and activism. Although Montoya’s exhibit has come to an end, protest prints remain an important part of social justice movements globally. 

Written by: Emme Dunning — features@theaggie.org 

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