Issue 12 - January 15th, 2026

Yolo County food bank fundraises over $1 million through their Food First program

To combat food insecurity in Yolo County, the Food First program fundraised and delivered emergency food at a time when federal funding fell short

BY GIA LOOMIS

In November 2025, the United States government broke its record for the longest government shutdown in American history. This 43day shutdown caused several government departments and funds to be put on hold, resulting in delayed November CalFresh benefits. In response, the Yolo Food Bank quickly took action to combat the resulting food insecurity.

The Yolo Food Bank partnered with Yolo County to launch its Food First Program. Yolo Food Bank Senior Development Manager, Alex Simmons, explained why the shutdown and resulting delays in food benefits inspired the program.

“In a typical month, more than 27,000 Yolo County residents rely on CalFresh to meet their basic food needs, meaning over 10% of the community was affected,” Simmons said. “This was the sole inspiration for the Food First response.”

The program focused on a “five-point response” to food insecurity: mobilizing emergency funds for food distribution, holding additional emergency food distribution events, expanding food distributions, expanding support for partner agencies and distributing grocery cards.

would not have been able to make the immediate impact it had, according to Simmons.

“We’re overwhelmed with gratitude due to the incredible generosity of our community,” Simmons said. “All of these contributions demonstrated a shared commitment to ensuring our neighbors did not go without food during a time of hardship.”

While this influx of donations has allowed for the Food First program to succeed, the funds won’t be limited to action taken by the program. Simmons explained that the funds will continue to be allocated to fighting food insecurity.

“The additional funds we raised through this campaign are 100% restricted for purchasing food,” Simmons said. “This will allow us to continue providing nutritious food to Yolo County residents throughout the coming year.”

Yolo Food Bank Executive Director Karen Baker described the importance of Food First, which goes beyond simply supplying food.

“Food First didn’t just replace lost benefits,” Baker said. “It replaced fear with food, anxiety with assurance and uncertainty with community care.”

This response allowed the Food Bank to provide more food in a quicker time frame. Simmons explained how the Food First Program’s fivepoint response made strides in combating food insecurity by allowing Yolo Food Bank to host more events, while providing even more groceries per distribution.

events in November to meet the immediate needs of foodinsecure community members.”

“This campaign allowed Yolo Food Bank to increase the amount of food we distributed at our regular community food distributions by 20% in November and December,” Simmons said. “We also hosted six emergency food distribution

In order to reach their goals to increase distribution and aid, the Yolo Food Bank set a fundraising goal of $750,000 for the program. This was not only met, but exceeded, as the program has now raised over $1 million.

The Yolo Food Bank’s recent article explained the importance

Davis residents protest Trump administration’s immigration crackdown

Local activist group Indivisible Yolo organizes demonstrations against deportation and in favor of due process for immigrants

at the intersection of 5th and B Streets in Davis, California on Jan. 7, 2026.

BY SONJA WOOLEY

On Jan. 7, protesters gathered at the 5th and B Street intersection to oppose President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement crackdown. The demonstration was organized by Indivisible Yolo, a local progressive activist group, as part of an ongoing monthly visibility campaign “Disappeared in America.” The protestors stood on the side of the road, leading chants, waving American flags and holding signs written with slogans like “Love your neighbor” and “Due process for all” for the passing drivers, many of whom honked in support.

Natalie, a Davis resident who only gave her first name, spoke about the reason she attended the demonstration.

“It’s kind of up to me to make my voice heard,” Natalie said. “I know a lot of people who are afraid to go to events like this because of what it could mean for their family, and I know a lot of people who are scared. I just don’t think that is an acceptable way for humans to be treated.”

The purpose of the Disappeared in America

visibility event is to stand up for those who have been illegally detained and deported.

This includes Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian man who was mistakenly deported and now faces charges for human smuggling; Rui Murras, a Portuguese green card holder and lifelong resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts, who was arrested on the basis of a dismissed drug charge from 2013 and now faces deportation; and Juan Maldonado Zuniga, who was detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in February 2025 despite his pending case in New Britain court.

Lynne Nittler, a Davis resident and environmental activist, spoke about what motivated her to take action.

“It builds our own solidarity and our awareness that we’re not alone in this,” Nittler said. “We’ve had huge rallies, [in] Woodland [and] here, that should have some power, [and] we should have enough political power to make some change.”

Another protestor, who wished to remain anonymous, described their fear over the country’s current trajectory and ICE’s actions.

“There’s just a pervasive fear, [and] I feel it too,” the protestor said. “Because, if we’re not standing up for immigrants, ICE is just going to start harassing whoever Trump wants to target next. I feel like I could be next [...] So I’m always afraid, I lock my door at night.”

The Disappeared in America visibility event was scheduled on the same day that an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good, an unarmed U.S. citizen, during an encounter in Minneapolis. A day after the protest, a man and woman were shot and injured by an ICE officer in Portland, Oregon.

Carol Warren, a participant at the protest, gave her opinion on the recent shootings and ICE raids.

“Any law enforcement officer should know not to shoot into a moving car; that’s just stupid,” Warren said. “It’s meant to be antagonistic. They want people to turn violent so that they can take further actions against citizens and lock the whole city down. They’re trying to keep it peaceful from what I’ve heard, but people are angry. One of their citizens was just shot while trying to leave, not while doing anything.”

of the mass support that came from local supporters.

“The Yolo County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $225,000 in onetime tobacco settlement funds to provide immediate food security relief, authorizing an agreement with Yolo Food Bank to deliver this support directly to families via grocery gift cards,” the article reads. “This helped launch our Food First campaign to address

this crisis with urgency.” Additional support also came from the Yolo Community Foundation, as they donated $25,000 to the program.

Another major contribution came from local grocers, including Davis Food Co-op, Safeway, Nugget Markets and Raley’s, who provided gift cards to help the effort.

Without local community support, the Food First Program

Through the Food First Program, Yolo County was able to combat food insecurity and fear in a time when federal support was lacking.

While full CalFresh benefits resumed in mid-November, the Food First Program is still actively working to limit food insecurity in Yolo County. Visit the Yolo Food Bank’s website for information on donations, resources and more.

UC Davis awarded Black-Serving Institution designation

The BSI designation marks UC Davis’ commitment to Black and African American student success

BY

KHADEEJAH KHAN campus@theaggie.org

UC Davis, alongside 30 other institutions, will be part of the inaugural class of California universities and colleges designated as BlackServing Institutions (BSIs). UC Berkeley was the only other UC campus that qualified in last month’s class, in addition to three California State University campuses, 25 California Community Colleges and one private institution. The designation was established by California Senate Bill 1348, which created the California Seal of Excellence in Serving Black and African American Postsecondary Students in order to recognize campuses that “excel at providing academic resources to Black and African American students.” The BSI designation differs from Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs), with the latter referring to institutions across the country founded prior to the 1964 Civil Rights Act with a mission to provide opportunities for higher education and excellence for African American students.

In a press release, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May celebrated the announcement and the university’s steps toward supporting inclusion

and diversity.

“UC Davis is dedicated to the success of our students, and this designation demonstrates to current and prospective students that a robust network of resources is here to foster their belonging and help them thrive through to graduation and beyond,” May said. “Our university celebrates and supports Black excellence, history and futures in our commitment to serving California’s diverse population.”

To be eligible for the designation, at least 10% or 1,500 students of a campus’ student population must be Black and African American; in fall 2025, a total of 1,701 UC Davis students were Black and African American. In addition to this eligibility requirement, campuses must submit an application that demonstrates commitment to encourage the enrollment and academic success of Black and African American students.

UC Davis’ application included data-driven plans to address graduation equity gaps for Black students, existing programs like the UC-HBCU Initiative and events including Black Fall Welcome, Black History/Black Futures Month, Black Family Day and the Black Graduation Recognition Ceremony, according to UC Davis’ press release. The state program does not

provide any special funding or grants to awarded campuses. Instead, the BSI designation is meant to strengthen the university’s ability to attract funding, partnerships and opportunities — including scholarships, internships and research — in an effort to support student achievement, enrollment and retention rates. In addition to this latest recognition, UC Davis was previously awarded the federal Minority-Serving Institution designation as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution in 2019. It has also been eligible to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2024, having reached a full-time student population which is over 25% Latinx. Sade Adams, a fourth-year African and African American studies major and president of the Black Student Union (BSU), recalled her excitement when she first heard the news of the designation. “When I first saw the announcement, it actually made me really proud because when I first got here, I didn’t know what to expect,” Adams said. “Actually being here every year, I feel like there are more and more Black students that I see on campus. This school really does a lot to support students of color, not just Black students.”

New Mayor Donna Neville is sworn in at the Jan. 6 Davis City Council meeting

The honoring of former Mayor Bapu Vaitla and Senior Civil Engineer Terry Jue was followed by a divisive public comment

BY KATYA OKS city@theaggie.org

On Jan. 6, the Davis City Council met to welcome new Mayor Donna Neville and new Vice Mayor Gloria Partida. The meeting included a swearing-in of the new mayor, followed by honoring the service of outgoing members — including 2025 Mayor Bapu Vaitla and Senior Civil Engineer Terry Jue.

Mayor Neville graduated from UC Davis School of Law in 1987 and has since remained active in public service. She previously worked for the California Office of the Legislative Council — where she provided counsel on K-12 public education and environmental protections — as well as for the California State Auditor and the State Board of Education. Most recently, Neville also served as vice mayor during Vaitla’s term. Council members also honored Vaitla through a proclamation, remembering his service in the year prior.

“We are very, very appreciative of your service,” Neville said. “I think everyone who has ever sat up here — anywhere up here or in the center seat — knows it’s not an easy job to run [council] meetings.”

Councilmember Josh Chapman also spoke to honor Vaitla’s service in the year prior.

“I appreciate your leadership, I appreciate your desire and your commitment to pushing the

envelope on things,” Chapman said. “I appreciate the way that you challenge us when we sit up here. And I think you, being mayor, and you being up here has made us a better council [and] made the city a better place.”

The meeting then moved to honor Jue’s service to the Davis City Council, who dedicated over 35 years to the city. His professional work mostly involved the improvement of the city’s water, transportation and community infrastructure. He also worked as a senior civil engineer in the Public Works Engineering and Transportation

department.

Mayor Neville expressed his gratitude for Jue’s work.

“[Jue’s] creativity and enthusiasm, his kindness, humor, leadership and camaraderie have made him not only an exceptional engineer, but also a cherished friend and colleague whose presence will be deeply missed now,” Neville said. “This Davis City Council, on behalf of the residents of Davis, recognizes and honors Terry Jue for his nearly 36 years of dedicated service [...], his outstanding contributions to public infrastructure and his lasting positive impact on the

Davis Food Co-op hosts community members for Breakfast with the Board

Local residents joined Davis Food Co-op board members for breakfast and conversation

BY ALMA CULVERWELL city@theaggie.org

The Davis Food Co-op (DFC) hosted a Breakfast with the Board event on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as an opportunity for community members to join the DFC Board of Directors in conversation.

Samantha Conselman, president of the DFC Board of Directors, explained the thought process behind the development of Breakfast with the Board.

“We wanted to create a lowbarrier, welcoming space for conversation,” Conselman said.

“Our main way of interaction is typically at board meetings, but those can be very formal and hard to really converse on topics that membership wants to discuss [...]because our agendas are purposely planned and adhered to.”

Conselman explained the unique open-discussion forum that Breakfast with the Board provides for community members.

“Breakfast with the Board is more informal, and has been a great way to get a pulse on what members are experiencing, introduce new things that will be coming and start getting their thoughts about strategic opportunities the Co-op could take on,” Conselman said.

Community members — including anyone interested in running for the DFC Board of Directors, those with questions about the DFC or those with ideas for the store — are invited to attend.

“This event is for anyone who feels connected to the Co-op or curious about it,” Conselman said. “We hope people leave with a clearer

understanding of how the Coop is collectively owned and governed by its 8,000+ members, how decisions are made and how member voice and the impact of their patronage of the store fits into that picture.”

The Co-op Board of Directors is made up of DFC Owners, elected by fellow Owners, who volunteer to act on the community’s behalf and ensure a cooperative vision for the store. The board develops and preserves policies that help protect the long-range security and viability of the Co-op.

“Day to day, board service is less about operations and what you see at the store when you walk in, and more about stewardship of the finances members have invested,” Conselman said. “We focus on strategy, financial health and ensuring the Co-op stays true to its ends, while trusting staff to run the store. We each spend around 15 hours a month on ‘board work’ which means reading reports, preparing for meetings and engaging in thoughtful, strategic discussion.” Conselman also reflected on her favorite aspect of her position.

“My personal favorite part of being on the board is, oddly enough, [is] board meetings,” she said. “We do a lot of work outside of board meetings so that when we come to meetings, we’re prepared for discussion and moving things forward. I love the trust that we display around the board table, how it manifests in divergent opinions that push us all to think deeper and how we’re able to come together to then make a unified decision.”

More specifically, the DFC Board of Directors focuses on creating a longlasting relationship with the

Member-Ownership, hiring and overseeing the general manager, setting yearly goals, creating planning committees and board training. The DFC Board of Directors meets on the second Monday of every other month in the DFC Teaching Kitchen, located across the street from the Co-op. Meetings are held in a hybrid format, with the option to attend virtually over Zoom.

Conselman also shared a few upcoming events and projects community members can look forward to from the Co-op.

“Short term, our deli is going to be fully remodeled with new offerings,” Conselman said. “[This] should be taking place in early 2026, […] so right about now. It’s a milliondollar investment, and I think it will really enhance offerings. I’m excited to see how our staff executes the plan and how members, especially those who want high-quality prepared foods, receive the changes.”

Additionally, Conselman shared her long-term goals and larger-scale projects she hopes to accomplish.

“I’m most excited about the ways the Co-op’s Board and staff are starting to think bigger about their role in Davis and in Co-ops overall,” Conselman said. “We’re really leaning in to how we can help more people have the opportunity to spend their money in a cooperative economy that benefits many and stays more local to impact them greater, rather than a purely capitalistic one that benefits few who are often far away from us. There’s a real opportunity to deepen the Davis Food Coop’s impact and influence while remaining financially strong, and it’s been really energizing in the last year that the board is helping shape that vision and future.”

community. Congratulations on your retirement.” Jue then reflected on his service and thanked the city council.

“I’ve gained numerous friendships throughout the years here at the city, and I’ll cherish all the fun times we’ve had at all the city staff events,” Jue said.

“I’d like to thank the mayor, city council and the City of Davis for this honor.”

After the ceremony for Mayor Neville and Vice Mayor Partida, the council transitioned into public comment.

During public comment, Spear, who only gave their first

name, reflected on the Donald Trump administration, urging Neville to take a stand against the federal government.

“This administration must face immediate consequences for its decisions to attack marginalized peoples, like queer and trans folks, as well as those of Hispanic or Latino descent, both here and in Venezuela,” Spear said. “If we are a city true to its tenants of inclusivity, the City of Davis must stand up to this federal administration [...]

Mayor Neville, you just took an oath to the Constitution. It’s time to resist.” Spear then proceeded to list

actions that they believe the new mayor and Davis council should take.

“I’m here today to call on the [Davis] City Council to enact one of the many scalable options of resistance,” Spear said.

“[This] includ[es] the adoption of sanctuary city status for immigrants and queer folks, the establishment of communityoriented programs, mental health crisis response without police intervention for the benefit of marginalized peoples, the distribution of living supplies and living assistance for resident immigrants in town, the withdrawal of any city funds from [United States] bonds and, ultimately, the encouragement or active commitment to a general strike.”

Beth Bourne, a local conservative activist, also spoke during public comment regarding Mayor Vaitla’s support for the transgender community.

“Mayor Bapu [Vaitla] has publicly supported policies and views on transgender ideology that harm children and vulnerable people by promoting the use of hormones and surgeries that sterilize and maim individuals,” Bourne said.

“Mayor Bapu has shown a pattern of condemning Beth Bourne and discouraging diverse viewpoints, [...] stifling open dialogue and favoring his far left ideological conformity over a free expression.”

The Davis City Council will meet again on Jan. 13.

CoHo launches new reusable container program

The new plastic containers for meals hope to make campus promote sustainability and environmental consciousness

BY RACHEL TRAN and KATELYN BURNS campus@theaggie.org

The ASUCD Coffee House (CoHo) has introduced a new reusable to-go container system at their food service stalls, in hopes of making their food service operations more sustainable.

Launched with food container company Friendlier, the program now has containers available with purchases at Cooks, Ciao, TxMx Grill, Chickpea and Fickle Pickle Deli.

When students purchase a meal served in the containers, they will pay a 50 cent deposit and receive a deep sky-blue container made from organic fibers. Each is reusable up to 100 and has a QR code on its bottom that takes students to the Friendlier app, through which they can earn their deposit back within one to two weeks.

Students can also choose to give their deposit forward as a donation, namely to the ASUCD Pantry, before clearing the container and putting it into the collection bins located across the CoHo. The bins are later brought to Friendlier’s facility in West Sacramento, where they are sanitized and cleaned before they are sent out for reuse.

Associated Students Dining Services Foodservice Director Darin Schluep says the CoHo is piloting the program for six months, with only 20% of their current menu offerings using the reusable packaging.

“We are hoping we will see a reduction in our single-use packaging impact on the waste stream,” Schluep said. “After the six months, we may determine we can expand to more items or look at other locations to add more of this packaging. It really depends on the acceptance rate for the consumers and what kind of feedback we get on the program.”

Disposable take-out containers are familiar and convenient, yet single-use plastics are responsible for billions of tons of waste. While reusable containers are assumed to be a better alternative, reducing climate impacts and waste, reality is a little more complex.

Recent life-cycle assessments (LCAs), such as the 2024 assessment published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, made one thing clear: Reusable containers are only better when reused enough times. With higher reuse rates, the benefits of reusable containers rises. However, inefficient cleaning or low return rates can significantly impact that.

Friendlier was founded in 2020 by University of Waterloo graduates Kayli Smith and Jacqueline Hanton, who were

looking at how individuals can make a positive impact on climate change daily.

“Custom equipment was designed to ensure high-quality sanitation and drying with each reuse,” Hanton explained. “By offering off-site washing, schools have the ability to scale the program across campus without the operational burden of dishwashing.” Friendlier’s containers are also designed to be lightweight and stackable, to reduce storage requirements and transportation emissions.

Since the benefits of reusable containers rise as reuse rates do, the return rates of the containers are important for measuring the impact of the program. Friendlier tracks this using unique identifiers on every container.

“We can track where the package was sold, and when the package returns back to the Friendlier location for washing,” Hanton said.

Users can even see their own environmental savings data by scanning the QR codes on the packaging.

“[Our] system does not require consumers to sign-up or know about the Friendlier program prior to getting the container. There is no POS integration or friction,” Hanton said. “Our convenience-focused strategy makes returning easy for everyone — even those who don’t care about their environmental impact.”

The UC Davis pilot is structured as a six-month data collection effort to determine whether the program is having positive impacts on the campus, environment, operations and customers.

“We’ll be tracking return rates, waste stream reductions and customer satisfaction in order to determine whether we make this program a more permanent part of our

(Rachel Tran / Aggie) operations,” Schluep said. “We’re hoping for a 20% reduction in waste stream volume and at least a 50% return rate on the containers.”

With the Friendlier partnership providing the support that was missing from past programs, the pilot takes steps in bringing reusable containers to campus.

“Small individual actions actually add up,” Friendlier Director of Customer Success Derek Vollebregt said. “It has been really cool to talk to all the different students and staff about their excitement. It may seem like a small action, but added up, it contributes quite a bit. We’re excited for all the support across campus that we’re seeing.” UC Davis expects that 2,500 containers will be used per week, and Vollebregt says that if half the containers provided to UC Davis are reused over the six month pilot period, it would mean 30,000 containers avoid going to the landfill. He estimates that the emissions from those containers would be the same as driving a gas powered car from Los Angeles to New York six times. UC Davis was recently ranked No. 1 for campus sustainability in the United States for the 10th year in a row, and No. 7 internationally for its 13th year, according to the 2025 UI Green Metric World University Rankings.

ASUCD President Amrita

Julka gives a State of the Association speech

Julka also discussed projected budget restrictions ahead of upcoming budget hearings

BY AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS campus@theaggie.org

At the first Senate meeting of winter quarter, ASUCD President Amrita Julka delivered her State of the Association address, highlighting the various accomplishments of the Association during her term thus far.

Julka began her speech by outlining ASUCD’s ongoing efforts to support student health needs, including the recent partnership between UC Davis and mental health app Soluna. The partnership provides students with free therapy sessions and resources funded by the state of California.

Julka also highlighted her office’s ongoing efforts for free Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing — regardless of insurance status — in partnership with Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Health and Wellness Bahar Navab. Additionally, Julka announced the installation of a card reader for the Wellness To Go vending machine located in the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), along with plans to introduce two new outdoor Wellness To Go vending machines.

Julka also discussed the formation of the Menstrual Equity Taskforce and the establishment of new additional menstrual dispensary machines on campus.

“This team has made strides to stand upon the work that we completed last year, which included establishing seven additional menstrual dispensers on campus,” Julka said. “Today, our university is still deeply behind when it comes to making good on their promise to make menstrual hygiene equitably accessible on campus. Dispensers are still not found in a lot of our restrooms, and the ones that are are barely stocked.”

Julka then highlighted the work of the Grant

Administration Committee, which oversaw the distribution of over $40,000 in Aggie Aid last quarter. Distributed in December 2025, students impacted by the loss of CalFresh benefits due to the government shutdown were encouraged to apply.

“I am most proud of the work done by the Grant Administration Committee and our work in distributing Aggie Aid at a time when students were worried for the future of their CalFresh and [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] (SNAP) benefits,” Julka said. “Often plagued with inefficiency on the ASUCD side, I am so proud to report that this year we distributed over $40,000 for over 150 students in need in early December, which meant that we adequately and swiftly responded to a student need we received.”

Julka also highlighted the work done to increase student safety, including the formation of the Student Safety and Activism Task Force, which was

created to give students alerts about potentially destructive or aggressive campus visitors.

With regards to students with mixed immigration status, Julka discussed UC Davis’ implementation of California State Senate Bill (SB) #98, which requires higher education institutions to notify students and staff if immigration enforcement is confirmed to be on their campuses.

“No one should be afraid to achieve an education, but stress from the difficult situation imposed by the federal government has made it difficult for our friends and peers to feel a sense of belonging,” Julka said. “So, when the UC system was unwilling to implement [State Bill] #98, calling for places of education to have a notification system to alert students when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is on campus, our office continued to pressure [UC Davis] administration to adopt the notification procedure, which they now have done.”

The latest in local commerce

New businesses include a Chipotle, Planet Fitness, Crazy D’s Hot Chicken and Pier 50 Sushi

BY MADELYN SEVIGNY city@theaggie.org

The following includes recently opened businesses in Davis: Planet Fitness opened a location in South Davis in December 2025, offering community members a 24-hour fitness center open seven days a week.

Orangetheory provides another option for fitness in Davis, with a location opening at 102 F St. The studio held its grand opening on Jan. 11 at 4:30 p.m. Orangetheory classes combine strength and cardio training.

Village Bakery relocated from 814 2nd St. to 524 2nd St. and is now open. The space was formerly the home of Uncle Vito’s Slice of NY, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Davis residents can look forward to new places opening soon: The Davis Collection will see the opening of a Tequileros Taqueria, a Mexican food

restaurant serving tacos, tortas, loaded Tequilero fries and more.

Paris Banh Mi, a Vietnamese bakery and cafe, is also slated to open in the Davis Collection in January 2026.

Another Chipotle will be opening in addition to the existing location downtown. This restaurant will be located at 4823 Chiles Road and feature the Chipotlane drivethru pickup lane to provide maximum efficiency.

Crazy D’s Hot Chicken is currently under construction at 219 G St. The halal restaurant will provide chicken tenders, sliders, crazy fries and smash burgers. The space was originally Woodstock’s Pizza until they relocated to their current location in 2022.

Sourdough Bread Company is coming to Davis at 2880 5th St., with posts on social media and their website indicating that they are “coming soon.” Pier 50 Sushi and Fukumi Chaya x Momo Katsu will be opening in the former Mamma space at 226 F St. Mamma Eatery was closed on June 15, 2025. Pier 50’s other locations serve all-

you-can-eat sushi and bento box specials. Fukumi Chaya serves ramen and Japanese tapas, while the Momo Katsu side specializes in katsu dishes.

Some recently closed and potential business closures in Davis include:

The Growing Groves, a local plant shop, closed its doors on Dec. 12, 2025. They were located at 219 E St. above the Bull ‘N Mouth restaurant. In a post on their social media page, the owners cited the increasing prices for wholesale plants and tariffs on pottery as the reasons for their store closure.

The GameStop in Davis was closed along with other locations nationwide and across the Sacramento area. The store was previously located at 4625 2nd St. and closed on Jan. 8, 2026, with the closest location now being 3198 Arden Way in Sacramento.

Ding How, a local Chinese restaurant, is looking into closing amid staffing challenges, according to the owner. Follow the California Aggie for more updates on local businesses.

UC Davis Professor Sasha Abramsky

shares new novel at Avid Reader author event

‘American Carnage’ tells the story of 11 discharged federal employees

BY PIPER AWEEKA city@theaggie.org

On Jan. 10 at 6 p.m., the wooden chairs lining the Avid Reader’s interior began to fill with patrons. As guests exchanged hellos, Sasha Abramsky, UC Davis professor, journalist and author, made his way to the front holding a copy of his new novel, “American Carnage.” A brief summary on its yellow back cover described the stories of 11 federal employees in the wake of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Donald Trump’s second presidency.

Holly Snyder Thompson, event manager for the Avid Reader, highlighted her history of professional acquaintance with Abramsky.

“This is the second time I personally have hosted Sasha,” Thompson said. “Last year, he was here with his book ‘Chaos Comes Calling.’”

As a professor of journalism at UC Davis, Abramsky’s audience included current and former students. Kaden Tam, a third-year biotechnology major, shared how he first heard about the event.

“It was over break, [Abramsky] sent out an email saying ‘Hey guys, I’m gonna release a new book,’” Tam said. “I’m also a history minor, so I like to keep up, especially on current history.”

At 6:30 p.m., Thompson welcomed the crowd before introducing Abramsky to the

podium. Abramsky then genially greeted the audience.

“The book, technically, is out on the first anniversary of the inauguration,” Abramsky said. “This is kind of a preview test run, and you are my guinea pigs today.”

After a moment of silence for the recent murder of Renee Nicole Good, a Minnesota woman who was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Abramsky described the pretense under which his newest book was composed.

“Nation magazine was asking me to do stories in January about [DOGE],” Abramsky said. “I realized this is crazy. If I leave this as an article, I’m going to get 4000 words from Nation Magazine [...] So, I started writing a book.”

Abramsky proceeded with a basic synopsis of his book, highlighting the variety of federal agencies his informants were once employed at.

“I found people from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] (CDC), the [Internal Revenue Service] (IRS), [United States Agency for International Development] (USAID), [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health] (NIOSH),” Abramsky said. “It’s a book about what happens to 11 people when their own government declares war on them and what it did to their lives, what it did to their family’s lives and what it did to their communities.”

After reading an excerpt of the experience of Natasha Miles, a Ph.D. researcher whose job was eliminated after no longer meeting the needs of the new presidential administration, Abramsky opened up the floor for questions.

“In terms of my experience doing this, I found it humbling,” Abramsky said. “Sometimes, when I report a story, by the end I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s not so bad.’ This is different. [...] The conclusion I would say is don’t turn away from this.”

Addressing the student presence in the audience, Abramsky made a call to action.

“My plea to your generation is get involved now, rather than getting involved in five or 10 years,” Abramsky said. “Authoritarian regimes thrive when people sit the fight out [...] They don’t thrive when an aroused public says, ‘No way.’” As the event began to wind down, Thompson thanked the audience for attending and acknowledged the Avid Reader as a safe space for political conversations within the community.

“I think many places can be a place where this conversation can happen, but bookstores are one of them,” Thompson said. “We hope to continue having authors like Sasha and conversations like these here.” Wrapping up his event, Abramsky left the audience with another call to action.

OPINION

Seeing double

Media literacy is flailing — here’s one of the reasons why

BY ABHINAYA KASAGANI akasagani@ucdavis.edu

I cannot remember the last time my outing at the movies wasn’t accompanied by the sight of a thousand cellphones, lifted in near-unison as users photographed their moviegoing experience. For the longest time, the act of documentation has eclipsed taking part in most things. While I remain guilty of occasionally reaching for my phone to look up the directors’ intentions of films during my viewings, I usually like to focus my attention on the media at hand.

Second-screen viewing occurs when audiences use a second device while watching television, either to occupy themselves or further research their media. At the start of 2025, several news outlets detailing the rise of secondscreen viewings considered this accommodation a threat to media literacy. An article by Fast Company, “Netflix knows you’re looking at your phone— and it’s changing how shows get made because of it,” notes how “studios are asking for ideas that people will kind of ignore, so they can be on their phone.”

Although terrifying, Netflix’s eagerness to accommodate second-screen viewings is not particularly shocking. Not only does this undermine our ability to critically engage with film altogether, it no longer demands participation at all. Currently, the object of media relies on some sort of measurable distinction — whether in the form of five stars or reactionary “thumbs up” and “thumbs down.” The rise of second-screen viewings delineates media literacy and

social behavior in ways that are frightening and quite disillusioning. While this is not entirely a case against all media, it ultimately criticizes how media now releases viewers from having to participate at all. The article additionally references New Yorker writer Kyle Chayka’s term “ambient TV” to describe Netflix programming, noting how not all film or TV requires an Ebertlike or Kantian sense of taste. Observing media closely doesn’t, by itself, mean that the audience is paying attention; rather, they have chosen to apply themselves in order to generate sentiments unique to them, regardless whether they are shared or contrarian. Our inclination towards critiquing media by means of a binary measure makes it so that we find anything polarizing instantly disagreeable, without resolving to understand the context within which it originated. It is no surprise that multitasking reduces comprehension, especially when viewers are torn between a primary and secondary screen. Additionally, the declining attention economy has effectively introduced several viewing changes that contribute to the loss of our attention, making it so that audiences

almost automatically side with the slew of underbaked “hot takes” on the Internet instead of the carefully crafted media on their screens. By refusing independent and evidenced judgement, we deny ourselves of the very opportunity to engage the media as it is meant to be engaged with — by means of critique.

While second-screen viewings might sometimes be beneficial in helping enhance literacy for those who need some easing in, these cases must be thought of as the exception to the rule. The issue is not that second screens are inherently incompatible with media literacy, but that the dominant form of media consumption remains passive and in no way reflective. They can help strengthen understanding — if, say, the viewer uses their phone to research relevant historical context during the film — or they can inadvertently make audiences reliant on context prior to their viewing. Most times, even though viewers are active in online discourse about a certain subject or object of their consumed media, they remain less involved with the media itself.

The ugly truth about grass lawns

Exploring the connection between grass and colonial history

BY SABRINA FIGUEROA AVILA sfigueroaavila@ucdavis.edu

One time during a Christmas family gathering, my aunt told us about a neighbor who had taken pictures of their outgrown, unkept lawn (they had just moved in) and posted these photos on a community Facebook page for the whole city to see. In the caption, the neighbor asked why anyone would ever leave their lawn like that; that it made the neighborhood “look bad.”

I laughed at that story because I didn’t think a lawn would be that important to people, especially when it wasn’t theirs. My family’s front lawn was half-dead throughout my childhood because of California’s drought, and the fact that it’s costly to maintain a nice yard — turns out that’s the critical part of the story. The reason people genuinely care about the appearance of their front lawns goes back to the 18th century and encapsulates the United States’ colonial history. The vision of a bright green, beautifully kept lawn came from European manor houses, where a family’s lawn showcased their aesthetics, wealth and status — a visual way to keep classes divided. These expansive lawns were labor-intensive and often required expensive workers or animals to tend to them. In contrast, the land of lower classes was often used as farmland for crops or livestock. If your lawn

was well kept, people knew you had a great amount of wealth.

After the U.S. became independent from Great Britain in 1776, many Europeans would visit the states and return with stories of unsophisticated American yards full of chickens and dirt — obviously not how American elites wanted to be perceived post-independence. So, they began to prioritize green grass lawns, beginning with wealthy estates and, of course, the White House.

Adopting these manicured lawns also meant adopting the connected idea of status and wealth that came with it. They had to be maintained and tended to, but instead of paying people for the time and effort required to do so, they exploited enslaved people to do the work. The idealized lawn was, once again, a sign of class division and inequalities among citizens. Eventually, lawns became democratized in suburban areas, where more people had access to the resources necessary to maintain well-kept lawns and the idea shifted from being a status symbol to a communitycentered concept. As people went outside to mow their lawns, neighbors could wave and greet them, or neighborhood children could play together on them. While I think it was honorable of landscapers to try to create a community, many of the grasses they planted and we see today are not native to the land. Kentucky bluegrass is from Europe and northern Asia, Bermuda grass is from Africa and Zoysia grass is from

East Asia — all of which are common varieties of grass used to propagate lawns across the U.S., according to an article in The New Yorker. Sometimes, these plants were intentionally brought from overseas or their seeds would travel with people unknowingly.

In fact, the beginning of the end of native plants and grasses in the Central Valley was caused by settlers unknowingly bringing grass seeds to the area. If you’ve driven through California’s central mountains or even along the coast, you may notice golden grass populating the hills during the majority of the year (or even a really bright green grass when it rains). Those are invasive grasses dating back to Spanish settlement in 1769, which continue to stunt new growth of native plants that are in competition for nutrients and space.

These non-native plants are also detrimental to our climate and environment by fueling the California wildfires. While these big green lawns and golden grasses are beautiful to look at, they are almost completely artificial, consequential and symbolic to how this very nation came to be. Like the perfect grass of a lawn, many things we find insignificant may have harsher and more critical histories behind them; don’t ignore them, look into them.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

A selective crown

Performative protesting determines who deserves attention

BY NEVAEH KARRAKER nakarraker@ucdavis.edu

Authoritarianism is a regime type thoroughly studied in all secondary education institutions, and, with the comfort with which Americans have settled into democracy and our Constitution, we take for granted the political stability of the country we live in.

The Trump administration is obviously corrupt, modern society pushes the limits of our civil rights daily and improvements need to be made on countless policies. And yet, the United States is not an authoritarian regime — unlike many in Latin America.

Alongside Cuba and Nicaragua, Venezuela stands as a prominent example after Hugo Chávez’s rise to power. In 1929, Venezuela became the leading global oil exporter, greatly enhancing the economy through international trade. When Chávez was elected into office in 1998, he utilized the country’s vast wealth to rewrite their constitution in favor of the executive branch and fund the Bolivarian Mission — a socioeconomic program focused on free healthcare and accessible education — which, while popular, consolidated his power and weakened Venezuela’s democracy.

After Chávez’s death in 2013, Nicolás Maduro accelerated

the decline of democracy in aggressive ways — including the use of military force, rigging elections and devaluing currency — all of which plunged Venezuela into instability, repression and socialism.

For the Venezuelan people, the capture of Maduro by the U.S. on Jan. 3, 2026 symbolized a hopeful pivot back to democracy.

While the Venezuelan people hated Maduro’s leadership, the U.S. seemed to praise it.

Protests erupted in cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco, often led by anti-war organizations like Answer or Code-Pink. These organizations demanded the release of Maduro, and some even claimed that they hope President Donald Trump’s actions will return their country to a state of former glory— a disturbing take. A technique populists utilize is promoting policies of “shared prosperity,” then inducing poverty to prevent non-conformity. Despite questionable decisions, Trump isn’t pushing the same socialist policies that Maduro used.

It’s ironic how protestors give selective support to political leaders; many of those who participated in the “No Kings” movement, like the 50501 Movement and Indivisible, also waved signs in favor of a known socialist dictator. Hatred for Trump has rooted itself so deeply in society that we’ll overlook other corruption present. If

we’re serious about welcoming immigrants into America, we also have to listen to those who fled socialist regimes. Of course, there are many sides to this. America’s tendency to get entangled in international affairs understandably breeds contempt, so retaliation and economic decline as billions of dollars are poured into other countries are all valid concerns. There’s a delicate balance in knowing when to intervene and invest in foreign aid, and when to focus on rebuilding the strength of the American people. Was capturing Maduro a necessary intervention by the U.S.? Probably not, though it’s complicated. Russia and Venezuela have become strong geopolitical allies, with Russia sending warships in exchange for oil and challenging U.S. dominance. This — combined with Maduro altering election results and facilitating drugtrafficking — prompted Trump to make a powerful military and diplomatic statement towards countries threatening the U.S. by capturing Maduro. However, Trump’s motives weren’t altogether altruistic — he also had clear ulterior motives of seizing Venezuela’s oil reserves and reshaping Venezuela’s new regime. After all, Venezuela is far from free; socialism remains as Vice President Delcy Rodríguez takes Maduro’s place. On the other hand, releasing a known dictator without understanding Venezuela’s political history may be an ignorant move disguised as a strategic campaign. Activism nowadays is often borderline performative; societal pressure and the desire for validation can cause people to hop on yet another trend. It’s practically become a justification to be angry at anything and everything — that’s not justice, but abhorrence.

Diving into protesting when relying on illegitimate sources like social media influencers makes movements or elections easier for authority figures to manipulate and sway. Like politicians, protestors sometimes compete to gain the most followers, not actually benefit society.

Hockey and gender equality

Why romantic relationships between men appeal to many women

BY VIOLET ZANZOT vmzanzot@ucdavis.edu

One thing I really love about Gen Z is that, when we collectively notice something, it feels like we all catch sight of the same thing at the same time — we lock eyes, smile and laugh a little. Your momentarily shared thought will now be a new inside joke. Sometimes, it feels like we experience that as a whole generation; everyone who consumes the same piece of media in this day and age is connected online, and we can share an “if you know, you know” moment.

If I were to say “I’m going to watch my little hockey show later” in a room full of peers, I love that there would be a million other people who would give me a smirk, because we share a secret. It’s the same look my best friend would give me if someone we went to high school with walked into a room with a baby bump — a salacious look that says “I know what you’ve been up to.” Because all the people who’ve seen the show and who are keeping up with the Internet’s obsession as closely as I am, would know that the “little hockey show” is “Heated Rivalry.” If they know that much, they know the show portrays a gay romance between two hockey players, who just so happen to be very attractive (and have a lot of sex).

On social media, videos referencing the show — of a girl blinking slowly with a caption that reads “When he speaks Russian” — are getting millions of likes. Between casual friends or acquaintances, there may be a silent acknowledgement of mutual appreciation, followed by a slight “Yeah, I liked it.” Best friends probably watched and dissected the show together

moment by moment. While types of discourse may vary, there’s one conversation I want to bring to the forefront: Rather than what drew us in, what kept us coming back for more?

Outside of the obvious elements of attraction and performance, what about this particular relationship felt so magnetic? And not just for the enjoyment of other queeridentifying people, which it certainly received, but also compelling to straight women?

I think part of the answer lies in the fact that two men are able to have a different kind of relationship than a man and a woman can; that relationship can be enticing, especially if it’s not something you experience ordinarily.

This enthusiasm isn’t just for recreational viewers; culture researchers across fields have taken an interest in the diversification of sexual and romantic relationships in the media over recent years.

A research rabbit hole on the culture of “shipping” — when fans match together characters from a show, book or movie who may not be scripted to be romantically entangled — is, I

believe, also of particular interest here. Fandoms, or fans who band together over their shared appreciation, often build off of existing stories to incorporate their own visions. It is clear that many women are seeing relationships that may or may not be scripted, and they like them. Specifically, they are finding and romanticizing friendships and relationships that are rooted in a gendered power balance; two people who are respected equally by the outside world, with a mutual understanding of one another. Because women and men are socialized by the forces of the world around us, there exist battles between gender ideologies with no overtly visible cause. Perhaps a nod to that pressure — or a brief escape from it — are these reimagined couples that show an idealistic dynamic that we wish we could have; a passion that is safe because it is shared between two people who are, at their very core, equals.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

Iran needs international support and our undivided attention

The whole world will feel the consequences of ongoing events in Iran

WRITTEN BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

On Dec. 28, 2025, the Iranian rial hit a record low against the United States dollar: $1.4 million to $1, compared to $700,000 in January of 2025. Food prices on average in Iran are about 72% higher than the previous year, and annual inflation currently rests at 40%. Deep-rooted economic inequality and unrest have shaken the country for years, and Iranian citizens have begun taking to the streets of major cities across the country. What began as protests demanding an improved economic situation, however, quickly turned into protests calling for the end of the Islamic Regime. As the conflict in Iran unfolds, it is imperative to remember that the state has a complex history, and there are many ongoing considerations for the international community, as well as within Iran itself. While we are unable to delve into all of the details of the nation’s history leading to today, the most important thing at this time is to pay attention and keep the wants and needs of the Iranian people in mind.

Protests began late December in the Tehran Bazaar and spread rapidly, already resulting in mass casualties and a widespread media blackout. Since these protests began, over 12,000 citizens have been killed, according to calculations conducted by Iran International. The numbers reflected in mainstream media outlets report about 2,000 deaths thus far — likely largely underestimated.

The people of Iran have lived under the oppressive Islamic Regime since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Prior to the Revolution, the country was run by the Shah, or king,

Mohammed Reza Pahlavi — his rule was characterized by more social freedoms but was also tainted by harsh economic inequality.

There are mixed opinions on whether the monarchy should be reinstated or if Iran should take on a new type of governmental system entirely; encouragement of Pahlavi seems to be largely symbolic — a demand for further autonomy for the Iranian people and not necessarily for a re-establishment of the same monarchical system. Protesters in major cities are seen holding Iranian flags with the symbol of the lion and sun — the previous symbol of the Iranian monarchy prior to the Islamic Revolution.

The Iranian people have a long history of engaging in resistance through protest — causes ranging from student rights, ethnic rights, hijab laws, fuel prices, the “woman, life, freedom” protests after the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 and many others over the years. Protest movements mobilized by the people are central, yet the Islamic Regime has continually suppressed them — one of the reasons that many believe that some kind of foreign intervention is needed in order to truly free Iran.

As these demonstrations have grown increasingly violent, there is a lot of conflicting information being spread. It is crucially important to pay attention to the rhetoric being shared and make up your own mind about the ongoing events, being sure to utilize reputable and trustworthy sources. Keep the people of Iran in your mind and your eyes on the situation as it unfolds. They are deserving of autonomy and a legitimate say in how their government is operated as demonstrations escalate.

For example, many calling

for the reinstating of the Shah are also calling for U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene, which he has sworn to do if casualties continue. However, as recent events in Venezuela have shown, the U.S. only seems willing to intervene in so-called ‘corrupt government systems’ when there is an economic or political incentive.

In the case of Iran, there is a lot to consider: the country’s oil, its control over the Persian Gulf, its alliance with Russia and China and many other factors, rendering it a strategic choice for many countries to intervene.

In addition, it is important to note the potential role of Israel in exacerbating these demonstrations, as one of Iran’s largest opposing forces in the region as well as one of the only countries to act offensively against Israel as the genocide in Palestine continues. Some believe that there are Mossad agents participating in protests in Iranian cities, noting also a possible positive relationship between Pahlavi, Trump and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump and Netanyahu, who have long called for the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, certainly have means to gain by trying to intercept power in the country.

Whether or not you subscribe to these beliefs, whatever happens in Iran in the coming months and years will be massively consequential. When taking all of these factors into account, think critically about the motives behind those who are involved. The priority should ultimately be the wellbeing of Iranians — we should support them in their fight for autonomy from the current government and remain critical of those who are now trying to claim their stake over reworking its structure.

Why are American t-shirts so antisocial?

We are lonelier than ever. Our t-shirts aren’t helping

BY MILES BARRY mabarry@ucdavis.edu

Walk through any American airport, thrift store or mall, and you’ll encounter a peculiar genre of clothing: the antisocial t-shirt. To name a few: “You Read My Shirt. That’s Enough Social Interaction for today”; “Rules for Monday: don’t talk to me, don’t look at me, don’t even breathe in my direction”; “I’m not an a**hole. Oh wait, yeah I am. I should probably warn people about that”; and “Ewwww, people.”

The grammar of the antisocial t-shirt is always in the first person. It’s almost always negative. It positions social interactions as unwanted and tedious. It often references chemical mood shifters (“Don’t talk to me before my coffee” or “Just here for the wine”). Antisocial shirts are a defense mechanism; the wearer has (however unwillingly) entered a public space — a place to find love, make new friends, compliment a stranger or overhear interesting conversations. But every time someone looks at them, their attire blatantly announces that all interaction is unwelcome.

This pessimism represents a shift in the tone struck by modern t-shirts. While slogan t-shirts were officially introduced to the world by the United States military shortly after World War II, they exploded in popularity in the 1960s with Michael Vasilantone’s invention of the multi-color garment screenprinting machine. This gave nearly anyone the ability to produce wearable art, which — alongside fashion’s move in a more casual direction — led to a dramatic increase in the expression of personal beliefs across one’s chest. Examples of this include John Lennon’s “War is Over!” campaign against the Vietnam War and Katharine Hamnett’s “58% don’t want Pershing” shirt, used to display poll numbers against Margaret Thatcher’s policies while Hamnett shook her hand.

Then something happened. Somewhere between “Choose Life!” and “I don’t do Mondays. I don’t do Tuesdays

either,” the American t-shirt underwent a tonal shift. The message stopped being directed at the world and started being directed at anyone who might approach the wearer: the t-shirt became defensive.

Some might consider this to be a useful boundary; a way to communicate that the wearer shouldn’t be approached, like a porcupine’s quills. And, as a guy with a sort of creepy mustache, I do understand that people aren’t obligated to talk to me in public. But, one wears a t-shirt all day! Their whole 10 hours on campus are spent advertising “Here’s how tired I am, and I don’t want to talk to you even a little.” This projected exhaustion or disinterest can be perceived as aggression. When you look through your dresser in the morning, and decide between your “I’m Only Talking To My Dog Today” shirt, and your “Sorry I’m Late. I Didn’t Want To Come” shirt, can you really be confident that you’ll feel that way all day?

The fact of the matter is, people are lonelier than ever. In 2023, young Americans spent 45% more time alone than they did in 2010. Americans are spending less than half as much time with friends as they did a decade ago. Under the Biden administration, the Surgeon General identified this as a major health concern, noting that the “mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.” As our daily

Iran is a country of unique consequence. It is one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world; its allies — Russia and China — rival the U.S., which could create a proxy war as the U.S. considers intervening; its oil reserves are second to only Saudi Arabia in the entire Middle East and third in the world; and it is the one of only three Islamic Republics in the world. Whether there is foreign intervention, a revolution fronted by the Iranian people or another outcome, it is likely that there will be disruptions felt around the world.

What the people of Iran need as the country undergoes conflict and reform is mass international support; international institutions like the United Nations (UN), however, are restricted by the veto power held by the U.S. It is difficult to imagine more-than-symbolic power exercised by the UN in recent years. Despite declaring Israel’s atrocities in Palestine a genocide and witnessing the ongoing state-backed genocide in Sudan, neither the UN nor other global powers have done anything. These are just two examples of current injustices that are not being addressed by the institutions designed to prevent them. In spite of the symbolic importance of actors like the UN, our world is holding itself less and less accountable for crimes against humanity each year. Throughout this time, no matter what unfolds, the entire world will feel the fallout of the events in Iran. As the situation develops, stay cognizant of all types of rhetoric being shared and bear in mind the ongoing fight of the Iranian people for freedom from the oppressive regime — no matter what the future holds for the country.

lives become more unhealthily antisocial, so does our daily wear.

But are these shirts really keeping everyone away?

Paradoxically, these antisocial shirts serve a social purpose; their text is useless without an audience. The t-shirt that says “Don’t talk to me” is actually a form of communication to other people. Maybe its wearer is reaching out by pushing away, and the slogan becomes a filter for a very specific form of social interaction. It says “Overthinking, overstimulated, overwhelmed” — beneath that, the subtext asks “Are you feeling this way too?” This tacky expression of antisocialness might be read as a plea for connection or a desire to meet people who are in the same boat.

Despite this alternative interpretation, I can’t help but feel concerned that we have supplanted outward expressions of beliefs with outward expressions of inwardness. While the protest shirt said “Here’s what I think the world should be,” the antisocial shirt says “Here’s why I can’t deal with our world now.” One imagines a future; the other barely survives the present. While everyone has days they’d rather spend alone, I worry that we’re moving towards a world with silent coffee shops and zero spontaneity.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

Editorial Board

ALYSSA CREVOISERAT Editor-in-Chief

MAYA KORNYEYEVA Managing Editor

VINCE BASADA Campus News Editor

JORDAN POLTORAK City News Editor

MOLLY THOMPSON Opinion Editor

ZOEY MORTAZAVI Features Editor

SAVANNAH ANNO Arts & Culture Editor

MEGAN JOSEPH Sports Editor

KATIE HELLMAN Science & Tech Editor

Managing Staff

JENNA LEE Photo Director

NOELLE ESCALANTE Layout Director

SAVANNAH BURGER Design Director

SAM RUIZ New Media Manager

KAYLIE HUANG Social Media Manager

JULIAN MONTANA Website Manager

JULIA CROSSAN Distribution & Outreach Director

YILAN LI Translation Director

CARMEN RODRIGUEZ-ZARATE Translation Director

JENNY DYE Copy Chief

ALYSSA PULIDO Copy Chief

LAURIE PEDERSON Business Development Manager

The rise and fall of the ‘Internet girl’

The public can only tolerate a woman’s success for so long before it becomes offensive

BY GEETIKA MAHAJAN giamahajan@ucdavis.edu

When international girl group KATSEYE debuted their single “Gnarly” in April 2025, they were relatively fresh faces in the music industry. Coming from a successful Netflix competition show, in which a group of 20 teenagers competed to be in the girl group until only six out of the 20 remained, they released one moderately popular extended play (EP) album before the single went viral. While audiences were initially disparaging the song for its lyrics, the live performances changed public perception for the better.

Over the next few months, KATSEYE and its individual members skyrocketed in popularity. The group went on to perform at Coachella and Lollapalooza, two nationally renowned music festivals in the United States, and their social media followings each climbed into the millions. At this point, it seemed like the members of the group could do no wrong; fans praised the diversity and vulnerability of group members, suggesting they were a welcome break from the uniformity and secrecy of the K-Pop industry.

as is the case for most

successful young women, the Internet could only tolerate them for so long before aspects of their public personas were criticized.

Lara Raj, IndianAmerican lead vocalist of the group, was initially commended for publicly embracing her Indian heritage and Western upbringing. Yet, a few months later, she was criticized for presenting Indian culture in an “incorrect” or Westernized way.

been previously owned by Scooter Braun and their support and association with celebrities like Camila Cabello, James Charles and Ice Spice (all of whom have been flamed online for their own controversial actions) . The initial public draw to the group’s openness became prejudice against their

“This discrimination follows women no matter what profession they’re in — as long as you’re in the public eye, you’re bound to fall victim to it eventually.”

Geetika Mahajan

lack of conventional media training. The very things that were appealing about the group in the first place began to sour public perception of them. Such a rise and fall in the public eye is sadly the norm for female celebrities. People love a fresh, new face for a short period of time, but then

The group also received flak for their collaborations and behavior, including their management company having

These are imaginary, pop-culture problems that the Internet treats like they’re real issues; meanwhile, the real people are vilified like fictional characters.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

or she needs to be less successful before the public can enjoy her work again. Such non-issues have been the reason behind hate-trains for women like Madison Beer, R. F. Kuang and Taylor Swift. This discrimination follows women no matter what profession they’re in — as long as you’re in the public eye, you’re bound to fall victim to it eventually. The root of this problem is not the women themselves so much as the overall business model and culture that creates them. Industry leaders love to find passionate, talented young women and cultivate their fame, but they can’t control public perception any more than they can control the weather. Eventually, the scales tip and people decide they’re tired of this person being shoved in their face; someone newer and shinier comes along to capture their attention instead. The same system that packages, presents and profits off of these groups of women — entire record labels, publishers or agencies — quietly stand back once the tides shift. It’s disheartening to see this happen over and over again. The reasons for each cancellation seem so valid when the media has spent months building someone up to seem flawless or untouchable, but I would implore you to take a step back and ask yourself if it really matters whether Lara Raj’s Diwali outfit was “too revealing” or Taylor Swift’s album spent “too long” at the top of

ARTS & CULTURE

The Art Desk’s

CULTURE CORNER

Fresh finds in television, movies, novels, & music

BY MIRIAM RAMAKRISHNAN arts@theaggie.org

Song: “Pitseleh” by Elliott Smith (1998)

An incredible song off an unparalleled album, “Pitseleh” is entirely Elliott Smith — finger-picked acoustic guitar, wispy vocals and introspective lyrics. When the piano emerges in the second half of the track, it reflects an intense depth that is difficult to explain. The shift feels almost confessional in a way, as if the song is opening a new emotional register rather than building towards a traditional climax. The contemplative state that “Pitseleh” elicits lingers long after the final key is pressed: a trait unique to Smith’s work.

Flim: “The Holdovers” dir. Alexander Payne (2023)

“The Holdovers” is possibly the best holiday movie of all time — and the Academy agrees with me. Even if it didn’t have five Oscar nominations, I would still sing this film’s praises to everyone I meet. The folksy soundtrack, featuring the likes of Labi Siffre and Nick Drake, sets the scene for a snowy New England winter, in which angsty teenager Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) has just been informed that his mother will not be taking him home for Christmas break. As he grudgingly spends his vacation “held over” at boarding school, Tully develops a reluctant bond with school cook Mary Lamb (Joy Randolf) and grouchy professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti). Over the course of two hours, the emotional journey that the viewer experiences feels both intimate and much bigger than the characters themselves, unfolding with an almost old-fashioned patience that modern films rarely allow for. “The Holdovers” is chicken noodle soup for the soul; a warm reminder that we all seek human connection and comfort in each other — especially when it’s cold outside.

TV Show: “High Fidelity” by Veronica West, Sarah Kucserka (2020)

This may be blasphemous to fans of the original film, but I truly believe that the gender-swapped TV adaptation of “High Fidelity” might be the better version. Zoe Kravitz stars as “cool girl” Rob Brooks, a stylish record shop owner struggling with love alongside her friends in New York City. Her friends Cherise (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) and Simon (David H. Holmes) have authentic, funky personalities that add dimension and character to the show. Each individual, no matter how minor, is written so deeply that they could have their own episodes — and they sometimes do! Of course, a show about a music shop couldn’t go without a star-studded soundtrack, featuring legends like David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac and A Tribe Called Quest. The whole show creates a laid-back and grounded atmosphere, which — when combined with great comedic timing and an intriguing plot line — makes “High Fidelity” an easy binge or quick re-watch.

Album: “She Hangs Brightly” by Mazzy Star (1990)

Quite frankly, any record that features tracks like “Blue Flower” and “Be My Angel” has to go platinum in my headphones. The grungy guitar sounds like it came straight from a band practice in your friend’s basement, and Singer Hope Sandoval’s soft, drawn-out vocals create a perfect contrast between the two elements. That’s not the only sound within this album, however; songs like “Halah” and “Give You My Lovin” are built upon a gentle acoustic guitar. Mazzy Star’s debut song “She Hangs Brightly” established the band’s now-iconic moody and pensive style, which is often imitated, never duplicated. To me, this album evokes jewel tones and witchy movies like “The Craft” (1996) with deep, rich instrumentals and sentimental lyrics — perfect for reflecting on the past year.

‘Zootopia

Is Hollywood digging its own grave?

What does Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. mean for the American film industry?

JONAH BERMAN arts@theaggie.org

After 2025, the state of American cinema is twofold.

On one hand, films like “One Battle After Another,” “Sinners” and “Weapons” have been universally lauded for their originality. Conversely, the studio system, the historical foundation for America’s film industry, has never seemed so close to total collapse, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Overall, 2025 was an abysmal year for the box office. The U.S. studio industry earned 8.7 billion dollars in revenue, falling below the expected 10 billion figure that was observed before the pandemic.

Meanwhile, other countries don’t seem to have the same problem; in China, box office earnings ballooned 22% from 2024. Cinemas nationwide are displeased, as Mike Sherrill, the chief operating officer of dine-in cinema chain Alamo Drafthouse noted to Variety.

“There’s an unfortunate trend, which [is] that we just can’t get the industry to $9 billion at the domestic box office,” Sherrill said. “It looks like it’s going to be two years in a row that the industry flatlined.”

Meanwhile, streaming services have become more popular and financially successful than ever before.

In the third quarter of last year, Netflix reported a 17% increase in earnings from 2024.

In 2024, Netflix’s U.S. revenue had already surpassed theatrical earnings by almost 100%.

Thus, the meteoric rise of streaming services coupled with the comparatively dire

2’ builds on the success of its predecessor in every way

straits of the old guard has led to an unprecedented era of studio consolidation.

Within the past six years, Disney purchased 21st Century Fox, Amazon bought Metro Goldwyn Mayer and Paramount has merged with Skydance.

On Dec. 5, Netflix proposed a purchase of Warner Bros. for nearly $83 billion, which could be completed by the end of this year after approval by regulatory agencies. Warner Bros. were open to the sale, likely because of the significant debt they hold, which would be ameliorated by Netflix’s purchase. If the deal goes through, it could spell the end of the theatrical experience as we know it.

While that prescription is perhaps overzealous, there’s no doubt that the proposed acquisition would be dangerous for an industry already struggling to get back on its feet financially. Firstly, the merger would increase consolidation in Hollywood, reinforcing oligopolistic conditions, as Northwestern University professor Rick Morris noted via Northwestern Now. “The consumer might also be concerned,” Morris said.

The animated film is a simple reflection of the ways that narratives can be manipulated to promote injustice

JULIE HUANG arts@theaggie.org

“Zootopia” (2016) was one of the defining animated children’s films of the 2010s, introducing young audiences to a world of anthropomorphic animals living in eye-catching habitats like deserts, rainforests, tundras and, most notably, bigcity streets. Released on Nov. 26, 2025, “Zootopia 2” returned to that world of supposed harmony, telling the story through the eyes of the familiar rabbit and fox duo: idealistic police officer Judy Hopps and smoothtalking, reformed small-time criminal Nick Wilde.

In “Zootopia” (2016), Hopps and Wilde navigate the diverse city of Zootopia to solve a missing-animal case, working together begrudgingly at first, then gradually setting their differences aside as the case spirals into a conspiracy mired in prejudice from prey animals towards predators.

The start of the second film establishes that the two are now partners in the Zootopia police department, and each other’s closest friends. Though things are looking up for the pair, their successful dynamic has not translated into city-wide acceptance and harmony for all animals.

“Zootopia” was unsubtle in its portrayal of themes such as systemic racism, prejudice and state-sanctioned propaganda. Using the dichotomy of “predator versus prey” as allegorical commentary on

widespread hatred toward marginalized groups, the film’s vivid backdrops became a colorful canvas for a relatively bleak discussion of prejudice and discrimination, while remaining palatable enough for younger audiences. Not content to leave its viewers stewing in the unsavory realities that often accompany the experience of belonging to a marginalized community, “Zootopia” balances its more solemn themes with a positive example of overcoming differences through Hopps’ and Wilde’s budding friendship.

As the pair grow closer across the first film, they learn how to understand and bond over each other’s parallel struggles. Their trust in each other becomes the critical tool to defeating the film’s major antagonists, underlining the central message that differences and diversity are something to be celebrated, not feared.

“Zootopia 2” picks back up on the themes of its predecessor, expanding on how fear of real or perceived differences between groups of people can lead to self-perpetuating harm and unfounded hatred. Like the plot-twisting villain of the first film, new character additions, pit viper Gary De’Snake and lynx cat Pawbert Lynxley, continue the trend of toying with narrative expectations for their characters.

De’Snake’s species, and reptilian characters in general, are notably lacking from the first film. The second film diegetically explains the reptilian absence as a socially

imposed exile from Zootopia, which began after widespread circulation of an incident where a snake supposedly attacked a mammal with deadly venom.

Meanwhile, Lynxley hails from the prestigious family whose ancestor, Ebenezer Lynxley, purportedly helped found Zootopia as a diverse haven for all animals. Feeling spurned by and disconnected from his family, Lynxley partners with De’Snake to restore reptilian reputation in Zootopia.

This stereotypical narrative of “evil” reptiles and “innocent” mammals mirrors the first film’s dichotomy of “dangerous” predators versus “hapless” prey animals.

It is thus unsurprising when the story of Ebenezer Lynxley is revealed to be a lie. The Lynxleys are outed as frauds, upholding a falsified version of historical events for decades to maintain their own power at the expense of slandering and uprooting the guiltless snake population.

Admittedly, the film does not deviate from the simplistic understanding that, though characters may misrepresent themselves, some individuals are inherently well-meaning, whereas others are malicious.

Perhaps too ambitious a message for a children’s film — with a runtime of an hour and 50 minutes — there are only hints that in a society where systemic discrimination runs rampant, even those with good intentions may become unwilling, unconscious participants in promoting

prejudice or biases. Nevertheless, the film does important work in acknowledging and unveiling the process through which systemic exclusion of marginalized groups can be justified by means of propaganda that appeals to basic emotions like fear.

Once again, Hopps and Wilde’s interpersonal dynamic serves as an opportunity for growth amidst the harsh truths of systemic failures. Throughout the film, the tensions in their personal relationship form the emotional core of the film, coming to a head when both declare how much they mean to each other — without their previous uncertainty or hesitation.

This persistent care for each other becomes the vessel of the film’s primary theme. Fear and misunderstanding can become a habit, easily and thoughtlessly perpetuated, while empathy and understanding are skills that require active work, over and over again. Yet, putting in the effort to stand in front of someone and see them for who they are is always worth it.

Box office numbers do not correlate to the artistic or thematic quality of a film, but they may imply that audiences resonated with the work. If that is so, then “Zootopia 2” was undeniably resonant with viewers: It attained the highest worldwide box office opening for an animated film since 2002.

Its unique role as a children’s film, intended to be both entertaining and

educational, allowed it to imbue a sense of levity to the unyielding notion that justice is often found outside the limits of legal frameworks that have been compromised by corrupt authorities and enforced by misleading narratives.

Films like “Zootopia 2” are never willing to leave their audiences without hope, so its protagonists, Hopps and Wilde, become representatives of the ways that divisions can be overcome. As two different species and individuals with very different upbringings, their trust and care for each other are not intuitive or natural; rather, it is their active and continuous choice to see, listen to and accept each other, which reflects what it truly means to embrace our differences and celebrate our shared experiences.

The 2025 Game Awards recap:

major announcements and a record-setting sweep

What happened at this year’s Game Awards, from who won big to what upcoming games were hinted at

BY NATALIE SALTER arts@theaggie.org

On Dec. 11, 2025, “The Game Awards” began at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, for both a live audience and an estimated 171 million livestream viewers. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the awards serve as both an opportunity to crown the best video games of the year and to tease what new games are yet to come.

The ceremony’s biggest victor of the night was Sandfall Interactive’s “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” which won nine awards — creating a historic Game Awards record. It most significantly won the illustrious “Game of the Year” title, but also for categories such as “Best Game Direction” and “Best Narrative”; voice actor Jennifer English won “Best Performance” for her work in the game.

The record-setting sweep that “Expedition 33” experienced put it in the spotlight for the whole night. For some viewers, seeing a game be so highly awarded made them more curious to pick it up themselves.

“I take awards seriously, and if a game wins that many awards, it must have been made with passion and love,” Riley Martin, a third-year English major, said. “Seeing ‘Expedition 33’ made me interested in playing the game myself.”

For others, like Dorian Simpson, a fourth-year food science major, the award sweep was welcome but seemed to leave other titles unappreciated.

“I think the actual awards were almost funny, since ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ had the craziest award sweep I’ve ever seen, which was actually deserved,” Simpson said. “My only wish is that ‘Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter’ got some kind of spotlight because it seemed like an amazing game.”

One prominent aspect of “The Game Awards” is its musical performances. This year’s show featured a surprise appearance by the band Evanescence, who showed-off their recent single, “Afterlife.” Additionally, in the show’s tradition, a live orchestra performed pieces from each of the “Game of the Year”

nominees’ soundtracks before the winner was announced.

Though “The Game Awards” are primarily an awards show, new game announcements and trailers debuted during the ceremony are half of the excitement for viewers. Fans can tune in not only to find out what games are the best of the year, but also to anticipate what’s yet to come from their favorite studios and franchises.

Larian Studios, whose game

“Baldur’s Gate 3” won “Game of the Year” at the 2023 show, used the night to debut the trailer for their newest game, “Divinity.”

The announcement featured live actors in fantasy costumes who were lifted into the air in front of the audience, adding extra spectacle to the trailer.

Other announcements for upcoming games included “Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic,” a new action-adventure game set in the famous sci-fi universe, and “Control: Resonant,” the sequel to the mind-bending 2019 game “Control.”

The show also marked the return of highly successful franchises. One huge announcement was for an upcoming remake of the 1996 “Tomb Raider,” bringing the iconic adventurer Lara Croft back to the spotlight, as well as a new entry in the series, “Catalyst.”

“This past game awards was definitely one of the most exciting in recent years in my opinion,” Simpson said. “There were so many amazing game reveals, like ‘Divinity’, ‘Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic,’ ‘Gang of Dragon,’ ‘Control: Resonant’ and of course the two ‘Tomb Raider’ games. I also loved seeing updates for some of the previously announced games like ‘Resident Evil: Requiem’ and ‘Pragmata.’”

Perhaps the biggest franchise announcement of the night came from Capcom, the developer of the wildly popular “Resident Evil” horror games. The studio released a new trailer for the series’ ninth and latest entry, “Requiem,” which comes out Feb. 27, 2026. The trailer revealed that the fan-favorite legacy character Leon Kennedy would be returning to the series.

With around 171 million viewers, the most in the show’s history thus far, 2025’s “The Game Awards” were the biggest yet — and with so many trailers and global game announcements, it promised much more excitement to come. Fans of video games can certainly anticipate the next show at the end of this year, where more records may be broken and new games will certainly be revealed.

New books for the new year

A seasonal guide to upcoming 2026 releases

BY BELLA PETERSON arts@theaggie.org

Many bookworms get the most out of their year by curling up with a good novel — one that perfectly fits into the current season they find themselves in. Whether it be a strong, exhilarating story for the heat of summer or a chilling tale of fantasy for the cold of winter, here are some novels debuting this year to keep readers busy across all four of 2026’s seasons.

Spring: “My Dear You: Stories” by Rachel Khong

“My Dear You: Stories” by Rachel Khong is a collection of short stories that explores the many aspects of being human — and not so human. Khong previously published the novel “Real Americans,” a 2024 New York Times bestseller that examines race and class through three generations of a fictional family.

In this new book, Khong explores a multitude of themes that come together through various short stories, from a woman adopting a cat that can conjure the ghosts of her past lovers to the United States government formulating a drug that makes every citizen see other people as having their own personal race and gender. Khong provides new takes on complex

humanity through the lens of both science fiction and fantasy — “My Dear You: Stories,” is a fresh, unique read to eagerly await during spring’s blooming atmosphere.

“My Dear You: Stories” is expected to be released on April 7. With its creative collection of stories, it’s bound to be the perfect read for early spring.

Summer: “Half His Age” by Jennette McCurdy

“Half His Age” by Jennette McCurdy may just be the most highly anticipated novel on this list, after her debut memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died” (2022), made waves in both the literary world and everyday pop culture.

Unlike her previous book, this novel tackles a fictional story, centered around a young girl named Waldo who finds herself completely enamored with her creative writing teacher, Mr. Korgy. Featuring themes such as consumerism, loneliness and the naivete of youth, McCurdy’s new novel encapsulates enough variety of emotions and experiences to create an intricate story; one you can only give proper attention to in the long, restless summer months.

“Half His Age” is set to release as early as Jan. 20. If you’re in search of a captivating, salacious read that will keep you on your toes this summer, then

McCurdy’s novel might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Fall: “Japanese Gothic” by Kylie Lee Baker

“Japanese Gothic” by Kylie Lee Baker is the ideal read for fall’s spookier atmosphere. This new, sharp novel offers up two contrasting tales for the reader to delve into: one set in October 2026, with main character Lee Turner unable to remember how or why he murdered his college roommate, and one set in October 1877, where young Samurai Sen finds herself in exile and soon realizes a monster is wearing the face of her father.

Lee Baker has stated that “one of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.” When both plots find themselves inextricably interwoven, it’s up to the reader to uncover what their connections may be to the novel’s conclusion. There is nothing better than a mysterious set of thrills to welcome you into the spooky season; “Japanese Gothic” is expected to release on April 21.

Winter: “The Red Winter” by Cameron Sullivan Cameron Sullivan’s new release, “The Red Winter,” is the perfect fantasy read to cozy up with during the colder months of the year. A devastating love story, this debut author presents a bold narrative about purpose, power and redemption. Set in the French countryside, this tale follows Professor Sebastian Grave, a monster-slayer in search of the Beast of Gévaudan — a real-life mystery of 18th century France — who has created quite the extensive, bloodstained winter. Sebastian finds himself on the hunt once more, determined to finish this deadly beast once and for all.

“The Red Winter” is set to release on Feb. 24 — any reader in search of a dark, fantastical read that makes the winter chill a bit more exciting should keep their eyes open for Sullivan’s debut novel.

‘The Realm of Possibility’ explores the weaving thread between nature and the unseen at the Pence Gallery

Artists Diane Williams and Maryann Steinert-Foley investigate persistence and the human experience

BY IQRA AHMAD arts@theaggie.org

From Dec. 12 to Feb. 1,

“The Realm of Possibility” is on display at the Pence Gallery, located on 212 D Street in Downtown Davis.

Featuring works by Diane Williams and UC Davis Alum Maryann Steinert-Foley, the exhibition explores themes of “persistence, generosity, and unseen forces that sustain both nature and humanity,” according to The Pence Gallery website.

The Pence Gallery — which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — has long served to present exhibitions by both emerging and established artists, featuring works that engage with various contemporary issues.

Previously hosting exhibitions like Erica Norelius’ “Natural Places and Urban Spaces,” which showcased the intrusive presence of man in various landscapes, and Darrci Robertson’s “Playful Awakening,” which highlights the various roles of women, the Pence Gallery is no stranger to displaying works that examine the complexities of the human experience.

“The Realm of Possibility” continues this tradition through the pairing of two artists whose works differ in form but converge in their efforts to explore a multitude of themes; ranging from how femininity weaves nature’s story across time to the presence of politics in shaping society.

With 30 years of exhibition experience, Williams’ pieces are marked by their fluidity, which is created through a vibrant color palette and expressive, masterful brushwork. Working across a variety of mediums — including paint, oil sticks, ink, textiles, book pages, pencils and collage — Williams creates layered, multidimensional works.

“Multiple layers chronicle

what is concrete and what is illusive,” Williams wrote in her online artist biography. “Erasures remind us that nothing is permanent, yet everything leaves an impression.”

Through these techniques, Williams aims to abstract the complex human emotions that people experience and connect it to nature — to the roots and branches of society — which she believes is crucial to creating her work.

“It’s important to put your hands into the Earth,” Williams said. “My attention has turned to roots and branches; roots are the quiet, essential structures that anchor and reach, whereas branches stretch toward the light. They remind me of the hidden networks that sustain life both in nature and in community. This series draws from the concept of grassroots and the power of ordinary people to grow and change from the ground up.” Her process embraces accumulation and erasure,

revealing traces of what has been added, altered or removed. When in the process of creating something, Williams emphasized that she has a conversation with her work, listening to what speaks to her.

“The work is pulling me along, guiding me,” Williams said. “The paint takes me on amazing journeys. I make a mark and I respond to the mark and then I make another mark, it becomes a dialogue.”

Through this approach, Williams encourages viewers to wonder about what can be known or fixed, encouraging reflection on the ways memory, perception and conversation continually change over time and space.

Williams also mentioned that her pieces are heavily inspired by travel and the power of listening, both of which shape the trajectory of her work.

“I had a trip to China in 2001 and that was a huge influence on my work; the

empty space and tension between the objects became really important to me,” Williams said. “I [also] lived in Jamaica for 10 years, and I listened to Reggae music that instilled a colorful rhythm into my work. You ride on the rhythm, it doesn’t follow a rigid

Williams. Steinert-Foley’s work, meanwhile, takes on a more conceptual approach. Although Steinert-Foley is best known for her clay sculptures, she also creates paintings and drawings. Her work often conjures manifestations of social issues

“The paint takes me on amazing journeys. I make a mark and I respond to the mark and then I

make another mark,

it becomes dialogue.”

beat and I use that change of direction with painting.” Williams’ works focus on using the canvas to express generational stories and accounts.

Her paintings present the role of women and elders as “holders of our collective intuitive lineage,” according to

Diane Williams Artist into provoking, tangible figures.

“When I was making ‘My Choice Not Yours,’ I was heavily influenced by politics and the news to start a conversation with my audience,” SteinertFoley said.

Steinert-Foley aims to address the influence of religious

doctrine on reproductive choice and bodily autonomy through her sculpture series, “My Choice Not Yours,” which is featured in the exhibition as a three-dimensional work.

“Its more important to me when the viewer tells me what they get out of the work that I do,” Steinert-Foley said. “When an elementary school visited, a boy went up to the piece ‘Blue Strider’ and I was floored by his observation of the piece as this ocean, moving forward, going from one shore to another.”

These observations by viewers reflect the emotions and physicality Steinert-Foley places into her work through movement and tension.

“When I paint, my hands are in it, I have to find a tension and I have to find a shape,” Steinert-Foley said. The two artists met at an Arts Benicia event, where they cultivated a collaborative partnership that now includes shared exhibitions.

“Our philosophy about art and how art can really encourage change in people and society, as well as our rustic styles, just connected at heart,” Williams said. Williams and SteinertFoley take a lot of inspiration from each others’ works; their hopes to connect their message with their audience truly transcends through their pieces.

“I think our messages are very similar, but the way we convey those messages are very different,” Williams said.

“Maryann will hit you over the head with a message, whereas I will just seduce you with a flower.”

“The Realm of Possibility” brings to life conversations surrounding the impact of societal structures on shaping individual and collective human experiences. It remains on view through Feb. 1, and is open to the public during regular gallery hours at the Pence.

Inside JumpDog Studios, a resource for Davis musicians

Rowan McGuire details the philosophy behind his music studio

BY LAILA AZHAR features@theaggie.org

McGuire — the

behind Davis music studio JumpDog Studios — has been a musician for as long as he can remember. A drummer since youth, McGuire grew up playing in bands ranging from jazz to metal.

When he founded JumpDog Studios in 2019, it began as a space to work on his own music. McGuire was pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter and needed a space to record and produce. Over the following years, however — and amidst the global pandemic — his relationship with music began to shift.

“I was reevaluating what I liked about music,” McGuire said. “Doing the singersongwriter thing didn’t speak to me as much. As COVID-19 was opening up, I started playing a few shows here and there, [but] playing my own songs wasn’t really checking that box. I think music is a form of community, and the social aspect of it — sharing the performance experience with people — allowed me to be like, ‘Oh, that’s what I liked about this.’”

As he began using JumpDog Studios to help others record and shape their music, McGuire found that producing offered exactly what he was looking for. He soon focused his efforts on

full-time music production.

“Producing is kind of everything that I was looking for in that, it is very collaborative,” McGuire said. “I’m working with another person or another group of people trying to help them translate their creative goals or ideas into a final product.”

The songs he’s worked on are compiled in a Spotify playlist; many are guitar-driven, including indie-rock, folk and country songs. Folk singer and fellow Davis native Nat Lefkoff is one of his most frequent collaborators.

“Rowan is a rare mix of incredible talent and gentle personality,” Lefkoff said. “The combination is apparent to anyone who spends time at JumpDog Studios and [it] keeps me coming back to work with him. We’re starting a third album together and I’m looking forward to his boundless imagination and skill, friendly demeanor and casual yet professional approach.”

McGuire enjoys exploring different sounds and genres; he produced bedroom pop track “sentiment” by shower breakfast, and is mixing and mastering live recordings of traditional Irish band Paddy on the Binge’s performance at “St. Pat’s in the Park.”

Obin Sturm, Paddy on the Binge’s fiddler, recalled fond memories of working with McGuire.

“I’ve worked with Rowan at JumpDog Studios as a studio

musician on fiddle and steel guitar for a few years, and it’s been really cool to watch him scale it up,” Sturm said. “I got a chance to work on a variety of projects with local musicians and also to meet artists from out of town that he brought in. I admire Rowan’s vision and attention to detail, and how he works with musicians to make some awesome tracks.”

No two sessions at JumpDog Studios look exactly the same. McGuire is flexible based on the needs of different artists.

“I’m not super focused on one specific part of the process, whether you have a couple ideas of songs that you want to flesh out or if you have it all recorded and want it mixed or mastered,” McGuire said.

His breadth of experience as a musician has been instrumental in his work as a producer.

“It can be a very vulnerable thing to want to get your record made,” McGuire said.

“Especially with singersongwriters, for example, it’s something that’s inherently very personal for a lot of people, and sometimes it can feel weird to open it up to have other people get involved. It’s your name and your song that came directly from you, so in trying to navigate the relationship that artists have with their music, it’s nice to have been on the other side and had that relationship with my music.”

Pence Gallery unveils new exhibit

‘Worn’ reflects the major role clothing and fabric play in identity, memories and meaning

BY MICHELLE BEKHTEL city@theaggie.org

From Jan. 9 to Feb. 8 2026, the Pence Gallery will host an exhibit titled “Worn.”

This exhibit showcases art that explores the correlation between clothing, culture and identity. A group of artists’ work are on display, located in the Learning Center Gallery. This gallery is open to the public as Pence celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Katharine Schultz, curator and education director at the Pence Gallery, spoke about the history of the gallery.

“We have been here since 1976 as a local community gallery, and we started out as a one-room gallery which was originally a dental office,” Schultz said. “That dentist, Joe Pence, later donated the building to the city.”

To build the exhibition, the Pence gallery opened a public artist call in Fall 2025, inviting submissions from local and regional creators.

“We always work with living artists that are currently making work, practicing art in the Davis area and Bay area,” Schultz said.

Schultz explained the call was intentionally broad to encourage accessibility and a wide range of interpretations.

“The idea was that you could apply with any type of medium,” Shultz said. “It just had to relate to clothing and identity in some way, and I really wanted it to be as accessible to as many people as possible, as well as meet new artists that I had never heard of before.”

One of the standout works in “Worn” is Yi-Chuan Chen’s “Souvenir 4,” a continuation of her earlier piece “Souvenir 1,”

created 17 years ago from her own hair. The new work revisits the concept using her presentday body hair, shaped again into delicate hat-like forms.

Chen describes the emotional and cultural resonance behind the material in her artist’s statement displayed in the gallery.

“Hair — shed by the body yet held by memory — becomes an intimate archive of identity,” Chen said. “These small hair-hats capture a moment in my life, a keepsake of youth, movement and becoming.”

Schultz explained how Chen’s work connects aging, memory and Taiwanese cultural practices.

“It was showing her relationship with aging and memories that were held in hair,” Schultz said. “In Taiwanese culture when a family member passes or a significant event happens you cut your hair, so it’s an important reminder of events that have happened in her life.”

Schultz also highlighted how artist statements depend on the emotional tone of the exhibit.

“I love that we are able to include the artists’ statements because it feels more personal,” Shultz said. “There is a lot of love felt in the show.”

Chen’s newest piece reframes her earlier work through the lens of time and change.

“This new work transforms what was once a souvenir of the past into a testament to resilience, change, and the quiet accumulation of memory,” Chen said.

The exhibit features a wide range of media — including fiber art, mixed media, painting, sculpture and photography — to explore how clothing can reflect personal and cultural

narratives. Each artist interprets the theme through their own lived experiences and creative processes. The gallery’s mission emphasizes supporting local artists and fostering community engagement through contemporary art.

Pence Gallery Marketing Associate Jenna Matsubara spoke about the mission in her own words.

“The Pence Gallery’s mission is to serve the community through offering high caliber art exhibits, supporting the development of local and regional artists and providing educational programs to visitors of all ages,” Matsubara said. Schultz shared how the exhibit grew from her own academic interests.

“It was a passion project of mine in grad school,” Schultz said. “I really love looking at clothing more so than any other type of art and specifically thinking about identity.” The title “Worn” reflects the many ways clothing can carry meaning.

“I liked the idea that clothing could be worn again […] or that you can try on clothing and put on a new identity […] or that some artists created pieces made of items that are worn out but made into something new and beautiful,” Shultz said.

Shultz spoke about how the Pence Gallery continues to emphasize accessibility, diversity and community involvement.

“We acknowledge that many voices from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds have been overlooked or silenced,” Shultz said.

PENCEGALLERY on 9

UC Davis AI Student Collective aims to bring AI education and accessibility to students

The AISC helps students engage with artificial intelligence amid global technological development and controversy

BY GRACIELA TIU features@theaggie.org

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology rapidly expands, its presence is increasingly felt in academic and professional settings. At the same time, it also represents one of the most controversial topics of campus discussion, as many community members have concerns about issues such as environmental impact, academic integrity and data privacy.

With this context, students are left to determine how to engage with such a powerful yet contested technology. In 2025 alone, the AI market reached approximately $244 billion, showing a 31% increase from 2024; it is expected to continue rising in the coming years.

In response, UC Davis students established the AI Student Collective (AISC), a campus group aiming to bring access and education about the technology directly to students.

“The AI Student Collective is

in 2025, compared to the 78% reported in the previous year, according to a McKinsey & Company survey.

“There’s just so much happening right now, and it’s all moving incredibly fast,” Sathvik Parasa, AISC vice president of membership development and a third-year computer science and engineering major, said. “So, it’s important to have an oncampus resource to turn to for exposure to this rapidly-evolving landscape. There is a growing gap between what the industry expects from new grads and what students learn in coursework.”

Parasa noted how studentled organizations can help connect students with the tools to meet the demands of industry expectations.

“The AI Student Collective a global student-run organization focused on making artifcial intelligence accessible to all.”

Prati Mehta

AI Student Collective , VP of Operations a global student-run organization focused on making artificial intelligence accessible to all,”

Prati Mehta, AISC vice president of operations and a third-year cognitive science major, said.

“It was created to help lower the barrier of entry into tech, as many students at UC Davis felt a gap in existing opportunities. We wanted to build a community where anyone, regardless of technical experience, could learn how AI works, experiment with it hands-on and understand its real-world impact.”

With the speed at which AI has been evolving, students feel pressure and a sense of urgency to keep up with the field’s advancements. 88% of organizations reported using AI for at least one business function

“AI-centered student organizations like AISC bridge that gap,” Parasa said. “Because we’re student-led, we have the flexibility to move quickly, expose members to novel topics and adapt as the field evolves. This ensures that students stay close to the frontier of innovation, instead of playing catch-up with the rest of the world.”

The club’s adaptability allows it to serve students from all backgrounds and help them engage with AI meaningfully. Mehta explained how the club’s methodology provides students with hands-on experience.

“We design everything around learning by doing,” Mehta said. “Instead of starting with heavy theory or advanced coding, we begin with real problems students care about, and then introduce the AI tools that can help solve them. Our workshops focus on simplecode platforms, practical demos, collaborative projects and peer mentorship.”

In structuring the club, the

leadership team has worked to address a variety of areas that target student development.

“We always gear our activities toward three things: technical development, professional development and social development,” Isha Rawal, AISC vice president of innovation and a third-year applied mathematics major, said. “We want our members to come away with useful technical skills and also equip them to enter the professional world. I personally joined AISC largely with the intention of finding a group of good friends.”

Parasa described how he thinks of the club in terms of two core tenets: building and teaching. When thinking about the building aspect of the group’s activities, the AISC gives students the chance to work on their own extended projects.

“On the building side, we have two long-term initiatives,” Parasa said. “Our software engineering projects are yearlong cycles where students work on highly technical projects with experienced mentors. We also run R&D [Research and Development] projects with professors on campus as mentors,

where students get exposure to real academic research in AI and ML [Machine Learning].”

Along with those longterm projects, the club also offers short-term activities that help meet the club’s teaching objectives. While UC Davis offers a few computer science engineering courses surrounding AI, the AISC offers more versatile learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

“There’s our shorter-term initiatives on the teaching side,” Parasa said. “We run workshops every quarter that focus on new and emerging technologies in a hands-on way, so that students can keep up with the pace of the industry. We also have an education initiative where we go out to middle and high schools to teach students about AI [and] how to use it responsibly.”

Though the club offers various projects for advanced and technically experienced students, it also provides learning and building opportunities for beginners. Parasa outlined how the club’s entry point exists between the two core goals of teaching and building.

“There’s a middle ground between teaching and building,

which is where a good chunk of students actually fall under,” Parasa said. “This is where our beginner projects come in: fastpaced, 7-week sprints, where students focus on learning a specific technology or framework by building something concrete.

This gives beginners a chance to learn while also allowing more experienced students to lead and mentor.”

Rawal gave an example of an AISC project and the ways in which it represents different aspects of the club’s goals.

“One of our teams is working on an app to decrease clothing overconsumption,” Rawal said.

“The goal is for users to catalogue clothing they own, and the app will tell them if a new item is similar. [...] I’m excited about this because the project hits the core goal of innovation: using AI to solve real-world problems while improving the technical skills of our members.”

The club not only exists amidst the quick expansion of the AI industry, but also amidst the skepticism surrounding the technology in academic and work settings. “One trend I’ve noticed is a growing skepticism toward

AI-assisted projects among students,” Parasa said. “Many are hesitant to use AI when building, and instead take pride in coding entirely by hand or sticking to traditional workflows. I’d say a big part of that comes from the academic environment, where there’s a strong emphasis on individual authorship and correctness. [...] The concern is valid — we don’t want to be perceived as lazy, but it comes at the cost of falling behind in development speed.” Parasa expressed his appreciation for the growth he experienced in participating in the club, which not only aided him in his professional development and helped him land more jobs, but also gave him a strong community to rely on.

“I found mentors who genuinely invested in my growth, peers who pushed me to be better and lifelong friends,” Parasa said. “Being surrounded by people who are ambitious and hungry to grow professionally has shaped not only my career goals, but also who I am as a person.”

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row, column and 3x3 square must contain each digit. Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.

Crossword

Luis L. Garcia.

FROM PAGE 1

In addition to her work within the BSU, Adams also started the Majorette Team at UC Davis, which incorporates dance styles like jazz, hip-hop and ballet. Majorette dance holds a deep history among HBCU marching bands, inspiring Adams to introduce majorette dance to UC Davis. Adams noted that spaces like the Center for African Diaspora Student Success, the Student Recruitment and Retention Center and the Cross Cultural Center were especially supportive of students of color on campus.

“Finding that community really helped,” Adams said. “There was a lot of representation and people that looked like me, which was really helpful for my journey in Davis. I think I definitely found my people who support me when I’m down, and I support them.”

Julka concluded by recognizing the work of various senators, units and commissions for their accomplishments, including The Pantry for their work during the government shutdown, research by the ASUCD Innovation and Research Lab and a successful Sunset Fest hosted by the Entertainment Council. After the State of the Association speech, Senator Phoenix List was appointed as the new Senate Pro Tempore — one of the student government’s presiding legislative officers — following a nomination by previous Senate Pro Tempore

“I’m nominating Senator List, because last quarter I got to work with him a couple times on different projects, and I think he’s very interested in getting to learn a little bit more about what a Pro Tempore does,” Garcia said. “And, he’s very excited for budget hearings, I’ve heard, so I think he [will be] the perfect fit.”

Open Forum

During the open forum, Julka made an announcement about budgetary constraints in advance of ASUCD’s upcoming budget hearings, during which units and commissions will plan and finalize their budget for the 2026-27 school year.

“I want to be very transparent about how the budget hearings are going to go,” Julka said. “We are seeing a decrease in enrollment over the next couple of years, which will lead to a decrease in the ASUCD fee we are primarily funded by.”

Julka informed the table to brace for potential further budgetary restrictions and stressed that no cuts would be made easily or without careful consideration.

“I just want everyone to be aware that if there are cuts, none of them are intentionally given to one group and not another; that it is going to be pretty difficult,” Julka said. Senator Aaron Heth also announced during the open forum that he will be introducing multiple new pieces of legislation in the forthcoming weeks regarding election reform.

“I’m looking at some election code reform,” Heth said. “Some of it has to do with a loophole that Senator [Ezra] Rubin found. Some of it has to do with the timing of violation complaints. Some of it has to do with the timing of Election Week to try and increase awareness. And some of it has to do with

codifying [the] Judicial Council president.”

Legislation

The Senate saw one piece of emergency legislation: Senate Bill (SB) #34, authored by Senator Jenna Younes. The bill seeks to allocate $631 to the Office of Senator Younes to book space in the UC Davis Alumni Center for the second annual ASUCD Iftaar event. Hosted in collaboration with eight other Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), the event is set to bring students together as they break their fast and share a meal during Ramadan.

The bill needed to be seen as emergency legislation due to the possibility of the venue space being booked ahead of time during the tentative date of the event on Feb. 25, according to Younes.

“If we were to go through this [legislative] process normally, that would be three weeks before the bill passes, and I don’t want the room to be booked,” Younes said. “Our original option was already fully booked out, so I want to avoid that again.”

The bill was passed unanimously.

“As the first anniversary of Trump’s inauguration kicks in, it’s really important to consider what happened to those federal workers,” Abramsky said. “At least half of you in this audience are much younger than me, which means you are much, much better at social media than me. Try and get some kind of conversation going among young people about this.”

“American Carnage” is available for pre-order on various online platforms. The date of

official publication is set for Jan. 20.Wrapping up his event, Abramsky left the audience with another call to action.

“As the first anniversary of Trump’s inauguration kicks in, it’s really important to consider what happened to those federal workers,” Abramsky said. “At least half of you in this audience are much younger than me, which means you are much, much better at social media than me. Try and get some kind of conversation going among young people about this.”

“American Carnage” is available for pre-order on various online platforms. The date of official publication is set for Jan. 20.

Additionally, the declining attention economy has effectively introduced several viewing changes that contribute to the loss of our attention, making it so that audiences almost automatically side with the slew of underbaked “hot takes” on the Internet instead of the carefully crafted media on their screens. By refusing independent and evidenced judgement, we deny ourselves of the very opportunity to engage the media as it is meant to be engaged with — by means of critique. While second-screen viewings might sometimes be beneficial in helping enhance literacy for those who need some easing in, these cases must be thought of as the exception to the rule. The issue is not that second screens are inherently incompatible with media literacy, but that the dominant form of media consumption remains passive and in no way reflective. They can help strengthen understanding — if, say, the viewer uses their phone to research relevant historical context during the film — or they can inadvertently make audiences reliant on context prior to their viewing.

Most times, even though viewers are active in online discourse about a certain subject or object of their consumed media, they remain less involved with the media itself. The loss of narrative comprehension makes it difficult to retain nuance then, especially since being spoonfed the answers makes people collectively more reactive than reflective. It also makes them lazy.

In recognizing that media literacy is at an all-time low,

audiences must consciously resist and remain intolerant toward second-screen releases, expressing their belief in how sustained attention and care toward media subjects is precisely what makes the production of media and subsequent media critique generative. I am not suggesting that we eliminate devices from our viewings entirely (ironic since a TV is a screen as well), but that we recognize the extent to which we have failed to attend to the media. Pick a screen, any screen — but only one.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

If we expect voters to research policies before casting their ballot, why should protesting be any different?

Activism can be powerful, and history has revealed time and again that a unified populus is key to drive change. However, protesting without truly understanding the policies, context and any other necessary information is fatuous. This issue goes beyond just protesting Maduro’s capture, but signifies a critical wound within America that is fueled by hostility.

So yes, there are potential benefits of the capture of Maduro for both America and Venezuela, and it’s important to acknowledge that. However, the means and ethics are questionable, and blind celebration or condemnation isn’t the answer. If Americans want real change, we cannot

be driven by hatred or think in black-and-white, but research both sides and be open to discuss it.

For McGuire, providing a much-needed service to the Davis music scene has been a rewarding part of running the studio.

“There’s a lot of music around here, but there’s not really a lot of infrastructure to support it,” McGuire said. “There aren’t really many venues in Davis — there are houses, and the occasional public park event. But not really venues, music studios, that kind of thing. [Davis] is a place that, despite the lack of official commercial institutions, does cultivate a lot of creative people, and it’s been a treat doing this.”

In helping artists bring their work to life, McGuire has found a way to stay rooted in the communal aspects of music that first drew him in. Artists interested in working with McGuire for recording, producing or mastering can reach him through the JumpDog Studios website at jumpdogstudios.com.

“We are committed to creating a space where diversity, equality and inclusion are truly valued.”

As a free community gallery, the Pence invites visitors to engage with art and support local creators through memberships, donations and events.

The UC Davis Career Center offers support and resources to undergraduate students

From resume review services to career advising, the Career Center has it all

BY AMBER DUHS features@theaggie.org

UC Davis regularly emails undergraduate and graduate students about the wide range of on-campus resources, from the Women’s Resource and Research Center — which provides advocacy and education and a general safe space — to the Educational Opportunity Program, which provides support to low-income and first-generation students. Among these many centers is the UC Davis Career Center.

Located in South Hall, the Career Center hosts a vast array of resources, including resume review services, career fairs and career-advising.

“Our primary mission is to help walk students through the journey of ‘what are they going to do after graduation,’” Andrea Hanson, the interim executive director of the Career Center, said. “Whether that’s graduate school, jumping into industry doing something like Peace Corps [or] some kind of volunteer opportunity — our entire mission is to walk that journey with them as they figure it out.”

The Career Center offers three main services: resume and cover letter review and assistance, career advising and workshops and career fairs. With both scheduled and walkin appointments available, the Career Center is one of the most easily accessible resources available to students.

One of the most commonly used services in the Career Center is resume review. Students can either send in their resume online and get it reviewed within five business days, or walk into the second floor of South Hall and meet with a peer advisor who reads through their resume with them and offers recommendations for improvement.

“There was lots of feedback [on my resume] and I think it was really useful,” Maria Badillo, a first-year biological sciences major, said. In addition to the services that focus on student-advisor interaction and feedback, the Career Center also offers four subscription-based email newsletters. The newsletters give students insight into upcoming internships and job-related opportunities, career-focused events and new programs they can sign up for. Additionally, each newsletter is tailored specifically to one of four desired fields of work or study.

“I’m subscribed to their health newsletter, so I think it’s really useful [for] finding parttime jobs, finding career paths and also attending webinars that are listed in the email,” Ziqi Lin, a first-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, said.

Even so, many may find it daunting to receive criticism on their resume or cover letter. However, the Career Center is there to encourage and aid every step of students’ careers

— whether it’s navigating their first on-campus job or the search for a full-time position as graduation approaches. The center is staffed with both faculty and students; UC Davis students themselves provide resume help, and industry advisors offer career advice and more tailored help to those looking further into the future.

“It’s such a privilege to experience those lightbulb moments with students when all the pieces come together,” Hanson said. “When a student figures [that] ‘this is what I want to do.’”

Not only does it not hurt to get an extra opinion on your budding career as a young professional, but the data doesn’t lie: Those who get help from the Career Center early are more likely to have a role lined up post-graduation.

“Our data shows the earlier we see students [during] their time at Davis, the more likely it is they have a job right at graduation,” Hanson said. “Come early and often.”

Students are often encouraged to make connections and build relationships with those around them, with the ultimate goal of creating a strong network to alleviate the pressures of the job market. The Career Center helps students build these professional networks by organizing four to six career fairs each year; in doing so, they connect undergraduates with employers and organizations they might not otherwise

encounter.

As the job industry grows and shifts — especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for both employers and employees alike — the Career Center has adapted its approach to the hiring process. Hanson detailed how the Career Center as a unit is grappling with the questions we all are, and learning together how to best support students in the current job market.

“Certainly AI is impacting all

fields, but it really is impacting how people are applying to jobs and what that looks like,” Hanson said. “How [do] we incorporate [AI] into our work and how [do] we incorporate it in conversations with students around their job search?”

The Career Center serves as a resource for all undergraduate UC Davis students — with connections to be established, edits to be made and resources

UC implements new interim student conduct policy, changes formal hearings eligibility

Students now only have the right to a formal hearing when sanctions include suspension or dismissal

BY LILY KENROW campus@theaggie.org

With the start of the new year and quarter, the UC system has set in place new interim policies for student conduct and discipline. The updated Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations and Students (PACAOS) 100, outlines the UC’s changes on how referrals sent to student conduct offices after Jan. 1 are processed, regardless of when the given incident in question occurred.

Now, only students who face suspension or dismissal have the right to a formal hearing during their appeals process.

According to UC Office of the President spokesperson Stett Holbrook, the new policies were designed to reduce confusion and streamline the disciplinary process.

“The interim policy was developed to improve consistency and clarity in student conduct processes across the UC system,” Holbrook said in an email.

“The policy aligns the level of process with the seriousness of potential outcomes, reserving

formal hearings for the most significant cases while ensuring fair and timely procedures for all students.”

Stacy Vander Velde, the UC Davis’ director of Student Conduct and Integrity and the Office of Student Support, asserted in an email that the investigation process for students has not changed significantly.

“A fair process that ensures student rights and affords due process is paramount to Student Conduct and Integrity,” Vander Velde said. “Our office will still gather information about what occurred, but under the interim process the Student Conduct Administrator will make a determination about whether the policy was violated and issue sanctions in accordance with the guidelines in Appendix H.”

ASUCD Student Advocate

Inbar Schwartz, a fourth-year international relations and economics double major who runs the student government’s dedicated free and private office for advising students dealing with the university disciplinary process, says that some students may not be able to defend themselves in the way they have previously.

“Students who are not

sanctioned with suspension or dismissal will lose their right to a formal hearing,” Schwartz said in an emailed statement.

“They lose the opportunity to present documents and witnesses to a hearing body (not a court proceeding).”

Students facing nonsuspension or dismissal related actions may now only appeal onunder the grounds that new relevant information in an investigation is presented, a procedural error occurs that affects the outcome or if the proposed violation is found disproportionate given the facts, according to PACAOS Appendix H.

Prior to the implementation of the new policy, formal hearings were conducted when a student or reporting body — typically a professor or instructor — rejected the sanctions given by the Student Conduct and Integrity (formerly OSSJA).

Schwartz also expressed concern that the timeline for students going through the investigation process may be outstretched. According to Appendix H, any reports of suspected academic misconduct must be submitted within 45 business days after the end of the

quarter. Then within 60 to 90 business days from the Notice of Allegation — the initial notice that the student has violated university policy — the Student Conduct and Integrity Office will determine if the student was in violation.

“This means that, at maximum, a student could face nearly a nine month timeline before their case is resolved (assuming the misconduct occurred at the beginning of the academic quarter and that the reporting body submitted their report towards the end of the acceptable window),” Schwartz said.

“Without knowing the results of the case, slow timelines leave students’ grades in limbo, potentially delaying graduation and creating uncertainty and anxiety about needing to retake a prerequisite course of graduation requirement,” Schwartz said.

The current PACAOS policy is labeled as interim, and Holbrook says the UC plans for a comment period and a finalized policy to be implemented before the 202627 academic year. Vander Velde also said that feedback on the policy will be collected later in winter quarter and spring quarter at UC Davis to guide any amendments for the finalized policy change.

Schwartz noted that this possible delay would be especially difficult for students closer to graduation., as those If found “in violation” of alleged misconduct, their professor has full discretion on their final grade and may force them to re-take the class.

ARC unveils unisex locker room renovations

BY RIVERS STOUT campus@theaggie.org

The UC Davis Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) has unveiled new changes to its locker room, the first since the building opened nearly 22 years ago. The new locker room is now unisex, and includes eight private changing rooms, 21 private cabanas with showers and an additional four Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible cabanas for a total of 33 private changing spaces with floor-toceiling doors. The new design also includes separate women’s, men’s and gender-inclusive restrooms. The new facilities are located on the ARC’s first floor, opposite the rock wall, and replace the building’s genderseparated locker rooms.

ARC Executive Director of Recreation and Wellbeing Deb Johnson said that the updates have helped to keep the gym’s facilities up-to-date.

“This long-overdue renovation was done in response to student feedback and to provide greater personal privacy for Campus Recreation members,” Johnson said via email. “It allowed Campus Recreation to address aging plumbing infrastructure while significantly improving privacy, accessibility and the overall

member experience.”

Alongside providing privacy to students, the renovation also serves practical maintenance purposes.

“The new layout provides greater staffing flexibility, enabling faster response times for emergencies and first aid needs,” Johnson said. “The design supports more effective custodial and maintenance services, allowing the space to be maintained throughout the day with minimal disruption.”

Alongside the updated restroom and shower facilities, the renovation includes 731 permanent lockers in the locker room and 330 day-use lockers located throughout the ARC.

Renovations began in March 2025 and continued through the summer, prior to the space opening to the public in midNovember. Johnson expressed that the community response — from both students and paying members of the general public — has been generally favorable.

“The response to the new locker rooms has been overwhelmingly positive,” Johnson said. “Students and members have shared how much they appreciate the increased privacy, the spa-like atmosphere and the welcoming feel of the space. Many have also specifically commented on the new lighting, noting that it enhances both comfort and the

spaces

overall experience.”

However, Dhiren Kattula, a third-year physics major and avid gym-goer, has mixed feelings on the locker room renovation.

“It was slightly jarring to see a girl in the locker room, which I now know is unisex,” Kattula said. “I find a mild issue with it. I’m guessing the reason they made the stalls unisex is to make the stalls inclusive for non-binary people, which is good — that’s what I think at least. I feel like it — knock on wood — opens up the opportunity for hijinks or incidents that could’ve been avoided.” The project was initially projected to cost $5.97 million, but final costs came in at $3.95 million, according to Johnson. Most of the ARC’s maintenance and construction funding comes from the Facilities And Campus Enhancements (FACE) and the Legal Education Enhancement and Access Program (LEEAP) campus fees. The FACE and LEEAP fees were both created in 1999, with the goal of improving recreational buildings on campus. The FACE fee began at $5/quarter in 1999, to $126/

quarter in 2003. Fee collections eventually increased, going on to fund the construction of the ARC, which opened in 2004. In the 2024-25 academic year, undergraduates and graduate and professional students paid $501.58 for the FACE campus fee; $288.14 of which went to campus recreation. Law students paid a similar amount of $478.44, with $288.71 going to campus recreation through the LEEAP fee. In total, campus recreation gained $12.4 million that year, according to a Council

on Student Affairs and Fees (COSAF) budget document. Soon to be added to the ARC is the Athletic Training Suite, which will have the goal of supporting student sports clubs through injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Certified athletic trainers will be employed to operate the facility. No opening date has been announced, though ARC management said that gym-goers can expect it to open soon.

SCIENCE AND TECH

Lower choline levels in the brain linked to anxiety disorders

This UC Davis study is the first meta-analysis to demonstrate a chemical pattern in anxiety disorders

BY JOANNA ABRAHAM science@theaggie.org

In a September 2025 study, UC Davis researchers linked low levels of choline, an essential nutrient, to several anxiety disorders — including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder, at the macroscopic level, is characterized by “excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry” that can “interfere with day-to-day activities,” according to Mayo Clinic. Social anxiety disorder demonstrates similar symptoms, but it is rooted in a fear of scrutiny or negative judgment by others. Panic disorder is characterized by frequent and unexpected panic attacks that are not linked to substance use or other mental health conditions. These attacks are often described as a “sudden wave of fear” and a “sense of losing control,” according to Mayo Clinic.

The UC Davis study, however, aimed to characterize anxiety disorders at a molecular level.

The study was a systematic review and meta-analysis (a study that collects and analyzes data from multiple existing studies) of 25 existing data sets on anxiety disorders; specifically those that used 1H-MRS, proton-magnetic resonance spectroscopy — an imaging technique used to identify metabolites (substances produced as a result of metabolic processes in the body) in neural tissue, such as choline, glutamate, GABA and myoinositol.

The goal of the study was to identify patterns in the relative abundance and location

of certain neurometabolites in patients, with and without anxiety disorders, using pre-existing datasets. A key finding was that choline levels were about 8% lower in those with anxiety disorders. This was especially observed in the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain that aids in sustaining attention, making decisions and processing emotions.

“An 8% lower amount doesn’t sound like that much,” Richard Maddock, a co-author of the study and a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis, said in a press release. “But in the brain, it’s significant.”

Choline is an essential nutrient present in foods such as beef, eggs, soybeans, chicken and kidney beans, according to an article published by the National Institute of Health (NIH). It can also be taken as a dietary supplement. In terms of its function, choline is necessary in the production of two major phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin), which are a major component of the cell membrane, as well as

acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in several memory, mood and muscle contraction pathways.

Currently, anxiety disorders are understood in terms of two neural mechanisms, as outlined in the study’s introduction. The first is the prefrontal cortex’s inability to effectively regulate “threat” reactions in the limbic system and brainstem. The second is that lower threat and arousal circuits are amplified by the prefrontal cortex.

So, why monitor levels of choline? Measuring the levels of metabolites like choline in

the brain provides insight into the processes that occurred to produce them. Because choline is necessary in the production of certain phospholipids (a part of the cell membrane), changes in choline levels reflect “changes in membrane dynamics

or phospholipid metabolism,” according to the study.

“This is the first metaanalysis to show a chemical pattern in the brain in anxiety disorders,” co-author Jason Smucny, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry

“This is the first meta-analysis to show a chemical pattern in the brain in anxiety disorders.“

Jason Smucny Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry

at UC Davis, said in a press release. “It suggests nutritional approaches — like appropriate choline supplementation — may help restore brain chemistry and improve outcomes for patients.” However, a definitive link between increased dietary choline intake and reduced anxiety levels has not yet been established; further research is still needed. Still, researchers hope that these findings can serve as the basis of treatments and interventions for anxiety disorders as a whole.

The evolutionary and biological significance of lead

Lead: a heavy metal toxin that is deeply connected to our ancestors’ neurodevelopment and historical evolutionary processes

Gas pump in Lynnwood, Washington. (Creative Commons, CC by 1.2)

BY EMILIA ROSE science@theaggie.org

In 1921, an American chemist named Thomas Midgley Jr. developed a new method to reduce engine knocking, a process in which fuel ignites unevenly and produces a shockwave. When Midgley added a small amount of tetraethyl lead (lead-based fuel) to his test engine, nearly all engine knocking vanished. From this point on, leaded fuel became the new norm for all cars for most of the 20th century, and the chemical byproducts were then pumped into our atmosphere. However, lead is a heavy metal toxin, and by comparing lead levels in the atmosphere with neurodevelopment patterns, researchers have found that longterm exposure to it — like what was seen for nearly a century — has had severe, unintended consequences. In a 2024 paper, Duke scientists Michael J. McFarland, Aaron Reuben and Matt Hauer estimated the effects of the widespread use of tetraethyl lead in common automobile fuel. They estimated that mental illness in the general population significantly increased during the era of tetraethyl lead.

At the molecular level, lead can pass through the blood-brain barrier (the lining around blood vessels in the brain that filters certain molecules in or out of the cells). This is mainly because lead can mimic certain calcium ions, which pass through the blood-brain barrier regularly. Think of it like the wrong key to a lock: it is just right enough to get inside, but then everything gets jammed up.

These calcium ions play a critical role in our brain chemistry. When lead takes its place, it messes up the concentration of calcium ions and cell communication, which can lead to central nervous system damage, gene expression challenges and loss of protection from free radicals, which are unstable, reactive and damaging molecules.

More importantly, it can damage certain regions of the brain — like the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus — and lead to many types of neurological disorders, especially during childhood development.

But interestingly, lead may not just affect us in our lifetimes, but it may have also affected our species over millions of years.

Despite the harmful effects lead has on our bodies, something unexpected arrives when we zoom out from the molecular

level and look deeper into humanity’s evolutionary history; to a time when coexisting species of humans walked the Earth.

We tend to imagine evolution as a story of physical survival: stronger bodies, better tools and protection against predators and the climate. But back then, could our survival have also depended on something much smaller in scale?

Professor Andrew Whitehead of the UC Davis Department of Environmental Toxicology briefly commented on the idea that evolution is more than visible interactions.

“No matter what kind of creature you’re talking about, if there are changes in the environment that threaten fitness, then that sets the stage for adaptive or evolutionary trajectories being altered,” Whitehead said. “Whether you’re talking about heavy metals or other kinds of poisons, there’s a long […] history of life […] adapting to chemical changes in their environment.”

A variety of researchers at Southern Cross University, including scientist Renaud Joannes-Boyau, demonstrated this idea, experimentally linking lead exposure in our ancient ancestors to the type of brain function that persists in us today.

“Organoids carrying the

Neanderthal-like NOVA1 variant showed substantial disruptions […] in the cortex and thalamus when exposed to lead,” Joannes-Boyau said. “These brain regions are essential for language and speech development. Organoids with the modern human NOVA1 gene showed far less disruption.”

Simply put, scientists used organoids, which are small,

was that one organoid had a Neanderthal version of the gene, and the other had our common ancestor’s version.

What they found was that ancient homosapiens evolved a variant of the NOVA1 gene compared to our evolutionary cousins. Our version of the gene showed greater resilience to lead exposure during neurodevelopment, the period

“No matter what kind of creature you’re talking about, if there are changes in the environment that threaten fitness, then that sets the stage for adaptive or evolutionary trajectories being altered.“

Professor Andrew Whitehead UC Davis Environmental Toxicology

lab-grown representatives of larger organs, and subjected them to lead. Each organoid contains a special gene called NOVA1, which helps regulate the expression of other genes when exposed to our metal toxin culprit. The difference

in which our brain grows and develops.

Significantly, ancient lead exposure in volcanic eruptions, polluted water and soil may have subtly influenced which of our ancestors survived to shape our species. Rather than changing

genes directly or leading to physical changes in our bodies, lead likely acted as a sort of filter, favoring neural gene variants that were more resilient and gradually became part of the human blueprint.

However, an important distinction is that lead itself did not shape our species; it was not the mastermind giving us the brains we have today.

Professor Roberta Millstein of the UC Department of Philosophy outlined the distinction of causation.

“It would be more accurate to say that […] when there is a new environmental factor, there can be genetic mutations in populations that turn out to be advantageous for the survival and/or reproduction of members of the population,” Millstein wrote. “If that variation confers enough advantage, it will tend to spread through the population and be passed from generation to generation.”

Lead did not give us our brains. The notorious poison is, in no doubt, toxic to us. In reality, it merely existed throughout history, and in existing, filtered what survived. Indirectly, our brains are the way they are because lead — at least in part — has been part of our evolutionary story for all these millions of years.

UC Davis women’s basketball falls short in first home game of 2026

Even though the Aggies scored first, they were unable to equalize against UC Santa Barbara

DANIELLE WIRNOWSKI sports@theaggie.org

On Jan. 8, the UC Davis women’s basketball team faced UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) for their first home game in the new year. Although the Aggies scored first, they fell to the Gauchos, with a final score of 55-47.

The Aggies started the game off strong, as they led in points throughout the first quarter. The quarter ended with a tied score of 13-13, giving the Aggies a fighting chance to pull ahead. Unfortunately, the second quarter saw the Gauchos leading in points, as it took the Aggies 4 minutes into the quarter to score a 3-pointer. Ryann Bennett, a second-year psychology major, helped the Aggies bring the score up to 19-16 with just over 6 minutes left in the quarter.

After this boost, the Aggies went on a scoring drive, proceeding to score three more points while shutting out the Gauchos for 2 minutes.

The Aggies ended the second quarter with a score of 29-24, with the Gauchos leading by five points.

Megan Norris, a Master’s of Management graduate student,

scored a 3-pointer for the Aggies under 30 seconds into the third quarter. The Gauchos quickly followed up her score with a layup and a 3-pointer of

their own. UC Davis then shut out UCSB for the next several minutes, with Nya Epps, a fourth-year communication major, scoring a free throw.

Winter sports preview: basketball, tennis, lacrosse and more

Some Aggie teams aim to keep up their strong performances, while others strive to improve from last year

COLINA HARVEY sports@theaggie.org

As students return from winter break and classes slowly resume, winter sports are already in full swing. This quarter, students have a chance to catch a wide variety of sports, including basketball, tennis, lacrosse and water polo. Here’s the rundown on some of the teams that will be competing this winter.

Women’s Basketball The UC Davis women’s basketball team enters a promising season; they were a force to be reckoned with in the Big West for the past few seasons. Last season, the Aggies made a deep run in the Big West Playoffs, but unfortunately fell to San Diego in the final.

Since then, the team lost four graduating seniors, some of whom played a key role in the previous season. Among them was Tova Sabel, last year’s team leader in points per game, as well as field goals and 3-pointers made. The team also lost assist leader Sydney Burns, as well as Mazatlan Harris and Bria Shine. Despite these departures, the Aggies have started the season strong. Their overall record is 10-4, and they are undefeated in their three conference games. Their remaining schedule will determine their postseason position, as the rest of their matchups are all in-conference games.

Tennis

Although women’s tennis already competed in some tournaments in the fall, their

season opener is against Stanford University on Jan. 14. Last season, the team struggled, going 11-14 overall and 3-6 in conference. Despite their losing record, they were able to beat UC San Diego in the first round of the Big West tournament. Unfortunately, their season came to an end in the next round when they fell to California State University, Long Beach. In early October, six players competed in the Big West Qualifier tournament. In the first round, five Aggies claimed victory over their opponents. However, the second round saw all of the Aggies getting knocked out, except for Polina Marakhtanova, a secondyear cognitive science major. However, she was unable to make it past the round of 16, where she was defeated by a player from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.

Similarly, the men’s tennis team has yet to start their spring season, but participated in tournaments in the fall: including the Nevada Reno Hidden Duals; the UC Santa Barbara Classic; the Aggie Invitational; the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Tournament; and the UC San Diego Classic. While the team had a solid season last year, going 4-2 in conference, they fell to Long Beach State in the second round of the Big West playoffs. This season, the team hopes to improve on that performance and go deeper into the postseason.

Lacrosse

This winter and spring, lacrosse will be playing its second season in the Big 12. Last season, the team went 2-3 in their new conference, securing a spot in the postseason tournament. The Aggies faced the No. 1 seed University of Florida, and were defeated by the Gators in the first round of the playoffs.

The team participated in some scrimmages in the fall and is set to play its first official game on Jan. 31 against Dominican University. Since the Big 12 women’s lacrosse is such a small conference — with only six teams — the Aggies will have plenty of matches before they start conference play in the spring.

Women’s Water Polo

Women’s water polo will start its spring season on Jan. 17 against Santa Clara University. They will participate in a series of tournaments before beginning conference play on Feb. 21.

The team hopes to improve its results this season, after being middle-of-the-pack last year. In the last Big West Tournament, they lost in the first round to UC San Diego. They will have two games and a tournament to get into a groove before they begin conference play on Feb. 21.

Aggie fans can catch these teams’ home games all quarter long, as they take on opponents from across the country. The winter season is just beginning for the majority of sports. For more information on game dates, visit the UC Davis Athletics website.

The last couple of minutes of the quarter saw another scoring drive by the Aggies, in which they accumulated six points. By the end of the third quarter, the

score was 40-34, with UC Davis trailing behind by six points. Similar to the third quarter, the Aggies started the fourth off strong, as Avery Sussex, a

second-year psychology major, scored a 3-pointer in the first 8 seconds. The Gauchos were unable to score until the fourth minute of the final quarter due to the Aggies’ strong offensive plays.

However, the next scoring drive from the Gauchos allowed them to accumulate four points, while the Aggies were only able to score two points in between the Gauchos’ drive. This brought the score to 4639, with only 4 minutes and 30 seconds left in the last quarter. The Aggies then went on the attack, attempting multiple 3-pointers and layups. Unfortunately, the Aggies were unable to stop UCSB from going on an additional scoring drive in the last few minutes of the game, in which they accumulated nine more points. By the end of the fourth quarter, the finalized score was 55-47, with the Aggies losing the match by eight points. Next, the Aggies play California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) on Jan. 10 at 2 p.m.

JAN. 5 - JAN. 11

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

JAN. 11, 2026

With a great performance by UC Davis, the Aggies beat Cal Poly SLO with a 26-point lead. The Aggies scored 87 points total, which is the most points they have scored against a conference opponent since 2019. Continuing to dominate, Nya Epps, a fourth-year communication major, scored 17 points and eight rebounds for the Aggies. Just trailing Epps, Megan Norris, a fifth-year political science major, scored 15 points and also had eight rebounds. Overall, UC Davis has dominated the start of this season.

87-61 (WIN)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

JAN. 8, 2026

93-86(WIN)

In an exhilarating game, UC Davis managed to come back from an 18-point deficit to secure the win over UC Santa Barbara. In a tough start for the Aggies, UCSB came out of the gate strong, almost immediately taking the lead and holding it for most of the game. However, the Aggies continued to fight, finally taking the lead from UCSB with 8 minutes left in the game. With both teams continuing to push for the victory up until the buzzer, UC Davis arose victorious with a final score of 93-86. Nils Cooper, a third-year communication major, led the Aggies, securing 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

JAN. 8, 2026

THIRD PLACE

Finishing in third place, the UC Davis gymnastics team had a great season opening meet. Alana Kim, a third-year physics major, celebrated a career high with a 9.825 score on vault, starting the Aggies’ season off strong. Amelia Moneymaker, a fourth-year landscape architecture major, tied for No. 2 on the all-around, boosting the Davis final score to 193.250. Despite finishing at No. 3, the team still dominated in several events, scoring less than two points below San Jose State University at No. 1.