Going into this weekend,the UC Davis women’s cross country team was one of the best teams no one knew about. Now,people know.

Dylan Curtis‘ career was over. A senior academically but a junior athletically,the captain of UC Davis‘ men’s soccer team decided to forgo his final year of eligibility.

On Oct.13,the Aggies (11-2-2) became the No.7team in the nation and were flying high after a win at then No.15UC Santa Barbara. This week,however,didn’t fare as well for the Aggies as they suffered their first Big West Conference defeat at the hands of UC Riverside,2-1.

The Aggies‘ topsy-turvy season continues.The UC Davis women’s volleyball team was on the upside of things this weekend,earning its first Big West Conference victories to double last season’s conference win total.

Come one, come all! Welcome to another year of Aggie columnists. We’ll be here for your bus rides in the pre-dawn hours, your chemistry classes in the morning and all that extra time you need to kill between classes after you’ve finished the Sudoku.

Twelve people were arrested Wednesday in a sting operation to put unlicensed and uninsured employers out of business,according to a District Attorney’s Office press release.Seven were fined civil assessments totaling$9,500for not having workers‘ compensation insurance or for paying their employees under the table. The operation is aimed at contractors who are not complying with labor and contracting laws.Wednesday’s arrests were part of a broader operation that has resulted in112people who have been cited,arrested or fined for operating without a license,not providing workers‘ compensation insuranceand paying employees under the table,authorities said.

The Times,they are a-changin‘.TheLos Angeles Times‘ parent company,Tribune Company,announced Friday that it was borrowing$250million in credit due to the current financial crisis.The New York Times‘ revenue is down12percent.

Everyone knew it was going to be a tough weekend,but not this tough. Head coach Steve Doten tested his players this weekend by scheduling games with two of the nation’s best in No.5Pepperdine and No.3California. The Aggies dropped their first contest by a score of14-9on Friday,and then fell11-2on Saturday.

Religious leaders from around Davis came together Thursday at the Davis United Methodist Church to speak in opposition to Prop8.If approved by voters,Prop8would amend the California Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.Historically a controversial issue,the bill has elicited both support and opposition from religious and secular groups.

TODAY Peace Corps information session 4:15p.m. Felder Room,MU Speak with a returned Peace Corps volunteer to learn about how you can make a difference in your own life as well asin others‘ lives.

The hunt for a new chancellor begins Thursday.University of California President Mark G.Yudof announced the selection last week of an18-member committee consisting of regents,students,alumni,staff and community members to advise him on the selection of UC Davis‘ sixth chancellor.

When Jackie Stone decided to become a vegetarian at the tender age of12,she didn’t have a lot of cooking experience to rely on. “My first year or so [as a vegetarian],I lived off of cereal,quesadillas and veggie burgers,” she said. After years of practice,Stone gradually increased her repertoire of recipes,looking for new kinds of vegetables and protein substitutes that could be incorporated into healthy,easy-to-make meals.Stone not only adapted the vegetarian lifestyle,but she fell in love with cooking.