Once again, student protesters were the victims of police violence. Last Tuesday, a group of 30 activists were pepper sprayed while attempting to gain access to a Board of Trustees meeting at Santa Monica College (SMC). A small number of students were allowed into the meeting, presumably until the room reached capacity. Over 70 people were left outside protesting the $180-per-unit fee increase being discussed inside. If this sounds familiar, it’s because similar events have been happening all across California, and the world, for the last few months. University systems are failing their students, students are reacting through activism, and campus police – at the will of the school – are responding with violence. And though it happened at Montreal’s McGill University on Nov. 10, and at our very own UC Davis on Nov. 18, there is such a great disconnect  on campuses that nothing about the culture of public education has changed enough to prevent the incident at SMC. Campus administration does not understand its students, and in turn treats... ...

It’s time to look critically at the investments our university holds, particularly in the energy sector. According to data released today by the California Student Sustainability Coalition, the University of California Regents hold $234 million in 15 of the largest coal mining and coal burning corporations, including Massey Energy, Patriot Coal and Ameren Corp., with millions more possibly in individual campus foundations. A portion of that money comes from our tuition money. Records of endowment holdings through 2011 show that the $234 million the UC holds in the “Filthy 15” coal companies includes: ●      $25.8 million in Southern Company, the fourth-largest carbon polluter internationally. ●      $12.1 million in Peabody Energy, the world’s largest private-sector coal company. ●      $19.1 million in Duke Energy, responsible for 1,248 deaths due to pollution in 2009. These numbers reflect only assets held centrally by the UC Treasurer and do not include individual campus foundations. This information comes from a report titled “Reducing California Higher Education’s Support of and Dependence on Coal,” authored by Sarah Siedschlag,... ...

When it comes to global climate change – more infamously known as global warming – it’s easy to be depressed. After all, what’s there to love about monster hurricanes, more tornadoes and droughts, and other increasingly violent gifts from nature? Turning to the leaders of our country doesn’t make me any more optimistic. It was just a few weeks ago that Rick Santorum, riffing on the supposed dangers of climate change, argued that all the fuss was merely groundwork “for government to be able to step in and even more greatly control your life.” He is at his most eloquent when speaking about CO2, the main culprit for rising temperatures: “The dangers of carbon dioxide? Tell that to a plant, how dangerous carbon dioxide is.” Touché, Rick Santorum. Touché. At least Santorum is honest. This is unlike Mitt Romney, who has somehow managed to stand on both sides of pretty much every major issue up for debate in modern America. It was just a few years ago that Romney, then... ...

On any given day in the CoHo, one can often overhear the grumblings of someone trying to connect to Moobilenet, the Wi-Fi network on campus. The internet on campus is often very hard to connect to. Specifically in Olson and Wellman Hall, the connection is often slow, if not nonexistent. While this may seem like a good thing (anything to stop students from going on Facebook during class), it often hinders professors’ lecture plans and makes it difficult to show videos in class. When professors take time away from class to load a video, it takes away valuable learning time from students. And it’s awkward. Furthermore, students use internet on campus to do school work and turn in assignments. The fact is that we are in a time in which we need technology to succeed. Smartphones are commonplace, and many students use their laptops in class. Having the internet is not only helpful, but also necessary. Students often use the internet to download lecture slides from Smartsite or look at... ...

I can barely contain my excitement. April 14 is nearly here! Ah, Tax Day: Almost as fun as the first day of school, or going to the dentist! Mind you, as a grad student, I actually enjoy taking classes and learning, so my love of taxation is genuine. Also, I have nice teeth. As annoying as it is to have to pay the government a share of your income, take comfort in knowing that your cash is going to a worthy cause: Me. Since I’m an NSF (National Science Foundation) fellow, my stipend comes directly from the government and, indirectly, from you. Your taxes pay for me to live. My rent, my instant noodles, my gin, my daily caviar baths, my extensive porn and Fabergé egg collections, my Tuesday-night hooker-thons … it all comes from you! Hooray, taxes! Of course, I do have to work for this money. If I’m not on campus doing the wetwork, then I’m at home reading articles, writing papers, analyzing data and, yes, applying for... ...

I am forever in love with Los Angeles when I’m not actively hating it with the undying fury of a honey badger. Traffic’s a pain but thank God it’s 75 degrees in March and there are palm trees on my drive to work. I was headed to an open casting call for a server position (yes, they’re called casting calls here and every customer service job seriously requires a headshot with an application) when I wanted to call it quits. I ran into three-hour traffic because President O-freaking-bama decided to take a trip to the same mall. I had to stop into the nearest Best Buy to calm myself down and wait for traffic to subside. The whir of flat screen TVs puts me at ease. At Davis, my favorite professor held meetings where she prepped my peers for their move to New York. The L.A. bashing during these meetings worked my nerves. “Driving’s a pain, people are superficial there and New Yorkers care more about their art.” Yeah, it’s... ...