There’s only one difference in life; we either give opportunities a shot, or we don’t. And to me words are opportunities; each one contains lifelines of possibilities. We live in a world filled with simple ordinance and limited time, and as a result most people speak in manners that are simply most convenient. A “number two” at In-N-Out means a burger and fries, and that’s it. When people ask how you are, you generally reply that you’re good and move on. Similarly, you either like a book or you dislike it, etc. This is reasonable, as the point of communication is to get from point A to point B, but I will argue that we shouldn’t keep things so simple. I think of the similarities between speech and money, where language functions like currency in that any rational person wants to get more for less. This makes sense. Most people have limited resources and in order to increase those resources they spend their currency sparingly, no matter what the market.... ...

Not many students are familiar with the Office of Student Affairs…. but they should be. The Office of Student Affairs is a group of different departments that are solely dedicated to “the student experience.” Fred Wood, the vice chancellor of Student Affairs from 2007 to 2012, was replaced in June by an interim vice chancellor until Chancellor Linda P. B. Katehi can find a suitable permanent replacement. During this search, it is of utmost importance to maintain the legacy of high standards for this position. Historically, the Office of Student Affairs has brought together multiple student services including admission, financial aid, registration, counseling, health, recreation, student government and special services. Under Wood, the Office of Student Affairs made significant improvements to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Intercollegiate Athletics, Campus Rec, Office of the Registrar and Student Health and Student Housing. Wood’s platform was one of access and affordability. During his tenure, he helped introduce the self-funded Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP). As a transfer student himself, he strived to make... ...

Health Education and Promotion (HEP) would like to thank Andrew Poh for his Nov. 7 article about insomnia. This topic is probably familiar to many UC Davis students. In fact, according to the 2011 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment, 66.2 percent of students say that they feel tired or sleepy three or more days out of the week. There are many benefits to getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night: Sleep helps fight off infection, enhances performance, increases energy levels, decreases stress levels, sharpens concentration and improves memory function. These benefits can even help improve academic performance. Practicing good sleep hygiene is important to getting a good night’s sleep. It is a good idea to maintain a regular sleeping schedule and reduce technology use an hour before bedtime. Create a sanctuary for sleep that is quiet, dark, comfortable and a desirable temperature. To help with reducing distractions, HEP provides free eye masks and earplugs that can be picked up at the HEP office on the... ...

The City of Davis and UC Davis’ Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) plan to implement a bike share program in 2014. Although the program would be aimed at commuters and those who are temporarily visiting Davis, the community would also be allowed to rent bicycles from stations around the city. Two stations are proposed to be at the Amtrak station and at the Memorial Union or Silo. The cost to kickstart the program would be approximately $200,000, with the money coming from contributions through the city, university regional development and corporate sponsorships. However, some opponents contend the money should instead be invested in improving the bicycling infrastructure around the city. We think it’s a pretty awesome idea, though. Yes, there are already places to rent bikes from, such as the Bike Barn, but the bike share program would incorporate an automated rental system that would allow users to rent at any time. Also, many European cities — like, Paris and Amsterdam — use similar programs. The city and UC Davis... ...