The Colorado State club rugby team took the field for their first playoff matchup against Army Friday night at the Intramural Fields at Colorado State University. In a matchup that tested the resilience of the Rams one more time this season after an already tough, obstacle-filled spring campaign, CSU fell to Army in their playoff […]

Shideh Ghandeharizadeh | Daily Trojan

Last weekend, students from the Environmental Core group rallied together to implore USC to take greater steps to promote environmentalism and sustainable practices on campus. With climate change positioned as one of the central issues that world powers will have to grapple within the coming years, students have good reason to be concerned, and their actions to keep this issue on the University’s radar are necessary and important.

USC, like many peer institutions, has a sustainability plan with goals and commitments to different sustainability initiatives. The project, titled Sustainability 2020, includes efforts by the University such as to achieve 75 percent waste diversion levels by the year 2020, and reduce 2014 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent. However, many of the objectives are written in vague terms with few details or tangible courses of action to achieve them. Perhaps the University has prepared a detailed plan on how to achieve its goals, but we as students would not be able to tell from what is public.

In fact, following the rally, USC’s Executive Director of Administrative Operations Mark Ewalt said that much of what the students at the rally were asking for is already included in the Sustainability 2020 plans. But this response fails to acknowledge the nuances in what students are specifically demanding. Students at the rally were requesting that University President C. L. Max Nikias sign the Second Nature Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which has been signed by approximately 600 university presidents.

To Ewalt and USC’s credit, many of the goals are similar — to cut down on carbon emissions and educate the student body about ways to lead sustainable lives — but the timeline and benchmarks are quite different. Whereas USC’s plan lays out a goal of what it hopes to achieve by 2020, and subsequently, by 2030, the Second Nature commitment lays out a specific timeline for achieving each of the goals. For example, the commitment allows two months to create internal structures to accommodate the development of these changes, a year to begin implementation of changes, two years to monitor these changes and three years to achieve completion. It also specifies re-submitting plans every five years, instead of the University’s current trend of every 10 years.

This is a more transparent and structured approach to sustainability, and one the University should seriously consider. With regard to an issue as nuanced and complex as climate change, universities are situated in a unique position. They are not only institutions attempting to improve their environmental policies and reduce their carbon footprints, but they are also places of higher learning. And so, just as they are responsible for implementing their own institutional goals, they are equally responsible for educating student bodies on ways they can contribute to a more sustainable planet.

USC and universities across the country must prioritize their role in cultivating the next generation to be educated about and prepared to lead environmentally responsible lives. Today’s students did not create climate change, but they are the ones who will inherit its consequences. Universities, then, have a responsibility to implement a structured, tangible and transparent commitment to equip students with the tools to do this.

Along with this commitment to greater transparency regarding sustainability, USC should be encouraging its students to engage in sustainable practices and providing them with the resources to do so.

Schools like Harvard and Stanford have sections on their websites indicating various ways students can get involved in the school’s sustainability pledge, as well as guides to how they can promote sustainability on campus.

While USC recognizes the importance of educating its students about environmental issues on its website, it does not provide students with specific opportunities to contribute. Top-down institutional pledges to sustainability are important, but rallies like the one last week demonstrate that students want to get involved.

The impetus is now on the University to empower students to take part in the conversation. Students and administrators are on the same side of this issue, and it’s important they are allowed to fight alongside each other.

The first step to achieving this is to provide a more transparent system of laying out the sustainability goals so USC students can stay informed about the University’s progress. Yearly updates are not nearly enough. The next step would be to outline specific ways students can contribute to these goals on campus, whether through changes to their daily routines, volunteer and research opportunities or campus organizations and outreach programs.

The ECore rally was a significant step forward in the fight for sustainability on campus, but students should not have to follow Nikias around USC Village to have their voices heard. The University should harness these student voices and proclivities for environmental activism into aiding in its efforts.

Daily Trojan spring 2018 Editorial Board

The post Editorial Board: USC must involve students in sustainability appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Whenever I press play on the song “Breaking Free” from “High School Musical” in my dorm room on a Friday night, I’m transported back to my parents’ home, circa 2006, in front of the television in my pajamas. My eyes are glued to my favorite Disney Channel show.

I was drawn to the images of cheerleaders, basketball games and the exhilarating pop culture of American media. Growing up as a Korean-American girl, I was infatuated with the feeling of being a part of the normal “American childhood” experience. Popular American television shows were my way in.

As a second-generation Korean-American who was born and raised in New York, my household served as my primary gateway into Korean culture. My Korean tongue, manners, and even appetite were passed down and taught to me as a child by my parents and relatives.

The tension between the culture I experienced every day in school and the environment I returned home to with my parents was the result of my identifying with two different cultures. While mornings at school were filled with sing-alongs to the newest Taylor Swift song and eating ham-and-cheese sandwiches and Pop-Tarts, nights consisted of Korean conversation over a steaming pot of soft tofu stew at the dinner table.

I learned to adapt to my surroundings and my audiences. I dressed, talked and behaved in a more outgoing and free-spirited “American” manner when I was surrounded by my American peers, whom I felt grew up with an emphasis on individualism and speaking their minds. I learned to mold myself into a reserved and mannered Korean girl in the face of my older relatives and friends back in South Korea, where Confucian philosophy and hierarchy has shaped Korean society on a foundation of respectful and humble etiquette for hundreds of years.

I was always startled by the rapid pace at which my American peers gained independence and headed toward maturity. My friends could go to the mall alone, watch R-rated movies, stay up late at night and have cell phones all by the age of 10. The stark disparity between the way my parents raised me and the way my friends’ parents were raising them was both alarming and confusing, and I could not help but compare and attempt to imitate them.

Despite these adjustments, the feeling of being “neither this nor that” as a “branded foreigner” was perpetual. In South Korea, I was the “American,” and in America, I was still the “Asian girl” in class.

Being able to reconcile two different cultural identities and being able to simultaneously identify with two cultures rather than rejecting them inevitably takes time and experience: It is both an individual and a communal progression. However, what truly completed the cultural duality I identify with today was my entrance into the formal public education system, which signaled the gradual infiltration of American values and influences into my life.

The college community and student body at UCLA took me by a surprise, particularly in its efforts to foster a sense of cultural appreciation and engagement. With the presence of cultural dance groups, student organizations and large culture night productions, UCLA provides an outlet for all students to explore their own and others’ cultures and to find comfort in a support system of individuals who encourage and uplift cultural journeys. This can be in the form of regaining touch with long-lost roots or learning more about American university culture.

As one example, Chinese American Culture Night is a large student-run production put on by the Association of Chinese Americans that is dedicated to the story of the “middle ground” between Chinese and American culture. This Chinese-American narrative works to bridge the gap between these two cultural identities and embrace the Chinese-American experience as an entity of its own.

“(In ACA) we strive to connect with one another, to understand and appreciate our own biculturalism, and to educate others on the heritage, history and experiences that come with the unique multicultural identity of Chinese-Americans,” said Sydney Lim, second-year communication and political science student and sponsorship chair for ACA.

Other students choose to use expressive arts, such as dance, as their outlet to cultural understanding and reconciliation. Sruthi Reddy, a fourth-year biology student, cited her active involvement with UCLA Nashaa, a Bollywood dance team, as her path to finding a balance between her American identity and her Indian heritage.

Growing up as a first-generation Indian American, Sruthi said she often rejected the Indian part of her identity when she was younger. It wasn’t until she took on cultural dancing that she learned to immerse herself in the culture and really embrace it, she said.

“Nashaa is a perfect reflection of me and the members of the team because we blend American pop songs with Bollywood songs and styles, and present our stories to the audience through plots and various themes in the dance,” Reddy said.

Reddy’s engagement with others who have shared similar experiences and struggles to her own helped alter her perception of culture in general.

“It is easier to overcome these battles when you are with people who are like you and understand what you have been through,” Reddy said.

Saul Argueta, a fourth-year statistics student and internal social chair of Hermanos Unidos de UCLA, a nonprofit organization that focuses on the promotion, support and retention of Latino men in higher education, resonated with this position as someone who grew up with exposure to a mix of different cultures including Salvadoran, Mexican and American. Ethnically Salvadoran but having grown up in America in a predominantly Mexican community, Arugeta cultivated his personal perspective of culture from a young age.

“Rather than viewing the cultures I identify with as conflicting, I see the beauty in the blending of these cultures,” Argueta said.

Argueta said the members of Hermanos Unidos de UCLA all come from different cultural backgrounds and countries. These shared experiences provide a common understanding of cultural coexistence that empowers and strengthens the group as a whole, he said.

For me, I have come to understand that my background is just as important as my present place in life; letting go of my roots is not a prerequisite to be a part of American society. Cultures have the ability to coincide, and even flourish in the presence of other cultures.

Growing up in the ambiguous “gray area” between two or more cultures can be a source of empowerment, not confusion. Culture is not fate nor is it a prewritten destiny; it simply offers templates. Every individual is, ultimately, the artist behind their own cultural narrative.

Editor’s note: Names of survivors have been omitted.  The Women and Gender Advocacy Center screened videos Thursday evening, created by seven Colorado State University student survivors of interpersonal violence produced during a five-day alternative spring break trip to a farm in Palisade, Colorado. The screening was held at the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art from […]

Atlanta Hawks rookie shooting guard Tyler Dorsey shoots from deep in a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 10. The Sixers’ 121-133 win marked the 15th straight for Philadelphia, a new franchise record, while Atlanta finishes its season with a total of 24. Kevin Kilgour/Former Sports Editor

In the final NBA game played at Philips Arena prior to the upcoming $192 million renovation project, the Atlanta Hawks tacked on one more to the loss column with a 121-113 defeat at the hands of the surging Philadelphia 76ers on April 10. The win marked the 15th straight win for Philadelphia, a new franchise record, while Atlanta finishes its season with a total of 24.

The first quarter saw a relaxed Hawks team keep pace with a heavyweight Sixers team focused on escaping with a valuable win. An early sequence exemplified the atmosphere: With a free lane to the rim, 76ers self-proclaimed Rookie of the Year point guard Ben Simmons layed in a cautious two-handed dunk. Faced with a similar situation just minutes later, Hawks small forward Taurean Prince tossed an alley-oop to power forward John Collins for a tomahawk slam.

The jam set the tone early for the Hawks. After his 33-point performance against the Boston Celtics on April 8, Prince continued to impress. He led the Hawks in scoring with 27 points, including a trio of three-pointers in the first quarter, which garnered a 32-27 lead.

“It feels good, gives me a lot of confidence going into the summer,” Prince said of his recent performances.

Philadelphia shooting guard J.J. Redick answered with some sharp shooting of his own. His 15 points in the first half led the way for the Sixers, who held a slim 61-55 lead at halftime. Redick finished with a game-high 28 points, shooting six of nine from behind the arc.

A total of 18 turnovers, combined with frustration technical fouls by Simmons and Redick, kept Atlanta within reach. Nevertheless, three-point shooting and a balanced scoring effort with key contributions from Philadelphia shooting guard Marco Belinelli (20 points) and former Hawk power forward Ersan Ilyasova (26 points) proved enough to down the short-handed Hawks.

The loss puts to bed a season that Hawks fans would rather soon forget. Atlanta closed out the year with a 24-58 record, good for last place in the Eastern conference, tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the third worst record in the NBA.

“[We] always want to do better than we did this year, but it’s all about progression,” Collins said. “We are young.”

The Hawks hold a 42.3 percent chance of claiming a top-three pick in the 2018 draft, and a 13.7 percent shot at the No. 1 pick, according to Bleacher Report. Hawks fans can also celebrate the Minnesota Timberwolves’ win over the Denver Nuggets on April 12, which clinched a playoff spot for Minnesota and, in doing so, dealt the team’s first-round pick to Atlanta. In addition to the Rockets’ first-round pick, Atlanta now holds three of the first 30 picks in the 2018 Draft.

76ers rookie point guard Ben Simmons discusses the Rookie of the Year Award in a post-game interview. Courtesy of David Nifong

It was a rough year for Hawks fans, but Head Coach Mike Budenholzer expressed his pride in the team’s work ethic, spirit and growth, despite the rebuilding season.

“How [the team] worked tonight, just laying it all on the line — it’s reflective of what they did all year, so I couldn’t be more proud,” Budenholzer said. “The development of a lot of players individually is something that we take a lot of pride in, and it gives us a lot to look forward to.”

Philadelphia still needed one more win on April 11 to secure the No. 3 seed in the East, which they managed to obtain rather handily in a 130-95 annihilation of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Sixers close the regular season with a 52-30 record and will match with the Miami Heat in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

And One:

Utah Jazz rookie shooting guard Donovan Mitchell represents Simmons’ greatest competition for the 2018 Rookie of the Year award. Prior to the Jazz’s game against the Golden State Warriors on April 10, Mitchell wore a sweatshirt sporting the definition of a rookie: “An athlete playing his or her first season as a member of a professional sports team.”

The sweatshirt was a dig at Simmons, who qualifies as a rookie despite it being his second year in the league.

“If that’s the only argument he has, I’m in pretty good shape,” Simmons said in response. “There’s a [rookie] rule in the NBA for a reason. I’m not gonna wear a sweatshirt tomorrow, though.”

As for Collins’ pick?

“I’mma be biased here and go with my man, Don,” Collins said.

The post Hawks Humbled, Ready for Rebuild appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

The weather was the exact opposite of last weekend’s series, but that did not change the result. The Longhorns beat Texas Tech, 5-2, Friday night in warm and muggy conditions, much different from last week’s wind and cold.

The Longhorns collected their seventh Big 12 victory, already tying last season’s regular season win total against conference opponents with 11 games left to go.

“We had a great practice yesterday, and I thought we brought that right into today,” Texas head coach Connie Clark said. “Texas Tech’s always been a scrappy team.”

Texas once again jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Kaitlyn Washington doubled in two runners to score the first runs of the game. She was followed by Sophomore Malory Schattle, who roped a double to drive in two more runs.

But Texas Tech came back to trim the deficit to two runs in the top of the third on a two-run double. While the sudden jolt of offense gave Texas a slight scare, junior captain Bekah Alcozer knocked in an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to seal the win.

Texas Tech refused to go out without scoring at least one run against junior ace Brooke Bolinger, as she gave up both runs in a single inning.

“I think they’ve been shutout just twice this year,” Clark said. “I know they don’t get shutout a lot. They’ll play you hard the entire game.”

Bolinger collected her 10th win of the season as she continued to establish herself on the mound. She struck out eight and pitched a complete game, her fifth of the season.

Bolinger has already eclipsed her win total, strikeout total and innings total from last season. Needless to say, her adjustment after transferring from Nevada has been completed.

“I thought Brooke got better as the game went on, and she and Taylor found a little different way to set people up,” Clark said. “Their hitters had at-bats all over the place.”

Friday also featured a strong defensive performance from Texas, as the infield stepped up to protect the Longhorns’ lead. Sophomore Kaitlyn Slack had a strong performance all night at shortstop, while freshman MK Tedder made a tough out on a chopper to third with Texas Tech mounting a rally.

Texas’ defense has been the one part of the team’s game that has yet to develop alongside the solid pitching and vastly improved offense.

“I can’t go without saying Slack made some big plays,” Clark said. “Really solid defense for us tonight. We needed every bit of it.”

The Longhorns play Texas Tech on Saturday and will go for their fourth consecutive series victory. First pitch is 1 p.m. at McCombs Field.

It’s a semi-universally accepted notion by the American media that the family of the president is off limits for satire. This, of course, has not always been respected, and there have been notable incidents where major media figures openly mocked residents of the White House. In 1992, Rush Limbaugh referred to Chelsea Clinton as “the White House dog.” The Trey Parker and Matt Stone sitcom “That’s My Bush!”, which satirized the Bush administration, included Carrie Quinn Dolin, who was cast as Laura Bush. There was, of course, the prominent satirizing of Michelle Obama and her efforts to bring awareness to the unhealthy eating habits of American children.

When this happens, it’s usually agreed that this satire goes too far and that mockery should be limited to the president, not the family members who didn’t choose to be in the national spotlight. However, there are exceptions to this sentiment, which are primarily made for the adults of the family. For example, the Laura Bush portrayal on “That’s My Bush!” isn’t looked back on as poorly as Limbaugh calling Chelsea Clinton a dog.

Despite this general rule of thumb, the Trump family has faced a world of ridicule. Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka have been ridiculed, openly criticized and made fun of in the media. For the Trump children the outcry hasn’t been very outspoken, except for Barron Trump after some memes were made on Twitter after the inauguration.

The trend continued last week with the controversy between Jimmy Kimmel and Fox News host Sean Hannity. On his April 2 show of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, Kimmel made fun of Melania Trump’s storytime reading to children in attendance at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, commenting on her accent. This caught the attention of Sean Hannity, who he openly criticized Kimmel on his own show, “Hannity.”

This led to a few jokes at Hannity’s expense on Kimmel’s show, and the feud began to gain traction on Twitter. After the tweets and a few more mentions on their respective shows, Kimmel reached out to Hannity and apologized. Sean Hannity has since accepted Jimmy Kimmel’s apology and extended an invitation for Kimmel to come on his show.

Such incidents beg the question of when it becomes okay to mock family members of the president and when it goes too far. It’s okay to mock Eric, Ivanka, Donald Jr. and the other older children of President Trump because they’re adults and they can handle it. However, it’s too far when it’s Melania and Barron. Some will go on to say that the distinction is about how much control each party has over what they’re being criticized for. Barron is a child and therefore can’t effectively defend himself, and Melania can’t change the fact that she has an accent — therefore, it is unacceptable to make fun of them in those cases.

This claim does not stand under scrutiny. Some of the most widespread and openly embraced jokes at the expense of Eric and Tiffany Trump have been about their appearance, an aspect of themselves over which they have no control. The fact of the matter is that we justify making jokes about some people and express outrages when certain others are ridiculed. If there are going to be controversy and rules set in place for the criticism of the president’s family, then they need to be consistent and bipartisan. If we’re going to defend Chelsea Clinton and Melania Trump for aspects of themselves they can’t control, then we owe that same courtesy to the Bushes and the older Trump children.

letters@chronicle.utah.edu

@TheChrony

The post Swanson: The Ethics of Mocking the President’s Family appeared first on Daily Utah Chronicle.

1:11 a.m.: Two men attempted to rob a student of his backpack late Friday night but were unsuccessful and fled the scene, according to a security alert from the UH Police Department sent to UH students via email early Saturday morning.

The two men approached the student at approximately 11:37 p.m. Friday, according to the alert. After brief struggle over the student’s backpack, the men fled the scene without taking anything. The student was not injured.

Both suspects are described as white males 18-20 years of age. According to the alert, no weapons were involved, and the suspects fled on foot.

The alert describes one suspect being thin and 6’0″ tall with a goatee. He reportedly wore a blue sweatshirt with a red sleeve or armband. The other suspect is reportedly 5’8″ with a medium build and dark hair. He was reportedly wearing a green and white jersey.

UHPD is investigating the case. We will update this post as information becomes available.

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“BREAKING: Robbery attempted at Lynn Eusan Park” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Bathrooms are sanctuaries unto themselves. We lounge in different ways – sometimes for hours! Believe it or not, the bathroom is next to the bedroom for spaces to go for solitude and relaxation. Revitalizing the bathroom to meet your need to unwind and have a tranquil moment can only serve to enhance your well-being. In addition, a big incentive is that the bathroom is one of the biggest selling points if you put your home on the market. Of course, it may be so inviting that you may never want to sell.

Color

Deciding to paint or use wallpaper is strictly a personal choice, but whatever you choose, be sure it is peaceful and serene. This is not the place for colors that scream at you. Relaxation is an overall feeling that is transmitted through a number of sensory receptors. While there is no scientific proof that colors create specific psychological changes, it is a fact that they can create different moods. The effect of color on the individual has, at its base, elements, which are influenced by culture and various personal situations.

Décor

Decorating the bathroom does not have to be expensive, so go crazy! Hang artwork on the wall, and add clear shelves on which you place rolled-up towels secured with rope or ribbon. Hang, and tie back, a classic one-panel curtain from ceiling height over nice shower curtains. The little rug in front of the toilet and the cover on the lid are outdated. Throw them out if you have them. Place a book holder across the tub for convenience during those long soaks. Choose elegant hardware; they are like jewelry. There are many choices available. Select a uniform style or mix and match. Hooks, knobs and pulls all add to the ambiance of the room.

Fragrance

The choices are numerous – potpourri, diffusers, scented candles and soaps. These are all wonderful additions to the modern bath. Use the vent instead of room spray to prevent odors, and you will find it much more effective. Keep the floors meticulously clean to eliminate any odor, especially if there are males in the household.

Towels

If it is a guest bathroom, change the towels frequently. Letting the same guest towels languish for long periods will cause them to eventually look bland and unattractive. Use solid, luxurious colors and try various decorative techniques to make them appealing. Stay away from hand towels that are used by everyone; they are unsanitary. Instead, use attractive paper towels in a nice tray to add to the overall awesomeness of the bathroom.

Flooring

If the bathroom has carpet, remove it, unless it can resist waterlogging, and replace with tile or wood-like flooring. It may not be the best idea to use wood flooring, even though many professionals espouse it. If the toilet overflows, you may ruin the floor and have an excessive repair bill. If you like the idea of wood, however, try one of today’s wood-look tiles, stone or vinyl. Some of them are really spectacular. They may be costly, but the bathroom is generally so small that it can fall within the budget. Regardless of the type of flooring you choose, keep it spotless. Use cleaners that enhance the fragrance; you do not want it to smell like disinfectant.

Mirror

Mirrors and lighting are often overlooked when decorating a bathroom. Because light plays a major role in its overall appearance, include it in your revitalization plan. If you have a mirror that practically covers an entire wall, and you cannot change it out for one or two smaller ones, then frame it. Use a natural wood or a color that coordinates with the rest of the room. It is easy to google the instructions or watch a “how-to” YouTube video. Change out those builder-grade “make-up lights” for more modern ones. The overall effect will be impressive.

All of these tips will completely overhaul your bathroom. If you cannot do them all, start with one and add others whenever you can. Once you start, you will want to follow through with the remainder as soon as possible.

Student Action wins majority of senate seats in ASUC 2018 elections

Joshua Jordan/Senior Staff

Josh Jordan / Staff

Pauley Ballroom erupted in screams — both elated and dismayed — as results of the ASUC senatorial elections beamed onto the big screen Friday, marking the end of a grueling campaign season.

Student Action won a majority of the ASUC Senate seats — the first time since 2012 that any one party has won a majority of the senate.

This year, 37 senators ran on platforms, including increasing diversity in the Greek community, holding the UC Board of Regents accountable and advocating for transfer and low-income students.

Eleven out of 14 Student Action senatorial candidates won: Zach Carter, Isabella Chow, Justin Greenwald, Saakshi Goel, Nikhil Harish, James Li, Amma Sarkodee-Adoo, Karina Sun, Andy Theocharous, William Wang and Anne Zepecki. The party won one more senate seat than it did in the 2017-18 election.

“I am so excited to get my project to work and see everything come to fruition,” Sarkodee-Adoo, who is focused on diversifying the Greek community and other clubs on campus, said through excited screams.

Three out of seven CalSERVE senate candidates won — Teddy Lake, Idalys Vanessa Pérez and Amir Wright. Last year, CalSERVE took five senate seats after running six senates candidates. CalSERVE won seven senate spots in 2016 and eight in 2015.

“When I started this campaign, I made this very clear that this wasn’t about me,” Lake, who ran to represent LGBTQ+ students, said. “Being elected means I can uplift the voices of the people who elected me — I’m ready to use my leverage to lift that into the senate.”

Current ASUC Senator Hani Hussein expressed her disappointment after the results.

“(I’m) incredibly frustrated that qualifications, experience and genuine leadership mean jack shit,” Hussein said. “It’s never been built for us, and for you to be labeled as too much for a leadership position says something about the community that you’re trying to lead.”

The Defend Affirmative Action Party, or DAAP, ran four candidates this year: freshman Stephanie Gutierrez for president and for senate; junior Casey Leeds for student advocate and for senate; senior Richard Alvarado for senate; and freshman Mary Carrasco for senate. DAAP candidates did not secure any of the seats they were vying for.

Karen Chow / Staff

The party continued its trend of running candidates for both executive and senatorial positions, as it did in the spring 2017 ASUC elections.

After a brief stint in the 2016-17 ASUC elections, the Pirate Party neither filed nor ran candidates this year, straying from last year, which saw Sunny Aggarwal — one of the party’s three senate candidates — win a senate seat. Aggarwal was later replaced by another Pirate Party candidate — Jonathan Allen — after Aggarwal resigned in October.

SQUELCH!, which historically runs both satirical and nonsatirical candidates, filed as a party this year, but ran no candidates.

“I feel like I dodged a bullet,” Theocharous, who ran to represent Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and veteran interests. “This was a very tough election. And I am one of the candidates without a large community.”

For those candidates who were not as lucky, however, this loss can come as a blow for their respective communities.

“Beyond just losing, I think it’s a big community loss too,” said Neil McClintick, a former columnist for The Daily Californian who is a transfer student himself. “Next year, for incoming transfer students, they won’t have any representation next year — yet we elected a squirrel.”

Independent candidates have proven that they are a mainstay in ASUC elections. After winning four senate seats in the 2017-18 ASUC elections, six of the 12 independent candidates on the ballot won this year: Nick Araujo, Imran Khan, Regina Kim, Aaron Bryce Lee, Anna Whitney and Furry Boi (“a squirrel” whose proxy is Stephen Boyle).

Furry Boi called his win a great victory for squirrels everywhere, proving that they too can be senators.

“I think everyone’s win is well deserved,” Lee, a member of the East Asian community and a policy writer in the ASUC, said. “Every single senator had unique approaches. … This is a different campaign from every other year. We can see what the most effective way to reach the student population is.”

It’s a remarkable shift considering that only two years ago, a single independent candidate won. While this year witnessed a shift back to an election dominated by the two largest parties — CalSERVE and Student Action — with some candidate contributions from DAAP, it also saw a rise in independent candidates: from eight in 2016-17 to 12 in 2017-18.

This comes in contrast with last year’s changing partisanship landscape, when five campus parties and a slew of independents flooded campaign rhetoric.

“I never thought this was something I could do,” Carter, who ran on increasing accessibility to DSP resources, said tearfully. “I’m a queer person. I’m a survivor of sexual violence. I never thought I could fill this seat. … Everyone who got a seat did it for the right reasons and should be proud.”

Senior staff writers Suhauna Hussain, Sydney Fix and Malini Ramaiyer and staff writers Anjali Shrivastava, Miyako Iwata, Jessíca Jiménez, Sakura Cannestra, Mariam Zagub and Isabella Sabri contributed to this report.

Ani Vahradyan is the university news editor. Contact her at avahradyan@dailycal.org and follow her on Twitter at @anivahrad.

The Daily Californian