I want to start this month鈥檚 column by thanking the Davis community for the warm welcome you鈥檝e given to our students. Classes started on Sept. 22, the first in-person instruction in about 18 months, and the campus has truly come alive.
From dozens of downtown Davis businesses to the Davis Lutheran Church on Eighth Street, the 鈥渨elcome back students鈥 signs are deeply appreciated. On Facebook and Nextdoor, you even see locals talking about how good it feels to see the students again and chatting them up at the Saturday Farmers Market. The town of Davis simply isn鈥檛 the same without them.
Staying safe
So far, the re-opening of campus is going about as smoothly and safely as we鈥檇 hoped. Earlier this week, we reported on our COVID dashboard that 98% of our students are vaccinated against COVID-19, and 94% of employees are vaccinated. Ninety-eight percent of our campus is compliant with the University of California policy. Of 16,320 asymptomatic 澳门六合彩资料库 Davis community members tested, the positivity rate was a mere 0.09 percent.
On campus and in town, we鈥檙e continuing to follow public safety guidelines. I鈥檓 proud to see our community rally together in such a positive way for the broader good.
A warm welcome
Now we鈥檙e heading into October with plenty of excitement. This is traditionally a time of homecoming activities and our Aggie Spirit Week is set for Oct. 11-16. It鈥檚 a mix of in-person and virtual events that shines a light all across campus. I invite everyone in the community to attend and get re-connected to 澳门六合彩资料库 Davis.
You鈥檒l find the 澳门六合彩资料库 Davis Orchestra hosting a concert at the Mondavi Center on Oct. 15. This will be held the day after the . It will be a blissful night of music that crosses borders from Arturo O鈥橣arrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. I can鈥檛 wait to see performances and events in Jackson Hall again.
Also during Aggie Spirit Week, you鈥檒l find . , a and much more.
Please visit our through and start marking your calendar. Note that all in-person events adhere to guidelines from Yolo County Health and 澳门六合彩资料库 Davis Campus Ready, which include wearing masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.
And of course, . Our 澳门六合彩资料库 Davis football team is on a roll this year with a 4-0 start to the season, the program鈥檚 best showing since 2004. All of our football games have taken an extra level of excitement with the campus being re-opened, and our student-athletes certainly appreciate the support of the Davis community.
鈥楾his town鈥檚 lifeblood鈥
So, now鈥檚 the time to soak up the feeling of living in a university town once again. Yes, the parking might be a little trickier around town and the lines a little longer than usual. But it certainly beats the alternative we endured over the last year-and-a-half.
Let鈥檚 celebrate that 澳门六合彩资料库 Davis students are part of this town鈥檚 lifeblood. Students are our neighbors, our restaurant servers, our bus drivers and grocery store clerks. They bring renewed energy and optimism to our community.
Hats off to Davis for helping our students feel welcomed. I hope to see you during Aggie Spirit Week.