Davis is set to mark 100 years of 'Town & Gown', acknowledging the close association between UC Davis and the city of Davis. Celebrations were officially launched at the California State Fair, but the next major stage in the festivities will be a five day event in October. For one day during this event, several blocks of downtown Davis will become an outdoor street festival and will be closed to traffic. It is meant to be symbolic that this event will take place in the area that connects the campus with downtown (on 3rd St). The organizers of the event will be keen to point out the warm and friendly relationship between 'town' and 'gown'.
However, not everyone appears to share this rosy view of residents and students living side-by-side in peaceful harmony. A small faction of Davis residents will be staging a protest against the university. The group who calls themselves 'What has UC Davis ever done for us?' appear to be in the minority of Davis residents who suffer from 'problem student neighbors'. One group member, who wishes to remain anonymous, said "It's not just about the loud parties. It's not just about shopping carts being left on the driveway, or the frequent acts of public urination. It's more about how these students create a large blotchy stain on the otherwise good-looking, and clean-shaven face of Davis". The group are planning to stage their 'Town & Frown' protest during the October event. They won't say what the nature of this protest will be, but rumors have it that they will be building a large effigy (made out of wicker), dressing it in typical student attire (a UC Davis hoodie top?), and then dowsing it in kerosene before burning it to the ground. Whoa. Can't we all just get along?
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