East Asian Collection — Attraction in Davis

The East Asian Collection at UC Davis offers a niche but respectable selection of materials for those interested in the region’s history and culture. However, whatever academic value it provides is hard to fully appreciate when broader concerns about campus safety loom large. The atmosphere of intellectual curiosity is undercut by a lingering sense of unease—especially in light of serious incidents that have occurred on or near campus.

One particularly troubling example was during Picnic Day, an annual event that’s supposed to celebrate community, diversity, and university pride. Instead, the day was marred by a nearby shooting—an incident that exposed deep flaws in UC Davis’s ability to manage large public gatherings and ensure the safety of attendees. What should have been a joyful occasion turned into a reminder of the university’s questionable preparedness and reactive—not proactive—approach to crisis management.

It’s hard to immerse yourself in quiet academic study when there's the sense that security is more about optics than actual protection. The shooting wasn’t just an isolated incident; it was a warning sign that UC Davis still has a long way to go in creating a truly safe and accountable campus environment. Until those foundational issues are addressed, even the most specialized academic resources—like the East Asian Collection—struggle to fulfill...

While the East Asian Collection at UC Davis offers a niche selection of materials, the experience is overshadowed by larger concerns — especially around safety. During Picnic Day, a major campus event meant to celebrate community and culture, a shooting occurred nearby, raising serious questions about how well the university handles public events and campus security.

It’s difficult to engage with academic resources when the environment around them feels unpredictable or poorly managed. The Collection itself is limited and underutilized, reflecting a broader pattern at UC Davis: underinvestment in substance and over-reliance on image.

The university needs to take both safety and student-focused academic development far more seriously. Until then, even quiet corners like the East Asian Collection can’t offer what they’re meant to — a sense of peace, focus, and...

5 stars out of 5 Plants 5 stars, Environment 5 stars The East Asian Collection, right on the bank of a roundish, wide section of Putah Creek (Lake Spafford—funnily enough, the localwiki describes this lake as where Putah Creek “becomes obese then thins down again”), is a great place to relax. Autumn is the best season to visit this location with the yellows and reds of the fall trees. Ginkgos are my favorite. There’s also many ducks, which kids enjoy observing...