UC Davis researchers have affirmed an essential hypothesis in a 26-year-old DNA repair model – new evidence paving the way for further study into the molecular mechanisms that can affect cancer predisposition and developmental defects. Before this work, the 1983 double-strand-break repair model’s key hypothesis had not been physically demonstrated in cells, said Wolf-Dietrich Heyer, professor of microbiology. “This research is a really big step,” Heyer said.

After a student drops $150 for one textbook, it may be frustrating to see the front cover author match the professor’s name on the class syllabus. Yet, faculty are not picking up a big tab from book purchases. A USA Today article from earlier this month highlighted George Mason University in Washington, D.C. as a school where students are upset professors are cashing in on students through published texts. Though at UC Davis – and nationwide – there is myth surrounding professor-authored textbooks and the money they make.

Local police have been attending ASUCD committee meetings since 2007 in order to communicate with students and residents about issues they may be having. But the real issue, committee members say, is getting students and residents to show up. Problems from the start

Eyjafjallajokull volcano ash causes more airline uncertainty A new cloud of ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland is continuing to add air traffic issues to parts of Europe, particularly to the United Kingdom.

A survey released dismal results for college professors’ pay, showing that salaries increased 1.2 percent for this academic year. The American Association of University Professors’ data reported the smallest increase in its 50 years of conducting the surveys.

Researchers at UC Davis are developing new ways to aid those that are disabled. New studies are bringing forth revelations that could potentially make transportation and social independence much easier for both disabled children and adults. These studies could prove vital in convenience, reliability and affordability for the disabled. If successfully implemented, researchers Sanjay Joshi and Anthony Wexler feel that it could drastically help the severely disabled – generally quadriplegics – operate wheelchairs, be more independent and allow for them to be more comfortable with their required machinery.

UC Davis and other University of California schools turned the heat on applicants as first-year student admissions have reached record lows this year. According to recently released data, UC Davis’ first-year student admissions rate dipped to 44.5 percent this year, down from 52.4 percent two years ago. Other campuses, with the exception of UC Riverside and UC Merced, also witnessed admissions declines of 1 to 9 percent.

I know it’s Wednesday, but I still have Picnic Day on my mind. Who doesn’t? There are still traces of it left behind everywhere you look. The random red cups on lawns, the beer cans in the street and the guy who’s still passed out in your bed. (You should check his pulse). I hope you enjoyed your day. And if it was your last as an undergrad, I’m right there with you. Don’t worry – you can always come back when you’re 40 and the beer bong will still be waiting.

You know that city-mouse/country-mouse story? Well, I feel like country-mouse right now. I’ve been interning this quarter in Washington, D.C. – a bustling city 2,388 miles from dear old Davis. Traveling across this city has made me realize that I take a huge part of modern life for granted. There’s a great invention that makes it possible for me to travel underground on the subway and take an elevator 20 floors above street-level. This technology is concrete. It’s the gray, coarse, wonderful material we build our lives on.

So a week ago, I had the fortune and misfortune of going to the Passion Pit concert at Freeborn Hall. You’re probably wondering how it’s possible for something to be fortunate and unfortunate at the same time. To sum it up: The music was great, but I got stuck in front of the biggest asshole in all of UC Davis.

Fifteen pages of plagiarism A first-year international student from Korea was referred to Student Judicial Affairs (SJA) for obvious plagiarism on a major paper. The student admitted to plagiarizing every word, sentence and idea in the 15-page political science paper. She stated that because this was her first quarter at UC Davis, she wasn’t ready to write such a lengthy paper because English isn’t her primary language. The student accepted the sanctions of Disciplinary Probation for one year, 15 hours of community service, and completion of an online plagiarism exercise.

Campus Copies, an on-campus copy shop, has recently received a lot of attention from ASUCD. Members of ASUCD are trying to promote business in order to get clients such as professors and students to move from other places to Campus Copies. “We offer better quality and cheaper services that are more accessible to students and professors,” said Chelsea Tabke, Campus Copies director and senior sociology and psychology double major. Campus Copies, which offers usual services including printing, FedEx, binding and lamination, has a budget of $160,000 funded by ASUCD.