Campus News

The New Year is here again and the Activities and Recreation Center is encouraging students to stick to their exercise resolutions with free access to all facilities during Try Before You Buy week.

In the Dec. 5 issue of The California Aggie, the article “Grad students feel effects of struggling health insurance industry” incorrectly stated that Jeffrey Gibeling will become the president of the Council of Graduate Students, when he will in fact become the chair. The Aggie regrets the error.

Several California universitieshave discontinued family health insurance programs for graduate students,claiming they are more cost than benefit for both parties involved. Rising rates have recently caused UC Berkeley to cut health care for the dependents of graduate students,while Stanford students lost theirs two years ago.

University of California students might be headed to study in Israel for the first time in six years. The University of California is currently in the final stages of negotiating with the Rothberg International School at Hebrew University of Jerusalem to reinstate the Education Abroad Program, which was suspended in 2002 following the placement of Israel on the State Department’s travel warning list.

Bruce White,professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering,has been chosen to be the new dean of the College of Engineering.He will hold the position for the next three years starting next month. White will replace the current dean,Enrique Lavernia,who has been tasked to fill the role of the campus’s provost and executive vice chancellor.

Lincoln D.Hurst,a core member of thereligious studies department at UC Davis for many years,an American Bible scholar and religious and film historian,died from a sudden heart attack on Nov.11.He was62. The Woodland resident is survived by two nephews,Tym Hurst and John Hurst,and a niece,Jami,as well as his sister-in-law,Sylvia.

Fresh off the plane from New York and soon on his way to Pakistan,journalist William Langewiesche made a stopatUC Davis to tell aspiring writers not to give up on that journalism career quite yet.

There‘s a good reasonwhydogs are often called“Man‘s Best Friend.“According to recent studies,our loyal companions share morethan just our dinner leftovers – namely,cancer.

Serialshoplifting The UC Davis Bookstore referred an underclassman to Student Judicial Affairs for stealing.When confronted,the student admitted that he shoplifts when under stress.Because he has ahistory of theftfrom the Bookstore,the student agreed to Deferred Separation until graduation and counseling.Deferred Separation means that if the student were to get caught shoplifting again,he would probably be suspended or dismissed from theuniversity and would not have a right to take the matter to a formal hearing.In addition,the student paid over$400in fines for stealing over20items.

On the night of World AIDS Day,1,280people gathered in the Jackson Hall of theMondavi Center for the Performing Artsto listen to a talk by author Tracy Kidder. Mountains Beyond Mountains:The Quest of Dr.Paul Farmer,A Man Who Would Cure the Worldwas this year’s featured work for the Campus Community Book Project.

If you’ve ever been frustrated by Unitrans,tonight at6in the Davis Community Chambers is the time to speak up. Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) will be holding an “Unmet Transit Needs” hearing tomorrow for four counties in the Sacramento area including Yuba,Yolo,Sacramento and Sutter.

After30years of conducting the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra,D.Kern Holoman took hisfinal bow last Sunday evening. In celebration for the symphony’s50th season,Holoman directed the orchestra in what was his last concert at the university at the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.The musicologist will formally step down from his post this coming June.