Campus News

The UC Davis Agnostic and Atheist Student Association (AgASA) will host well-known atheist activist and speaker Dan Barker at 6 p.m. today in 123 Science Lecture. A former evangelical preacher of 19 years, Barker will discuss his recent book Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America’s Leading Atheists. His lecture will be followed by a question-and-answer session with audience members as well as a book-signing.

UC Davis’ California Raptor Center will hold its free open house Saturday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., featuring a “Hawk Walk,” special presentations, museum tour and self-guided tours of the center. “The open house is a method to bring the people from the outside who would not likely go the Raptor Center,” said Jo Cowen, head of the education department for the center.

Eight cattle paraded across the highway near Antioch this May causing a traffic jam that lastedclose to four and a half hours. When the fire department arrived,the lights and sounds spooked the cattle into scattering and running for their lives into Interstate680.Four out of the eight cattle were shot multiple times by the highway patrol officers and the sheriff’s department.

Submitting another student’s work as one’s own A plantsciences professor referred a student for submitting her friend’s essay as her own.In a prior administration of the class,the friend earned very high marks for a paper on sugarcane growth.Knowing that this year’s essay prompt was identical,the referred student asked to see her friend’s essay for reference,and then copied the essay verbatim,submitting it as her own work.She admitted to wrongdoing and agreed to a one-quarter suspension,counseling with CAPS and a time management workshop with the Learning Skills Center.Because the student had prior violations on file,she was also sanctioned to Deferred Dismissal,meaning a subsequent academic violation would lead to dismissal from theuniversity.

It’s time to say a little prayer for the Bike Church,parishioners. The non-profit bicycle co-op has offered do-it-yourself training workshops and used bike parts for the Davis community for nearly five years.However,due to several breaches in university regulations,Student Housing has evicted the church from its location next to thedomes sustainable living area.

In his last year aschancellor of UC Davis,Larry Vanderhoef is inno way taking it easy.The long-serving chancellor embarks on his second trip toIran tomorrow. Chancellor Vanderhoef will make the visit along with five other American university leaders as part of a delegation sponsored by the American Association of Universities.On theseven-day trip,the group will visit several Iranian universities in the interest of strengthening scientific and educational ties between the two countries.

During an economic crisis that evokes comparisons to the Great Depression,many historians are arguing that the New Dealhas never been more relevant. The Center for History,Society and Culture is sponsoring “The New Deal Now,“ a two-hour public forum that will feature three historians from three different universities.The event will begin today at5p.m.at the University Club,located in the Arboretum just across from Mrak Hall and next to Wyatt Pavilion.

At the end of October,almost180science,education and business groups – including UC Davis– sent a letter to Senators Barack Obama and John McCain urging them to appoint a science adviser with a cabinet rank by Inauguration Dayon Jan.20. The letter notes that many issues – health care,energy,economic competitiveness,climate change – require sound scientific advice,making it “critical that the next president seek out and rely upon sound scientific and technological adviceearly andoften in the newadministration.“

Beginning today and until Friday at10a.m.,students can vote online at elections.ucdavis.edu to select their top six senate candidate choices.ASUCD senate elections take place every fall and winter quarter,and six new senators are elected bi-annually to serve a one-year term in office.

UC Davis professor of medicine,Jay Solnick,will continue his groundbreaking research in latent tuberculosis thanks to a recent grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

UC Davis scientists have made an important discovery in the field of animal science and ecology,by using mathematical models to explain animal habitats and ecosystems.The study could aid in properly designingcorridors for animal migration.

UC Davis scientists recently received funding to conduct the first comprehensive study of an Indonesian biodiversity “hot spot.” The International Cooperative Biodiversity Group,a program led by the National Institutes of Health,has granted a group of UC Davis researchers$4million to conduct study on biodiversity inthe tropical forests of southeasternSulawesi,an Indonesian island.