Campus News

California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi will speak at a rally on campus today at noon in Freeborn Plaza, between the UC Davis Bookstoreand Freeborn Hall. Garamendi, who announced his bid for governor in 2010 over the summer, will speak about what it means to be a Democrat as well as his support for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

Prominent University of California scientists formally presented plans for a School of Global Health to the regents last month. The proposed school would be the first of its kind, spanning all 10 UC campuses in a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort to solve issues that threaten the health and vitality of society.

The Middle East/South Asia Studies program has come a long way in its evolution. Thanks to ME/SA, UC Davis offers more courses about the region in comparative literature, political science, history, art history, music and languages – includingHebrew, Arabic and Hindi/Urdu – than ever before.

UC Davis studentswhowantto eat healthy without spending hours in the kitchen can achieve this at the Memorial Union. The Coffee House recently announced the removal of trans-fats from its menu – a process that began last year.

Students now have anotheroption for computing on campus. The Department of Information & Educational Technology services recently opened their latest of eight open access computer labs on campus at182Shields Library,replacing the IT express help desk.

In a few months,you’ll be able grab an iced venti mocha or a cold sandwich right after working out. The ARC will open a fully-licensed,Sodexo-operated Starbucks – with genuine Starbucksdrinks,architecture and merchandise – onJan.5.ARC officials have been planning to introduce Starbucks for some time,though the move happensto come in a year when the5-year-old facility has made several cost-cutting moves.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the California2008-2009state budget Tuesday – an action that meant mixed news for the University of California,which faces numerous budget challenges in the upcoming year. While the finalized budget includedthe$100million in UC funding that was on the chopping block earlier this year,state funding for UC remains essentially flat.The budget does not provide for increased costs due to inflationor growing enrollment.As a result,the UC system will still face a net shortfall of$100million in state funding,according to a press release from the UC newsroom.

2007-2008Summary The number of referrals to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs decreased in the2007-2008year,but this by no means implies that any less emphasis should be placed upon the issues of academic honesty and social responsibility.SJA handled618different academic cases.Sixty-eight different departments referred students for academic misconduct.English,math,psychology,chemistry,andhistory had the highest number of cases referred.

In the near future,freshmen won’t have to leave campus at the end of their first year to brave the distantDavis outskirts. UC Davis has just put the finishing touches on plans for the West Village,a new housing structure for university students,faculty and community college students.Officials predict it will open by fall2011.

University of California President Mark G. Yudof provided the public with a comprehensive progress report on each of the system’s 10 campuses – accomplishing one of his major initiatives a few months into his tenure. The draft report, available online at universityofcalifornia.edu/accountability, measures performance in 102 ways. Data aredisplayed to show trends over time and arecompared between campuses, and against eight other universities to provide context.

The wine industry has been making increased efforts toward environmentally responsible practices and increased consumer and producer education on green issues, according to two recent UC Davis studies. The annual studies – conducted by UC Davis professor Robert Smiley, director of wine studies in the Graduate School of Management – focus on the predictions and current undertakings of vintners, distributors and growers.

The former UC Davis freshman whose interest in powder chemicals and explosives caused the evacuation of450Tercero residents last March won‘t serve any jail time. As part of his plea agreement,Mark Woods– a19-year-old former economics major– pled no contest in Yolo County Superior Count on Wednesday to a felony count of unlawfully possessing an explosive.