Campus News

Proposition 8 passed and Obama won the presidency, but election season isn't over yet. Wednesday afternoon marked an exciting start to this week's ASUCD Senate elections, as candidates hashed it out over budget cuts, the slate system, financial aid and number of other student-centered issues.

Students at UC Davis pay approximately $16 million every year in registration fees. As that number increases, so do the questions many students have as to where exactly that money is going. Student regent for the University of California, D'Artagnan Scorza, commissioned a recently released report on fee accountability in the hope of answering some of the questions regarding the use of student registration fees.

Ivan Carrillo, ASUCD president, not present

Molly Fluet, ASUCD vice president, present

Lula Ahmed-Falol, ASUCD senator, present

Andrew Bianchi, ASUCD senator, present

Sergio Blanco, ASUCD senator, present

In the Nov. 5 issue of The California Aggie the article "Chancellor Vanderhoef talks finances with students," referred to Dr. Dorje Jennette as "Droje" as well as subsequently incorrectly referring to him as "she." The article also quotes Dr. Jennette as referring to a study done by the American Psychiatric Association, when he was referring to a study done by the American Psychological Association. The Aggie regrets the errors.

It's that time of the year again, where looking for that perfect holiday gift can either result in great delight or acute anxiety attacks. Either way, this year that gift might be just around the corner at the Craft Center.

The Seventh Annual Staff Show and Auction begins today, showcasing handicrafts donated to the Craft Center by its participants.

Despite a faltering national economy, UCD has set a new record in research funding for the 2007-2008 fiscal year that ended on June 30, receiving a total of $586,181,880.

"The figure represents an increase of $54 million or 10 percent over the previous year's figure," said Barry Klein, vice chancellor for research in the Office of Research at UCD in an e-mail interview.

Greetings faithful Aggie readers! This notice is to let you know that all e-mail addresses at The California Aggie have switched over to our new server, theaggie.org. Below is a list of the new e-mail accounts. Each one represents the best way to get into contact with the editor of said desk. If you have any questions, please contact me at editor@theaggie.org. Please note that we have not received any e-mails sent to our old e-mail addresses since Wednesday.

UC Davis is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that its intercollegiate athletics program discriminates against women.

Judge Frank C. Damrell Jr. certified Brust et al. v. Regents of the University of California as a class-action lawsuit on Oct. 24. The suit claims that the university is not in compliance with Title IX, a federal law enacted in 1972 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program receiving federal funds.

A year ago this month, UC Davis veterinarians rescued over 418 seabirds in the San Francisco Bay Cosco Busan oil spill, which released over 58,000 gallons of crude oil into the bay.

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network, which is managed by the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, provided rescue and rehabilitation to the oiled birds. The OWCN oversees 25 organizations in California and brings them together in instances like the Cosco Busan oil spill on Nov. 7, 2007.

Apparently nothing gets hormones pumping like climbing trees - or they've all maxed out their 10 free condoms per week from the Love Lab. Whatever the reason, it's been the eastern fox squirrels' time of the season for loving for too long - and their campus population has become unmanageable, spawning a birth-control research program.

University of California employees may soon be feeling the effects of the recent downturn in the stock market.

An 18-year "contribution holiday" during which both the university and UC employees were not required to contribute to the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) will likely come to an end as early as next summer, according to a Sept. 12 letter from the UC Office of the President to all UC employees.

To relieve financial stress for UC Davis students, Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef spoke about the economy and its effects on higher education at the Memorial Union on Monday.

Chancellor Vanderhoef - along with interim director of financial aid Kathryn Maloney and Dr. Droje M. Jennette of Counseling and Psychological Services - answered students' financial aid questions and dispelled budget rumors.

Providing false information

A student was referred to Student Judicial Affairs for claiming he had medical reasons for why he failed to turn in a written assignment on time. After some discussion with a Judicial Officer, the student admitted to providing false information for the purpose of getting an extension on the assignment. Because providing false information is a violation of the Code of Academic conduct, the student agreed to a Disciplinary Probation until fall quarter 2009. Due to the personal circumstances of the student's situation, the student also agreed to seek professional psychological counseling for stress management from UC Davis Counseling and Psychological Services.

Ever wondered what happens with $10.7 million in grants and student fees each year? Ask ASUCD.

The transformation has already begun, UC Davis transportation expert Dan Sperling told Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a conference of international transportation professionals in London late October.

Sperling, director of the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, gave the keynote address at a two-day conference commissioned by Prime Minister Brown to explore the challenge of bringing electric vehicles to market. The speech, titled "Toward kinder, gentler cars," outlined Sperling's predictions and visions for a post-petroleum transportation system.