Dateline archive:

Furloughs, free ice cream, free concerts — 8.7.09

UC Davis FRIDAY UPDATE

8.07.2009

News and information for faculty and staff


Spotlight on…

Photo: Stephen Wheeler leads students on a tour of Sacramento

A watershed moment

A UC Davis Cooperative Extension fish specialist recently led a two-day outing on the American River for the Native Youth Conservation Project, a job-skills training program for young people who are Native American, foster youth or from low-income families. The students learned stream-monitoring skills, such as estimating river depth and flow, measuring oxygen content and counting fish. [ More… ]

NEWS

Furlough schedule weighed; Academic Senate backs the use of teaching days for campus closures

We know how many furlough days we are getting, but we do not know the format. One option under consideration is to shut the campus down on specified days — in other words, declaring these as furlough days for as many employees as possible. [ More… ]

Budget update: Impacts on schools and colleges

The UC Davis News Service is preparing articles on budget impacts in the schools and colleges. The first three — covering cuts at the College of Biological Sciences, the Division of Social Sciences and the School of Veterinary Medicine — are now posted. [ More… ]

Mountain gorillas pose no AIDS threat, researchers say

Mountain gorillas do not pose an AIDS threat to humans, according to researchers at the UC Davis Mountain Gorilla One Health Program. Concerns about potential risks to tourists and others who may come into contact with gorillas arose in response to a recent report that French researchers had identified a new HIV strain. The new strain is closely related to a western lowland gorilla strain of simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV. [ More… ]

Theatre-dance announces new season

The Department of Theatre and Dance announced a 2009-10 season in which audience members are invited to get into the act, as co-directors of Corpo/Ilicito: The Post-Human Society 6.9 and as dining companions in A Matter of Taste, “a performance and food event.” The new season is set to open with Elephant’s Graveyard, written and directed by assistant professor Jade Rosina McCutcheon. [ More… ]

Time for a summer drive — a blood drive

Summertime is a good time for ice cream and an even better time for free ice cream. Which is exactly what you will receive — a coupon for a free pint of Baskin-Robbins ice cream — if you participate in a campus blood drive this month. Organizers said BloodSource mobile labs will line up along the west side of the Quad to accept donations from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18 and 19. People are advised to eat and drink plenty of fluids before donating, and to please bring photo ID. [ More… ]

New York Times: UC Davis researchers undermine dog domestication theory

Ryan and Corin Boyko spent their honeymoon catching and drawing blood from village dogs up and down Africa. The genetic evidence they’ve collected is casting new light on the domestication of dogs — and landed them in the New York Times. Both are anthropology doctoral students at UC Davis. [ More… ]

On the gridiron: Coach talks about career, Aggie football’s triumphant past and hopeful future

As head football coach, Bob Biggs works some of the longest hours on campus. Starting this month, the 11-game season began with intense practice sessions aimed at preparing the Aggie football team for its first game Sept. 5 against Fresno State, and then beyond. Biggs says, “The best part of my job is working with student-athletes who are motivated academically and on the field.” [ More… ]

'DASH' downtown for lunch

U-DASH, the lunchtime shuttle between the university and downtown Davis, started out June 15 as a free service — as a way to introduce U-DASH to the campus community. But, even though a $1 round-trip fare is now in effect, you can still essentially ride for free, and here is how: You pay your $1 upfront, and then visit any of the many businesses (restaurants and more) that are offering $1 discounts for U-DASH riders, subject to minimum purchase or other restrictions. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES

Access to university travel discounts through Connexxus travel portal

The University of California’s online portal for booking business travel, Connexxus, gives UC employees traveling on business access to airfare, lodging and rental cars at the university’s negotiated discount rates. All faculty and staff who make arrangements for university travel are strongly encouraged to use this new service for all travel planning. [ More… ]

EVENTS

Taylor dance students offer free shows

Aug. 7 and 14, 4 p.m., Main Theatre, Wright Hall

Free dance performances are scheduled today and next Friday as part of UC Davis Extension’s Paul Taylor West Coast Dance Intensive, a professional training course in modern dance. Showgoers are advised to arrive by 3:45 p.m. to hear background information on each performance. [ More… ]

Outdoor concerts in Sacramento and Davis

Family friendly, outdoor concerts are in the offing next week on the Davis and Sacramento campuses, with both events free and open to the public. The Sacramento concert (Thursday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m.) will feature The Sacramento Metropolitan Youth Choir and The Cheeseballs, performing dance and pop classics, rhythm and blues, funk and hip-hop from the 1970s through today. Zap Mama, led by “Afropean” vocalist and songwriter Marie Daulne, will perform at the Davis concert (Friday, Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m.). [ More… ]

Midnight Splash at the Rec Pool

Friday, Aug. 14, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Rec Pool, Hutchison Drive and La Rue Road

There is regular splashing and there is belly flop splashing — and you can do both at Campus Recreation’s Midnight Splash. The event also will include kayak races and live music. Admission is free for UC Davis students and Activities and Recreation Center members; $6 for the general public. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…