Dateline archive:

Child trafficking, new book project, law school gift — 2.20.09

UC Davis FRIDAY UPDATE

2.20.2009

News and information for faculty and staff


Spotlight on…

Speaking outSOLD project

UC Davis students rally for children trapped in flesh trade, learning about child trafficking across the world. Several UC Davis scholars comment on solutions. [ More… ]

NEWS

No more business as usual, chancellor says during budget-dominated brown bag

The good news is, California has a budget. The bad news is, the state is still in a deep financial hole — and the UC system is sharing the pain. Read what Chancellor Vanderhoef had to say about it last week, during his quarterly brown bag. The upshot was this: "We have to get used to doing things differently." [ More… ]

UC Davis English professor and novelist featured in Newsweek

Yiyun Li came to the U.S. to train as a scientist. Now, she is an assistant professor of English at UC Davis, and her first novel, The Vagrants, is a critical hit. [ More… ]

Find your bliss in this book project

If you are searching for happiness, where should you start? The answer may be found in the Campus Community Book Project's selection for 2009-10, The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World. Written by Eric Weiner, a self-professed grump, the book seeks to find the happiest places on Earth. [ More… ]

King Hall receives $1 million gift for new courtroom

A gift of $1 million from the Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation will fund construction of a new courtroom in the School of Law's King Hall. The Paul and Lydia Kalmanovitz Appellate Courtroom will accommodate mock trial proceedings, and may be a venue for real sessions of federal and state appellate courts and the California Supreme Court. [ More… ]

Coming clean? Baseball's steroid scandals reflect obsessed, driven society

As spring training starts, the baseball world awaits the next steroid controversy. Last week Alex Rodriguez, the game's best player, admitted using steroids, and 103 players tested positive from the same 2003 round of testing that fingered A-Rod. Some UC Davis scholars are not too surprised, pointing out that baseball's steroid issue mirrors an overly ambitious, aggressive society. [ More… ]

Coffee and a workout: New Starbucks opens at ARC

University Dining Services by Sodexo announced a Feb. 24 grand opening for a Sodexo-licensed Starbucks store in the Activities and Recreation Center. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with live entertainment on the ARC patio. A ribbon-cutting is planned at 10:15, and complimentary fair-trade coffee will be served from 10:15 to 10:45. [ More… ]

Staff Assembly to award scholarships and Citations for Excellence

Staff Assembly is once again accepting scholarship applications in two categories — for staff and staff dependents. Also, nominations are being accepted for this year's Citations for Excellence, given in conjunction with the Thank Goodness for Staff celebration. In other Staff Assembly news, if you have a Staff Assembly lapel pin, you will get a discount on the next Wednesday night wine tasting (March 4) at the Gunrock Pub. [ More… ]

Landmark study finds industrial chicken breeds seriously lack genetic diversity

Commercial chicken breeds used to produce meat and eggs around the world have lost at least half of the genetic diversity once present among their ancestors, according to a study conducted by an international team of researchers that includes a UC Davis animal scientist. [ More… ]

Lure of the law: Cultivating diversity in the next generation of lawyers

Growing up in a family of Central Valley farm workers, Laura Pulido witnessed numerous injustices that made her determined to become an attorney — and a perfect candidate for the King Hall Outreach Program/Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars Program at the UC Davis School of Law. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES

No new directives were issued this week.

EVENTS

Arboretum hosts flute-making workshop

Sunday, Feb. 22, 1-3 p.m., 146 Environmental Horticulture, Old Davis Road

Learn about Native Californian elderberry flute-making in a free workshop led by docent Antonio Flores of the East Bay Regional Park District. The program is open to all ages; adults are asked to accompany and supervise their young children. [ More… ]

Focus on Film: Strangers on a Train

Monday, Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m., Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center

Hitchcock — The Wrong Man Theme, the winter quarter Focus on Film at the Mondavi Center, wraps up with a screening and discussion of the 1951 classic based on the Patricia Highsmith novel. [ More… ]

Intersex Awareness Week and Celebrate Your Body Week

Monday through Friday, Feb. 23-27

Workshops, speakers, discussion groups and other special events. Intersex Awareness Week is sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center, and Celebrate Your Body Week is sponsored by the Association of Body Image and Disordered Eating. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…