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Cutting the ribbons
If you missed the Oct. 10 grand opening of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, or if you were there and want to live it again, check out this Web video about the festivities — featuring Margrit Mondavi, the Budweiser Clydesdales, and plenty of food and drink. [ More… ] |
NEWS
Campus hit with $5 million more in cuts
Word came last week that UC Davis is taking another big budget hit: an estimated $5 million. To cover the new loss in state funds, the campus is implementing a 3 percent levy on nonfederal, self-supported activities — units that bring in income and those that recharge for their services. Meanwhile at the systemwide level, the UC regents voted this week to defer general academic and staff pay raises for a year. [ More… ]
Open enrollment: UC continues salary-based approach to health insurance
Open enrollment, the annual opportunity for employees to make changes in benefits coverage, runs Oct. 30 through Nov. 25. The university's expense for employee medical care premiums is increasing $91 million next year, but that does not mean every employee will see his or her share of the cost go up. In fact, about 36,000 of UC's 110,000 employees with medical coverage will see their premiums decrease from 6.7 percent to 64 percent. [ More… ]
UC announces tentative contract deals with two unions
The UC Office of the President announced the university had reached tentative contract deals with AFSCME, on behalf of 11,000 patient-care employees, and with the Federated University Police Officers Association, on behalf of the UC system's more than 200 police officers. UC officials also said they hope to reach a deal soon with AFSCME regarding UC's more than 8,000 service employees. [ More… ]
Obama and Snapple: Professor explores false rumors
What do presidential candidate Barack Obama and Snapple have in common? Patricia Turner, professor of African American and African studies, says that both have had to confront false rumors. Snapple and Obama share characteristics that Turner has found to fuel rumors: an unusual name; unconventional promotion strategies; and instant, unprecedented product appeal. [ More… ]
Campus experts weigh in on Electoral College
With every presidential election, people wonder whether the United States should graduate from the Electoral College and choose its ultimate leader directly through a national vote. But UC Davis political experts say that no easy solution exists to reforming one of the Constitution's most controversial and much-debated provisions. [ More… ]
Cool! Refrigerator program saves money, energy
Out with old refrigerators and freezers, in with new, more efficient units — and the campus is saving an estimated $12,000 a year in electricity costs. This is the payoff so far from a program to rid labs and break rooms of freestanding refrigerators and freezers made before 1990. The program began in March, and, as of September, 70 appliances had been replaced and 39 had been taken out of service. [ More… ]
In research: More natural corridors needed for wildlife
A new UC Davis study says that people trying to help nature by designing corridors for wildlife need to think more naturally. Corridors are physical connections between disconnected fragments of plant and animal habitat, and postdoctoral researcher Matthew Holland says that "symmetrical systems of corridors may actually do less good for natural communities than designs with some randomness or asymmetry built in." [ More… ]
Unitrans opens new terminal, celebrates 50 million riders
Unitrans, the student-run bus service that has helped move UC Davis and the city of Davis for 40 years, is inviting its passengers and other fans to celebrate two milestones: the dedication of a new campus terminal and the transit system's 50-millionth rider. The public ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at the new terminal on Hutchison Drive across from the Silo. [ More… ]
Parachute halftime show lands at Aggie Stadium Saturday
Some of the Army's Golden Knights plan to drop in for halftime at the Aggie football game against North Dakota on Saturday, Oct. 25. The Golden Knights are precision parachutists who compete and put on demonstrations around the country and around the world. At halftime, look up for the Knights — as they parachute from 12,500 feet, maneuver into formation, and then float to the football field in a 12-minute narrated show. [ More… ]
DIRECTIVES
No new directives were issued this week.
EVENTS
Campus offers early voting
Monday through Friday, Oct. 27-31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Memorial Union
Voters who are registered in Yolo County have the option of voting before Election Day by casting their ballots on campus. The county elections office, in partnership with the Graduate Student Association, will operate a polling place in the old post office on the first floor of the Memorial Union's east wing. [ More… ]
Disability event speaker: Matt Glowacki
Wednesday, Oct. 29, noon, MU II, Memorial Union
The speaker at the campus's 22nd annual disability awareness event will be Matt Glowacki, a wheelchair user and motivational speaker who will share his experiences and insights on creating a work and educational environment that fosters inclusiveness. [ More… ]
Free noon concert: Jazz and the Great American Songbook
Thursday, Oct. 30, 12:05 p.m., Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center
Dennis Edwards, piano, and Steve Webber, bass. Works by George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter, Henry Mancini and Irving Berlin. Sponsored by the music department. [ More… ]