October 2014 News Archive

UC Santa Cruz named one of the country’s best colleges for film majors

UC Santa Cruz has been ranked No. 7 in the country by College Factual for Best Bachelors Program for Film, Video and Photographic

From smart grids to flying robots, engineer finds many applications for theory

UC Santa Cruz computer engineer Ricardo Sanfelice uses hybrid systems analysis to understand and control systems with complex dynamical

Community Crime Bulletin - Peeping in Bathrooms

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department is investigating reports of peeping by use of electronic means.

Game of genomes

Sammy the Slug, the neon-yellow, pop-eyed fixture at campus gatherings and sporting events, is about to reveal his genes to the world. Backers of a crowd-funding campaign hope

Open Enrollment 2015

The annual Open Enrollment (OE) period begins Thursday, October 30 and ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25.

Toni Morrison and Angela Davis on friendship and creativity

During in-depth conversations this summer, Toni Morrison and Angela Davis share thoughts about their past collaboration, their longstanding friendship, and their bedrock belief in the power of

UC Santa Cruz offers 'Genome Browser in a Box' for local installations

New software enables scientists to quickly install the UCSC Genome Browser on their own computers to protect sensitive genomic

UC Santa Cruz named a 'silver bicycle-friendly' university

UC Santa Cruz has been named a 'silver bicycle-friendly' university by the League of American

Founders Celebration recipients share commitment to social justice

Acclaimed author Toni Morrison's appearance was a highlight of the 2014 Founders Celebration that also honored Professor Craig Haney, alumnus Mark Headley, and the Long family.

Free week at OPERS

he Office of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports would like to invite all faculty and staff to try our facilities free from Friday, October 24th through Friday, October 31st.

November 4 is Election Day — remember to vote

Tuesday, November 4 is Election Day. There are important votes for governor and other federal, state and local offices as well as important initiatives. Voting is a citizen's fundamental right, and I urge you to use this opportunity to let your voice be heard.

What is the role of a major research university?

By Paul Koch, Dean, Division of Physical and Biological Sciences — We're in the midst of a seemingly endless conversation about "the value of higher education" and the role of top research universities like UC Santa Cruz. Should we pursue knowledge for its own sake? Or should we focus on creating "useful" knowledge and informed, clear-headed graduates? The answer is that we must do both.

Novel biosensor technology could allow rapid detection of Ebola virus

Rapid detection of viruses without expensive equipment is among the potential applications of biosensor research at UC Santa

Online Education Call for Proposals, 2014-2015

In fall of 2014 there are three different but related opportunities for faculty to develop online courses.

Alumni Profile / Greg Neri: A voice for urban teens

Greg Neri’s award-winning books have yet to hit the New York Times best-seller list, but they have a distinction about which the UC Santa Cruz graduate is proud. Librarians across the country tell him his teen novels are among the books most often stolen from shelves.

This is UC Santa Cruz

News and people of note at UC Santa Cruz.

Hot Dates

A summary of major UC Santa Cruz events, October 2014-April 2015

Halloween message for students

You should find the information below useful as you plan how and where to spend your time on Halloween this year.

50th anniversary events

A few of the main UC Santa Cruz 50th anniversary events planned so far.

Alumneye

This alumni photo submission feature highlights and celebrates the experiences, travels, and artistic insights of UC Santa Cruz’s diverse and fascinating alumni.

Food for thought

UC Santa Cruz—'The Mothership' of organic agriculture—has much to offer the ambitious new UC Global Food Initiative

Alumni Profile / Suzi Eszterhas: Eye on the wild

For over a decade, Suzi Eszterhas ('99, environmental studies) has captured stunning moments from the lives of animals around the world that few of us would see without her photographs.

Astrophysics meets theater in ‘Birth of Stars’

What does the birth and death of stars have to do with the lives of real human beings? How do we balance the joy and pain of life

'Beloved' author speaks about writing, revelations, and good and evil

Pulitzer– and Nobel Prize–winning author Toni Morrison sees an increasing prevalence of evil in

A global surge of great earthquakes holds clues to future quakes

UC Santa Cruz seismologist Thorne Lay discusses the implications of recent studies for quake risk in

2015—It's a party! And you're invited

Almost 50 years ago—fall 1965—this great campus began with 600 intrepid students and a dream. We've been questioning authority ever since.

Philanthropy Focus: Quest to reopen the Quarry

The Quarry Amphitheater Project moves forward as donors and students seek to revitalize the iconic space.

Flu shot clinics for students on campus

Seasonal flu shots will once again be offered to students at the Student Health Center located across from the University Center and Colleges 9 & 10 on McLaughlin Drive.

Seasonal flu shot clinics on campus

Seasonal Flu shots will once again be offered to staff and faculty at the Student Health Center located across from the University Center and Colleges 9 & 10 on McLaughlin Drive.

A campaign to support our dreams

By Keith Brant, Vice Chancellor, University Relations — A year ago this week, we launched the public phase of The Campaign for UC Santa Cruz, the first comprehensive effort to raise the stakes in private support for the campus. The first year was a rousing success. In the fiscal year ending in June, the campus raised a record $50 million in new gifts, pledges, and planned gifts, pushing the campaign total past the $180 million mark and closer to the $300 million goal.

UC Santa Cruz sponsored gender development conference celebrates 10 years

A national conference on gender development that UC Santa Cruz psychology professor Campbell Leaper founded 10 years ago will begin Thursday in San Francisco.

Preparing for UC Santa Cruz's 50th

This fifth installment in our series of stories leading up to a celebration of UC Santa Cruz's 50th anniversary in 2015 is about Page Smith, the first provost

Social Justice lecture features expert on sexual violence in the military

Professor Elizabeth L. Hillman, a scholar and expert on sexual violence in the military, will speak Thursday, November 6, at UC Santa Cruz as part of the UC

Editor's Note: Where were you?

People often ask, "Where were you?" when something momentous and tragic happens—I guess it's a way to bond, grieve, and share.One such event occurred at 5:04 p.m. on October 17, 1989—25 years ago this month.

Fall '14 Review masthead

Fall '14 Review masthead

Undergraduate education seeks three part-time faculty administrators

The Division of Undergraduate Education is undertaking three searches for part-time faculty administrators.

Your Turn

Raves, rants, recommendations, and love letters from our readers and social media friends.

Campaign update

The Campaign for UC Santa Cruz: Now at $180 million.

Grad students' interactive fiction honored at IndieCade games festival

Ice-Bound is an interactive fiction piece created by two graduate students in the UC Santa Cruz Center for Games and Playable

Astronomers create first 3-D map of the 'adolescent' universe

Astronomers have created the first map of the ‘adolescent’ universe as it appeared 10.8 billion years ago.

Campus role in overturning Proposition 8

UC Santa Cruz alumna Kris Perry, a plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit that overturned California's ban against same sex marriage, described first the process of coming out in

Acclaimed game designer joins UC Santa Cruz art faculty

Award-winning game designer and producer Robin Hunicke will join the UC Santa Cruz faculty in January as Associate Professor of Art & Game

Jessica Fiske Bailey appointed executive director of UC Santa Cruz Arboretum

Jessica Fiske Bailey, assistant vice provost for academic affairs at UC Santa Cruz, has been named executive director of the UC Santa Cruz

From the chancellor: Approaching a milestone

When I walked onto the UC Santa Cruz campus as a young assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics in 1972, I had no idea I'd be here for the next 42 years. The campus was just seven years old—no one was thinking of its 50th anniversary. Yet here I am, and here we are.

Survey to select new vendor for Quarry Plaza restaurant

The Graduate Student Commons is starting the process of looking for a new restaurant vendor for the first floor of our building in the Quarry Plaza. The space is currently occupied by Joe's Pizza and Subs, whose contract ends at the end of the academic year.

UC Santa Cruz named top college for Hispanic students

Noting UC Santa Cruz's first-year retention rate of 91 percent and 74 percent graduation rate, a college comparison website has named the campus first in the nation for

Diane Gifford-Gonzalez wins social sciences award for outstanding research

Anthropology professor Diane Gifford-Gonzalez is the 2014 recipient of the Martin M. Chemers Award for Outstanding Research in the Social Sciences at UC Santa Cruz.

UC Santa Cruz creates new Department of Computational Media

A new department builds on the success of the campus's pathbreaking programs in games and playable

Revised Absence from Work Policy – Summary of Technical Changes

PPSM Policy 2.210 (Absence from Work) was revised to include a number of technical changes with a focus on aligning the policy with legal requirements enacted since the last issuance of the policy in early 2013.

Orders of magnitude

Twenty-five years ago, the Loma Prieta quake rippled through Santa Cruz and the Bay Area, causing devastation and tragedy. What have we learned about earthquakes since then?

Turn off the tap: The story of water conservation at UC Santa Cruz

By Sarah Latham, Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services — Water conservation has long been an important part of environmental stewardship at UC Santa Cruz. Today, the campus uses about 178 million gallons of water annually; scarcely more water than the 170 million gallons we used 20 years ago, despite having nearly 7,000 more students.

Social Sciences Research Frontiers Day focuses on data, environment, and justice

The second annual Social Sciences Research Frontiers Day at UC Santa Cruz will take place Friday, October 24, 2014, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. with a focus on data,

Computer scientist Charlie McDowell recognized as advocate for women in tech

McDowell and alumnus Jacob Martinez are featured on a list of "10 Men Making Waves for Women in

A decade later: How the organic foods movement has grown and evolved

Professor Julie Guthman's "Agrarian Dreams: The Paradox of Organic Farming in California," was hailed as the first social science study of organic foods in the United States. A

Astronomers analyze atmosphere of planet orbiting another star

Scientists have made the most detailed global map yet of the glow from a planet orbiting another

UC Santa Cruz leads $11 million Center for Big Data in Translational Genomics

National Institutes of Health awards UC Santa Cruz funding for new research center as part of the NIH Big Data to Knowledge

UC Santa Cruz wins $11 million grant to advance biomedical research

Chancellor Blumenthal congratulates the campus team tapped by the National Institutes of Health to lead a project that could revolutionize biomedical research.

In Memoriam: Geoffrey 'Craig' Hunt

Merrill alumna who challenged same-sex marriage ban to speak Monday, Oct. 13

Kris Perry, a Merrill College alumna who was a lead plaintiff in the California same-sex marriage case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court last year, is scheduled

Institute of Arts and Sciences offers LASER talk on Oct. 28

UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences will present its first “LASER” talk of the academic year on October 28 at the Digital Arts Research

Graduate applications, enrollment increase at UC Santa Cruz

Graduate student enrollment at UC Santa Cruz is projected to top 1,625 for fall 2014, about 9 percent of total enrollment, indicating continued strong interest in the academic

Admissions Insights: Meet and Greet with UCSC Admissions

Informal Meet and Greet gathering at Preview Day to learn more about UCSC Admissions.

UCSC Farm hosts Fall Harvest Festival Sunday, October 12

Bright orange pumpkins, roasted red peppers, and apples galore mark the changing seasons at the 20th annual Fall Harvest Festival, Sunday, October 12 at UC Santa Cruz’s 30-acre

Thomas Pettigrew to deliver Jos Jaspars Memorial Lecture at Oxford

Thomas Pettigrew, UC Santa Cruz research professor of social psychology, has been invited to deliver the 2015 Jos Jaspar Memorial Lecture at Oxford University.

Envision UCSC Year 2: Our goals are set

By Alison Galloway, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor — During the past academic year, the campus engaged in a strategic planning process titled Envision UCSC. That process, involving more than 1,000 stakeholders, was designed to identify our most critical priorities for the next few years.

Welcome to Fall Quarter

Chancellor Blumenthal welcomes new and returning students, faculty, and staff, and announces a new weekly all-campus email newsletter, Tuesday Newsday.

2015 Leadership Academy applications due November 7

The 2015 Leadership Academy will meet over a four-month period, from January through April 2015. Each session will highlight specific issues and challenges faced by UC Santa Cruz leaders.

Class features diverse voices on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

"Perspectives on Israel/Palestine," beginning this month will feature a speakers series with diverse voices on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is open to the public.

Service animals on campus

Please be aware that service animals (dogs) are welcome and important members of the campus community, and you may encounter service dogs with their owners at multiple campus locations.

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum holds Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, October 11

The Arboretum's annual fall sale features beautiful, drought-tolerant plants from around the

Volunteer profile: John Madrid

UC Santa Cruz was and still is a magical place for me. A huge part of what I learned there was a sense of social justice and giving

UC Santa Cruz ranked first for research influence in world university rankings

Times Higher Education measured overall research influence based on the average number of citations per paper published by

Formal Review: Phased Retirement Program

The University is proposing to renew the Phased Retirement Program, an optional tool that locations may choose to provide eligible policy covered staff who are 55 or older transition into retirement.

Five artists collaborate on experimental book art

When fully opened, Felicia Rice’s book literally unfolds like an accordion along the length of a 30-foot

Study of mountain lion energetics shows the power of the pounce

High-tech collars enabled scientists to track mountain lions in the wild and determine how much energy the big cats use to hunt their

Educational Partnership Center lands $3.27 million grant to help students achieve college

UC Santa Cruz’s Educational Partnership Center has been awarded a $3.27 million federal grant over seven years to help prepare middle and high school students in the Monterey

Astronomer Claire Max appointed interim director of UC Observatories

Claire Max, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, succeeds Sandra Faber as interim director of UC

Required Federal Notices

In compliance with federal law known as the Clery Act, the Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report 2013 is now available for you to read.

Dental care available on campus

Starting October 1st, Onsite Dental will be providing services from a mobile office at OPERS.

UC Santa Cruz 2014 Symposium on Assessment

All faculty and graduate students are invited to UC Santa Cruz's first assessment symposium to be held on October 17, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.