April 2015 News Archive

International Playhouse returns for its 15th season

UC Santa Cruz’s International Playhouse, an annual program of short theater pieces staged in different languages by students in the university’s Language Program, is back for another round of staged pieces.

Formal Review & Employee Comment: Universitywide Police Policies & Administrative Procedures

The University of California is proposing revisions to the Universitywide Police Policies and Administrative Procedures, which are applicable to UC Peace Officers.

UC Santa Cruz ranks 2nd in the U.S., 8th overall among universities under 50

UC Santa Cruz ranks 2nd in the U.S. and 8th overall among the top universities in the world under 50 years old, according to an annual analysis by

UC Santa Cruz ranks 2nd in the U.S., 8th overall among universities under 50

UC Santa Cruz ranks 2nd in the U.S. and 8th overall among the top universities in the world under 50 years old, according to an annual analysis by

UC Santa Cruz biomedical research facility wins $2 million NIH grant

Grant funds new instrument used to explore the structures and functions of complex molecules involved in human health and

Bike to Work Week activities

UCSC's Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) has joined with Ecology Action to host the 28th annual Santa Cruz County Spring Bike Week, May 4 - 8, 2015.

New mass notification system in the works

UC Santa Cruz will soon start using a new mass notification system to power CruzAlerts, the text messages, emails and phone calls that warn the campus community of potential dangers.

UC Santa Cruz history professor elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

UC Santa Cruz history professor Gail Hershatter has joined Nobel Prize-winning chemist Brian Kobilka, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, singer-songwriter Judy Collins, novelist Tom Wolfe, and UC President Janet

Cosmologist Robert Kirshner explores accelerating universe in public talk on May 13

Kirshner's talk, "The Accelerating Universe: Einstein's Blunder Undone," is free and open to the

Scientists find evidence for groundwater in Antarctica's Dry Valleys

A salty aquifer beneath Antarctica's Dry Valleys may support previously unknown microbial

An Alumni Weekend to remember

A record-breaking crowd of 2,500 revelers, more than half of them alumni, took part in UC Santa Cruz's Alumni Weekend this year—a special edition of the event that

Two-week Faculty and Staff Giving Drive begins Monday

By Keith Brant, Vice Chancellor, University Relations — Faculty and staff at UC Santa Cruz change the world every day. We do it through our commitment to the ideals of this university and through our work, leadership, humanity, and generosity. For many, that generosity of spirit includes being donors to UC Santa Cruz.

Earth scientist Jim Gill to give Emeriti Lecture May 11

James Gill, professor emeritus of Earth and planetary sciences, will discuss "Volcanism as the Re-creation of

Graduate students present research projects at annual symposium

The 11th Annual Graduate Research Symposium on April 24 featured graduate student researchers from across the

Stephen Bruce named Distinguished Social Sciences Alumni Award winner

The UC Santa Cruz Social Sciences Division has named Stephen Bruce, a 1979 economics graduate of Cowell College, as winner of the Distinguished Social Sciences Alumni Award for

Service Recognition Award Nominations

The Student Volunteer Center is pleased to announce its annual Student Recognition Ceremony.

In Memoriam: Christopher Chitty

The History of Consciousness department, and the Divisions of Humanities and Graduate Studies mourn the loss of graduate student Christopher Chitty (1983-2015).

Art professor’s documentary short wins at Full Frame film festival

An animated short by UC Santa Cruz associate professor of art Dee Hibbert-Jones and artist Nomi Talisman won two awards at the Full Frame Documentary Film

Spread of pathogens between species is predictable, study finds

Scientists studied disease dynamics in a grassland on the UC Santa Cruz

Stress management Relaxation Station for students

The Relaxation Station is a set of stress management skill-building resources for students to access with drop-in and self-serve convenience.

UC Santa Cruz named one of Princeton Review's top 50 'greenest' colleges

UC Santa Cruz once again ranks high among the nation’s “greenest” colleges and

UC Santa Cruz part of NASA coalition leading search for life on distant worlds

Astrophysicist Jonathan Fortney is one of 15 principal investigators for a new NASA initiative searching for life on planets around other

Public Radio host and alum Jesse Thorn to podcast live from Kuumbwa

UC Santa Cruz alums Jesse Thorn and Jordan Morris return to Santa Cruz April 24, for a live taping of their popular podcast at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Proceeds

Alumni Weekend: Bigger and better than ever

By Susan Gillman and Tyrus Miller, co-chairs of the 50th Anniversary Campus Coordinating Committee — At this charmed moment of springtime in our 50th anniversary year, we are looking forward to an outstanding Alumni Weekend.

UCSC Farm & Garden’s 35th annual Spring Plant Sale set for May 2, 3

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden’s Spring Plant Sale, offering the region’s largest collection of organically grown herb and flower

Classes without quizzes: Alumni Weekend Teach-Ins

Returning UC Santa Cruz alumni should get ready to exercise their brains, but with no fear of final exams, at the ever-popular "Teach-Ins" featuring professors Bettina Aptheker and

Film professor to share research on Hollywood director at LA Times Festival of Books

UC Santa Cruz film and digital media professor Shelley Stamp will be featured on a panel about arts biography this weekend at the Los Angeles Times Festival of

Changes in Humanities and Graduate Division leadership

Changes this spring in the leadership of the Humanities and Graduate Divisions.

Slugs celebrate National Volunteer Week

MLK speechwriter to give talk on civil rights movement

Clarence B. Jones, a former personal counsel, draft speech writer, and close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will deliver a free public talk about the civil

DANM to mark 10th anniversary with arts festival and masquerade ball

The Digital Arts and New Media M.F.A. program (DANM) at UC Santa Cruz will mark the completion of its first decade on April 25 with a daylong celebratory

Staff Advisory Board Call for Nominations

The nomination period for 2015-2016 Staff Advisory Board (SAB) members is now open.

Public Safety Alert for April 20

Members of the UC Santa Cruz community, others with valid reasons for visiting the campus, and campus neighbors are advised there is the potential for disruptions and hazards during the afternoon of Monday, April 20 because of an unsanctioned gathering known as "4-20".

When UCSC meets Silicon Valley, great things happen

By Lynda Rogers, Dean, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension — Every day at UCSC Silicon Valley Extension, from the early morning through the late evening, the most wonderful thing happens: our students arrive.

Solving ancient riddles: UCSC hosts archaeological genetics conference

The newly formed UC Santa Cruz Archaeological Research Center will hold its first public research conference on how the analysis of ancient DNA can unlock secrets from the

Faculty and staff: Help make Alumni Weekend 2015 the most memorable yet

Faculty and staff: April 23-26 will see the return of hundreds of our alumni to their "home away from home" in the redwoods. With such a large gathering at this year's event, there are a number of ways you can support our efforts.

Biologist Beth Shapiro explains the science of 'de-extinction' in new book

A leading expert on ancient DNA, Shapiro aims to separate science from science fiction in her new book 'How to Clone a

Alum’s feature film heralds wildlife and landscape of Big Sur’s wild coast

Acclaimed wildlife photographers, UC Santa Cruz alumnus Kennan Ward and his wife Karen, will screen their new film “It’s a Wild Life” featuring the Big Sur coast Friday,

U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights investigation

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights will review the campus's handling of sexual violence and sexual harassment complaints.

Proposed increases to parking fees and program fares

Consistent with the campus review and approval process, this message is to notify the campus community of a proposal to increase parking fees and to solicit feedback.

TEDxSantaCruz, part of Alumni Weekend, to explore "Radical Collaboration"

April 24 event to feature speakers from a wide variety of disciplines challenging themselves, casting aside their differences, and sharing their

Revisions to UC CANRA policy and updates to UC Santa Cruz CANRA website and materials

In order to comply with California State Assembly Bill 1775 (AB 1775), which went into effect on January 1, 2015, the UC Office of the President revised the UC Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) Policy, effective March 17, 2015, to reflect the new legislation.

Egyptologist awarded NEH Digital Humanities Start-Up Grant

Assistant professor of history Elaine Sullivan has received a Digital Start-Up Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to develop a three-dimensional model and virtual tour that

Bacteria inhibit bat-killing fungus, could combat white-nose syndrome

UC Santa Cruz researchers are testing bacteria as a potential treatment to control white-nose syndrome, which is devastating bat

Possible physicians strike April 9-13

The Union of American Physicians and Dentists, which represents doctors and dentists at the student health centers across the University of California, has announced its intention to hold a strike from 7 a.m. April 9 through 7 a.m. April 13.

Month of events, activities set to raise awareness of sexual assault and violence

A month full of activities in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month includes the screening of "The Hunting Ground" in Santa Cruz Friday, April

It's deer fawning season, keep your distance, let them be

Please be aware that spring is the prime birthing season for a wide variety of campus wildlife, including deer.

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum holds Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 18

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Arboretum offers colorful, drought-tolerant plants for California

Who says the quarry can't rock again?

By Alison Galloway, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor – The Quarry Amphitheater is one of the gems of this campus. Sadly, it has been closed since 2006. Now, thanks to generous donations from alumni and a truly monumental financial contribution from students, we stand on the verge of being able to reopen the Quarry Amphitheater.

Final review of the UC policy on copyright and fair use

The campus has the opportunity to review and comment on the final draft of the proposed revised UC Policy on Copyright and Fair Use (currently called the 1986 Policy on the Reproduction of Copyrighted Materials for Teaching and Research).

Campus review: Proposed UC Santa Cruz non-research animal policy and procedures

As required by the standard campus policy review process and in preparation for the implementation of the Coastal Long Range Development Plan (CLRDP), Business and Administrative Services is proposing updated/new versions of the following policy/procedures.

In Memoriam: Megan Dill

It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that we have experienced a loss in our community.

Feminist Islamic scholar to speak of global movements for women, equality, and justice

Amina Wadud will speak of "Muslim Women: Equality and Justice Movements Globally" Thursday, April 16 as part of the Center for Emerging Worlds' Global Islam series.

In Memoriam: Jenna Rose Fiorello

We regret to tell you that Jenna Rose Fiorello, a first year at the University and a member of Kresge College, died Wednesday April 1st. Jenna Rose was studying environmental studies.

UC Santa Cruz conference to honor visionary feminist philosopher Gloria Anzaldúa

The UC Presidential Chair in Feminist Critical Race & Ethnic Studies will present a conference on the work of feminist philosopher and writer Gloria Anzaldua, April 10-11, at

SAB Spring Chancellor Forum – Thursday, April 9, 2015

All UC Santa Cruz staff are invited to the Staff Advisory Board-sponsored Spring Staff Forum with Chancellor Blumenthal, Thursday, April 9, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Stevenson Event Center.

Conservationist M. Sanjayan to receive Alumni Achievement Award

The host of the new PBS series EARTH A New Wild and executive vice president of Conservation International travels the globe to find "partnerships" between humans and the