March 2019 News Archive

Campus dining options during closure of Cowell/Stevenson Dining Hall

Due to the temporary Cowell and Stevenson Commons closure, Cowell/Stevenson Dining Hall and Stevenson Coffee House are closed until further notice.

Status of impacted buildings and rooms

UC Santa Cruz to compete in Cool Campus Challenge

The goal of this friendly online competition is for the university community to engage in a culture of sustainability and environment-friendly

College Ten class connects students with Soledad Prison inmates

A first-ever class called "Transcommunal Cooperation and Peacemaking" brought together 14 undergraduates and 28 men incarcerated at the Soledad Correctional Training Facility for an extraordinary 10 weeks of

Spring 2019 UCSC Campus Transit

Campus Transit operating hours and frequencies were reduced to balance the operating budget. After additional financial analysis of Fall and Winter quarter data, it has been determined that additional Campus Transit service reductions are necessary.

'Blueprint Roundtable' to discuss complexities of being black and male in U.S.

Students, faculty, and community leaders will respond to questions and issues raised by 'Question Bridge: Black Males'—an exhibition currently on display at the Sesnon Gallery—at a “Blueprint Roundtable”

Inspired Expeditions: A travel program for the curious

UC Santa Cruz’s new travel program pairs travelers with expert professors for enhanced perspectives into some of the world’s most fascinating

Postdoctoral fellowship supports planetary science research

The 51 Pegasi b Fellowship will fund Xinting Yu's research at UC Santa Cruz on formation of clouds and hazes on

Bike race to partially close Hagar and Coolidge on April 7

A bicycle race at UC Santa Cruz will close the northbound lane of Hagar Drive and the southbound lane of Coolidge Drive from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 7.

Cal Fire plans pile burns along Empire Grade

Cal Fire has advised campus officials that state fire crews will resume burning vegetation piles they have assembled along Empire Grade after this storm system, possibly as soon as Monday, April 1.

Roadwork to close section of Kerr Road

Excavation for new electrical and storm drain services will close a section of Kerr Road from March 18 to April 30.

Update on construction-related asbestos contamination incident at Cowell and Stevenson Student Commons

Recently, the campus learned that a construction contractor installing wall-mounted cable enclosures in Cowell and Stevenson colleges drilled holes in walls whose underlying materials contain asbestos. Unfortunately, in some areas the contractor did not fully contain the dust and debris generated by this activity.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is now available to self-enroll

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is now available to self-enroll for all faculty, staff, and students. If you support faculty or are unavailable to sign up for MFA during your assigned time, we encourage you to enroll early.

Summer programs draw visitors to Lick Observatory for music and stargazing

Tickets go on sale in April for the observatory's popular summer evening

Professor Emeritus Pavel Machotka dies at 82

Pavel Machotka, professor emeritus of psychology, died March 18 at the age of 82.

Update on construction-related asbestos contamination incident at Cowell and Stevenson Student Commons

The Cowell and Stevenson Student Commons facility remains closed while we continue to evaluate the extent of a construction-related asbestos contamination incident that was confirmed Thursday evening. We have brought in certified asbestos professionals to conduct an assessment and to assist in determining whether some areas may be reopened soon. The facility will remain closed through the weekend.

Updates on Cowell and Stevenson Commons

The Cowell and Stevenson Student Commons facility has been closed due to a construction-related asbestos contamination incident.

Construction-related asbestos contamination incident at Cowell and Stevenson Student Commons

As a precautionary measure, please be advised that the Cowell and Stevenson Student Commons facility has been closed while we evaluate the extent of a construction-related asbestos contamination incident that was confirmed Thursday evening. At this time, this includes all spaces in the building, including office areas, event spaces, meeting and classroom spaces, coffee shop, dining and catering spaces, and general community spaces. Following a more detailed assessment occurring today, some of these areas may be reopened.

On-campus dining options—March 22 through April 1

If you're staying in Santa Cruz during spring break, stay informed about on-campus dining options.

Teens who seek solitude may know what's best for them, research suggests

Teens who choose to spend time alone may know what's best for them, according to new research that suggests solitude isn't a red flag for isolation or

UC Santa Cruz showcases new music with 'April in Santa Cruz' festival

The UCSC Music Department will present the 'April in Santa Cruz Contemporary Music Festival'-- a month-long series of free concerts on campus featuring works by faculty and graduate

Study gives new perspective on production of blood cells and immune cells

Researchers tracked and quantified the production of different kinds of blood cells and immune cells to understand how the body maintains a balanced

Biologist Daniel Costa appointed director of the Institute of Marine Sciences

Daniel Costa, distinguished professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, has been appointed to serve as the next director of the Institute of Marine Sciences, beginning in July

Climate change and drought threaten small mountain streams in the Sierra Nevada

Aquatic life in small headwater streams is especially vulnerable to the effects of prolonged drought, according to a study of mid-elevation streams in the Sierra

Conclusion of strike activity

Today’s labor action by UPTE workers and their supporters has concluded.

Deforestation in Brazil could significantly increase local surface temperatures

New model quantifies how forests influence reflected sunlight and evapotranspiration, leading to changes in local surface temperature with

New study shows effects on offspring of epigenetic inheritance via sperm

In experiments with worms, researchers showed that epigenetic marks on sperm chromosomes affect gene expression and development in

Campus status updates

UC Santa Cruz is expecting a labor strike beginning at 4 a.m. today and ending at 3:59 a.m. on March 21. Stay informed.

The elephant seal in the room

Sixth-year ecology and evolutionary biology Ph.D. student Sarah Kienle wowed the judges at UC Santa Cruz’s annual Grad Slam, a competition that requires grad students to distill years

Staff Human Resources collecting feedback on performance

The survey can be completed in a few minutes, and the results will help SHR learn more about how it can most effectively serve our UC Santa Cruz client community.

Scientists review Sundance movies for Science magazine

PBSci Dean Paul Koch was among five scientists reviewing movies with science or technology themes at the 2019 Sundance Film

Campus services during Wednesday's strike

UC Santa Cruz and the other UC campuses will have several labor unions on strike, which is expected last from 4 a.m. Wednesday to 3:59 a.m. Thursday.

Paper check payroll information for March 20, 2019 - biweekly pay

In order to ensure that employees receiving paper checks can receive their pay on payday, paper checks will be delivered to campus mailstops no later than 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19.

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki and Google exec Dennis Troper share tips and tales

During a campus visit on Saturday, tech titan Susan Wojcicki urged college students to pursue careers of meaning and impact in fields that are growing—and to be flexible

In solidarity with our Muslim community

Our hearts go out to the Muslim community, and to those whose lives have been shattered — yet again — by a senseless act of violence, this time in New Zealand.

New anthology of essays about Chicana and Chicano art edited by arts professor Jennifer González

"Chicano and Chicana Art: A Critical Anthology" offers an overview of the history and theory of Chicano and Chicana art from the 1960s to the

New book by biochemist David Deamer explores the origins of life

'Assembling Life' proposes a novel theory, based on Deamer's research, of how life can begin on Earth and other

Sixth annual Climate Conference links science and justice

For the first time, the annual UC Santa Cruz Climate Conference will bring together prominent ocean scientists and leading social-justice advocates to discuss the environmental and equity dimensions

Information and resources about strike activities on March 20, 2019

There will be a labor strike beginning 4 a.m. on March 20, and ending at 3:59 a.m. on March 21 by UPTE research support professional (RX) and technical (TX) employees.

Title IX Office fully staffed with new assistant director, investigators

The office, led by Title IX Officer Isabel Dees, has six staff members, including, an assistant director, three full-time investigators, and a response team

Review of noise impacts on marine mammals yields new policy recommendations

After a comprehensive review of current knowledge, a panel of scientists has published new recommendations regarding marine mammal noise

Announcing new campus reflection space

Our campus will soon be opening a reflection space for prayer, meditation, and contemplative practices in Quarry Plaza.

Smile Train partners with UC Santa Cruz researchers on speech therapy game

Designed to support speech therapy for children after reconstructive surgery for cleft lip and cleft palate, SpokeIt uses game play to make speech therapy

Graduate student joins White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Marnie Riddle, a Ph.D. candidate in environmental studies, will spend one year in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as a John A. Knauss Marine

Leading the charge for change

Alumna Amita Kuttner, a current graduate student in the Physics Department, is running as a Green Party candidate for a seat in Canada’s House of Commons in order

UC Santa Cruz launches online 'Feminism and Social Justice' course with Bettina Aptheker

UC Santa Cruz has launched a new online course open to the public through the Coursera platform. Titled 'Feminism and Social Justice,' it is an adaptation of a

Return of the Slugs

Alumni Weekend 2019 is just around the corner. This year's festivities will take place from Friday, April 26, through Sunday, April 28. Highlights include a talk about "high-impact

Suspect arrested in laptop theft

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department would like to thank the campus community for its assistance locating a suspect in the Wednesday night theft of a backpack and laptop from McHenry Library.

Veteran teacher shows how achievement gaps in STEM classes can be eliminated

Professor Tracy Larrabee succeeded in closing the gap between underrepresented minority and first-generation college students and the rest of her

Federal funds invested in research infrastructure

UC Santa Cruz will invest nearly $6 million in its research tools this academic year, thanks to awards from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes for Health.

A high bar for giving

UC Santa Cruz’s fourth-annual Giving Day, an adrenaline-fueled online philanthropic festival, shattered records this year, with fundraisers kicking in more than $665,000, and a record-breaking 7,000 gifts for

Guillermo Gómez-Peña returns to UCSC to perform his latest solo work: "The Most (un) Documented Mexican Artist"

Internationally renowned artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña returns to UC Santa Cruz on March 5 to perform his latest solo work, "The Most (un) Documented Mexican Artist," at the Theater

UCSC to bring art/science LASER series downtown for special evening at Rio Theater

On Tuesday, March 12, the Institute of the Arts and Sciences at UC Santa Cruz will bring its local LASER—now in its sixth year of quarterly talks on

'Fusion' exhibit a collision of art, physics

Conceived by UC Santa Cruz physics lecturer Stephanie Bailey, the show features work created by 17 pairs of artists and physics graduate

Regents to vote on Student Housing West, Kresge College renewal

The Regents meet March 13–14 at UCLA. The agenda will soon be posted online, and the meeting will be streamed live.