Berkeleyan
News Briefs
01 December 2004
Dec. 9 is last issue for 2004
The Dec. 9 Berkeleyan, which goes to press next Tuesday, is our last issue for 2004. Our first 2005 issue publishes Jan. 13.
In the interim, look for campus news at the online NewsCenter (newscenter.berkeley.edu). For last-minute submissions to the Dec. 9 issue, contact Berkeleyan Editor Jonathan King at jfk@pa.urel.berkeley.edu.
Last stop for campus charter service
After 17 years of shuttling riders to and from campus events and activities, UC Berkeley Charter Services has announced it will make its final run on Dec. 31, 2004. Closure of the for-profit service is due to budgetary problems, including reduced staffing, according to Parking and Transportation, which oversaw the program. Created in 1987 to provide transportation between the campus and UC Extension classes, the Charter Services unit had expanded over the years to include service to sporting and other university-related events, and to provide transportation for non-UC-affiliated customer groups. The closure affects some 1,300 groups on and off campus. For information, call the P&T office at 643-7700.
December grads’ Convocation set for Saturday, Dec. 11
Faculty are invited to participate in the Convocation ceremony for December graduates of the class of 2004, at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 11. Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown will be the keynote speaker.
Commencement Convocation is an opportunity for seniors of all majors to come together to celebrate their graduation. Next weekend, more than 1,000 students and their families are expected to attend the ceremony in Zellerbach Hall.
Faculty who would like to participate in the traditional academic procession should RSVP by Dec. 6; send e-mail to aes@dev.urel.berkeley.edu or call Anastasia Stamos of University Events and Ceremonies, 643-7799. Details are available in a Nov. 18 CalMail message from Chancellor Birgeneau, archived online at mossberg.berkeley.edu/CALmessages (select “View Archived Messages).
Nominations sought for 2005-06 Regents’ Professors and Lecturers
Schools, colleges, and departments are invited to nominate one candidate each for the University of California’s Regents’ Professorships and Lectureships Program. The systemwide program brings to UC campuses individuals whose careers in the arts, letters, sciences, or business have been distinguished substantially outside the academic profession. During their residencies (typically one semester for Regents’ Professors, two to three weeks for Regents’ Lecturers), these distinguished campus visitors offer occasional public lectures and are available for seminars, colloquia, and informal consultation with faculty and students. They may also participate in courses of instruction, teach or co-teach a course, and/or lecture or attend seminars on other UC campuses.
Send applications and supporting letters to the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Faculty Welfare, 200 California Hall #1500 (attention Cathy Romanski) by Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005. For detailed information and a nomination form, visit vpaafw.chance.berkeley.edu/regents_professor.html.
Students back UC role in national labs, survey says
A recent survey found that UC undergraduate students strongly support UC continued management of the Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories, the UC Board of Regents were told at their Nov. 18 meeting at UCLA. The figures come from the annual UC Undergraduate Experience Survey.
Of some 17,000 students who responded to a question regarding UC management of the laboratories, 73 percent said they favor continued UC management of the labs. The most frequent reason cited is that UC management of the laboratories allows for greater oversight than would management by a private contractor. More than 60 percent of respondents cited UC scientific expertise and national benefits from UC involvement. Of the 27 percent who said they oppose bidding for the lab-management contracts, most believe that the national-security mission of the laboratories, in particular its role in nuclear weapons, conflicts with UC’s research and public-service missions. Half of those opposed think management of the laboratories damages UC’s reputation.
The results parallel a similar survey of UC Senate faculty in May 2004, in which 67 percent favored competing for the laboratory management contracts, 21 percent were opposed, and 13 percent expressed no opinion.
Academic calendar approved for 2005-08
Following review of nearly 100 comments on the proposed 2005-08 academic calendar, the schedule has been finalized with one small change: the fall semester start day has been moved one day earlier, from Wednesday to Tuesday. The approved calendar is available online at opa.vcbf.berkeley.edu/AcademicCalendar/calendar.cfm.
For the record . . .
In the caption that accompanied a photo in the Nov. 18 page-one story on stem-cell research, we incorrectly identified the departmental affiliation of faculty member Randy Schekman. He is a professor in the Division of Cell and Developmental Biology of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology.