Berkeleyan

News Briefs

23 February 2005

March 4 memorials for economist Gerard Debreu, political scientist Martin Landau

The campus will hold a memorial service on Friday, March 4, to honor Gerard Debreu, emeritus professor of economics and mathematics, who died Dec. 27; it takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Toll Room, Alumni House. Chancellor Birgeneau and Nobel Laureates George Akerlof, Kenneth Arrow, and Daniel McFadden will pay tribute to Debreu and to his impact on the fields of economics and mathematics and on the Berkeley campus.

That same afternoon, a memorial service for Professor Emeritus of Political Science Martin Landau, who died Dec. 27, will be held in the Seaborg Room of the Faculty Club. Co-hosted by the political science department and the Institute of Governmental Studies, the service begins at 3 p.m.

March 3 memorial for campus staffer Mike Francisco

A memorial for Michael E. Francisco, a 35-year employee most recently on the staff of the Disabled Students' Program, will be held Thursday, March 3, in the Tilden Room of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Student Union, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

An obituary will appear in the Berkeleyan soon.

Berkeley professor advances to second round of Jeopardy tourney

Dan Melia, professor of rhetoric and Celtic studies, will advance to the second round of 54 in Jeopardy's Ultimate Tournament of Champions (see coverage in our Feb. 17 issue) after a stunning win on Friday, Feb. 18. Melia, who did poorly in the first half of the game (he blames "adrenaline-management issues" ), rallied during Double Jeopardy to accumulate $17,000, which he increased to $19,601 by triumphing in Final Jeopardy. Taping for round two is scheduled for the end of March.

UC advocates converge on Sacramento

More than 300 UC alumni and friends, including several dozen representatives from the Berkeley campus, converged in Sacramento Feb. 15 for the annual UC Day. Organized by the Alumni Associations of the University of California (AAUC), the event drew advocates from UC's 10 campuses, who scheduled meetings with more than 80 legislators to stress the University's many contributions to the state.

"We thanked legislators for their support for the University, and urged them to support the compact [with the Governor] in this year's state budget," says Michelle Moskowitz, associate director of the Office of Public Affairs' Government Affairs unit. "We also asked that $17.5 million in funding for UC's academic-preparation programs be fully restored."

Berkeley participants included alum Terry Calarco, director of biopharmaceutical research operations at Chiron; alum Sheilaugh Andujar, principal of Oakland Technical High School, and Tammeil Gilkerson of the Greenlining Institute, among others.

At a dinner for invited state lawmakers and officials, AAUC presented UC Regent Joanne Corday Kozberg, a Cal alumna, with its Advocate of the Year award and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) with its Legislator of the Year award.

Register now for CPR Saturday

Although the Berkeley campus will not be a site for CPR Saturday this year, the free class will take place at 12 Bay Area locations (including Oakland, Livermore, Concord, and San Pablo) on Saturday, March 12. Registered participants will learn adult CPR, care for choking victims, rescue breathing, and how to prepare better for disasters. The training will be offered in English, Spanish and Cantonese; pre-registration is required. To register, see www.bayarea-redcross.org or call the American Red Cross Bay Area at (888) 686-3600.

Benefit gospel concert for African American students

The Black Staff and Faculty Organization is hosting a gospel musical on Saturday, March 5, to benefit African American scholars at Berkeley. The concert will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the St. Peter's CME Church in El Cerrito. Performers include the Abundant Life Ministries choir, Brookins AME Church choir, Holy Boldness Praise Dance Ministry, St. John MBC Male Chorus, and the St. Peter's CME choir.

Donations will be accepted to benefit the George Scotlan Scholarship Fund, which recognizes undergraduate African American students who have demonstrated academic excellence. The church is located at 5324 Cypress Ave., one block off Potrero Ave. in El Cerrito. For information, call 642-4086 or 643-8281.

Nobelist to present Hitchcock Lectures on March 2 and 3

Nobelist Amartya Sen, a professor of economics at Harvard University and one of the world's most influential social scientists, will deliver two lectures next week as part of the Hitchcock Lecture series. Sen will speak Wednesday, March 2, on "The Violence of Illusion" and the following day on "Making Sense of Identity." Both lectures start at 4:10 p.m. in International House Auditorium.

The Indian-born economist is renowned worldwide for theoretical and empirical research on economics and philosophy. "From his early, brilliant essays on rationality to his recent meditation on human rights, his work is invariably original and provocative," says John Lie, dean of International and Area Studies. "In our troubled times, his is an indispensable and humane voice of reason."

The Hitchcock Lectures are presented by the campus's Graduate Council. For information, see www.grad.berkeley.edu/lectures.