Berkeleyan

News Briefs

23 January 2008

Underhill playing field opens this week

A celebration of the completion of the Underhill Parking Structure and Playing Field will take place Thursday, Jan. 24, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the College Avenue plaza of the new facility. The opening ceremony for the new playing field will include a ribbon-cutting, games, and a chance to try out the new field, which opens for use on Friday, Jan. 25.

This marks the completion of the Underhill Area Master Plan, which included construction of a new central dining facility; an office in which to consolidate operations of Residential and Student Service Programs; the demolition of two seismically poor dining commons; construction of apartments for graduate students; apartment-style housing for undergraduates; new residence halls with space for live-in faculty; stronger and renovated office, study, computer-lab, and meeting space at Units 1 and 2; and a new parking structure and playing field.

The field is available to all Berkeley students, faculty, and staff; visit www.recsports.berkeley.edu for details. For more information about parking at Underhill, visit pt.berkeley.edu.

IGS Library's online guide to state ballot initiatives

"Hot Topics: February 2008 Ballot Measures" - a website created by the Institute of Governmental Studies Library - offers comprehensive information on the seven initiatives on the Feb. 5 California ballot. The site includes historical background on each proposition, summarizes arguments for and against, and provides links to further analysis, endorsements, campaign committees, and financial data. It's online at igs.berkeley.edu/library/hot_topics/2008/introfeb2008.html.

'Focus the Nation': a day to ponder climate change

"Focus the Nation: Global Warming Solutions for America," is a daylong educational and interactive forum scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 31. It features faculty presentations, panel discussions with leaders from the policy and academic spheres, and student-led breakout sessions on various aspects of climate change and environmental sustainability. The symposium is part of a nationwide effort in which more than 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities will stage parallel events the same day.

Policymakers scheduled to speak on campus are former state Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, who authored AB 1493, a landmark bill to reduce tailpipe emissions, and current Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. Participating scholars include Dan Kammen, professor of energy and resources, public policy, and nuclear engineering; and Inez Fung, professor of atmospheric science. They co-direct the Berkeley Institute for the Environment, which is sponsoring the event with the California Climate Action Partnership (CalCAP).

"Focus the Nation" will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at International House. Many faculty members will include climate-related topics in their classroom discussions that day, and student groups are planning activities across campus to supplement the events at I-House. Supervisors are authorized to grant up to two hours of administrative leave so that staff can participate.

For the complete schedule, or to learn more about the forum, visit bie.berkeley.edu/ftn.