Education chief copes with shortfall in state aid : Home: The Buffalo News

Education chief copes with shortfall in state aid : Home: The Buffalo News:

"The state's education chief faced a dilemma Monday that dramatically illustrates the fiscal dangers that lie ahead for local public schools.

State Education Commissioner David M. Steiner called for a series of controversial reforms — including lifting a cap on charter schools — that are designed in large measure to enhance the state's chances of being awarded from $500 million to $700 million in highly competi tive federal grant money.

At the same time, both Steiner and school officials across the state were trying to figure out how to cope with a delay — and possible loss — of $582 million in state financial aid announced Sunday by Gov. David A. Paterson."

Center for Urban Education Marks 10-Year Anniversary - USC News

Center for Urban Education Marks 10-Year Anniversary - USC News:

"The USC Center for Urban Education celebrated a “Decade of Making a Difference” at the California African American Museum on Dec. 8. The gathering served as a holiday party and celebration of the center’s 10-year anniversary.

The event honored provost emeritus Lloyd Armstrong Jr. and professor Michael A. Diamond, former executive vice provost, for their contributions to the founding of the center, which was part of the university’s original Urban Initiative"

UC Davis News & Information :: Tears, Pride as Honorary Degrees Conferred

UC Davis News & Information :: Tears, Pride as Honorary Degrees Conferred: "Editor's note: Photos of the ceremony and recipients are available.

'Talk about Kleenex. My daddy getting his degree, it just makes you want to cry.'

Christine Pooley swelled with emotion after a University of California honorary degree was conferred on her late father, who had been forced from his studies at what is now UC Davis during World War II. 'This is like closure,' she said.

Pooley's father, Henry Satoru Marubashi, was one of 47 former Japanese American students honored amid the pomp and circumstance of a graduation ceremony at UC Davis on Dec. 12."

12.14.2009 - Reaction to the attack on University House

12.14.2009 - Reaction to the attack on University House

Reaction to the attack on University House

From Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger:

California will not tolerate any type of terrorism against any leaders including educators," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "The attack on Chancellor Birgeneau's home is a criminal act and those who participated will be prosecuted under the fullest extent of the law. Debate is the foundation of democracy and I encourage protestors to find peaceful and productive ways to express their opinions.

From University of California President Mark Yudof:

The attack on Chancellor Birgeneau's residence late last night was appalling. The behavior as described went far beyond the boundaries of public dissent, and such lawlessness cannot be tolerated. I have spoken with the Chancellor to express my support. The matter is now appropriately in the hands of law enforcement authorities.

From Robert M. Berdahl, president of the Association of American Universities (and former UC Berkeley chancellor):

The Association of American Universities strongly condemns the violent attack on the Chancellor’s home that took place at the University of California, Berkeley, on December 11.   This outrageous behavior has nothing to do with legitimate dissent.  These are criminal activities intended to intimidate and terrorize, not to protest, and law enforcement needs to treat them as such.

Our universities are havens for civil discourse and debate.  Dissent and protest are expected, even welcome, as signs of thriving democracy.  However, when dissent turns violent, it undermines the foundation of a university and the democratic values of our society.

Most of the nation’s colleges and universities are facing their worst financial challenges in decades, none more serious than those besetting the University of California.  There is plenty of room for reasoned debate over the difficult steps that institutions must take to respond to these challenges.  We call on all parties to the debate to insist on civility and the principles of rational discourse.

From the UC Berkeley faculty:

We, the undersigned members of the Berkeley faculty, unconditionally condemn the acts of violence committed against Chancellor Birgeneau and his family.

Adam Berman Executive Director Haas School of Business Ali Niknejad Associate Professor EECS Alice Agogino Professor Mechanical Engineering Ananya Roy Professor City and Regional Planning Ann Smock Professor French Anthony J. Cascardi Professor Director, Townsend Center for the Humanities Comparative Literature, Rhetoric, and Spanish Barbara Mellers Professor Haas School of Business Barrie Thorne Professor Sociology and Gender and Women's Studies Barry Staw Professor Haas School of Business Benjamin E. Hermalin Professor Economics Bjoern Hartmann Assistant Professor EECS Bob Hass Professor English Brian A. Barsky Professor EECS - Computer Science Bruce G. Baldwin Professor Integrative Biology Carlo H. Sequin Professor EECS - Computer Science Catherine Cole Professor Theater, Dance and Performance Studies Catherine Wolfram Associate Professor Haas School of Business Christine Parlour Associate Professor Haas School of Business Christine Rosen Associate Professor Haas School of Business Christopher Kutz Professor Law - Jurisprudence and Social Policy Claire Tomlin Professor EECS Colleen Lye Associate Professor English Costas J. Spanos Professor EECS Cyrus Wadia Professor Haas School of Business Daniel F. Melia Associate Professor Rhetoric/Scandinavian David Aaker Professor Haas School of Business David Ackerly Associate Professor Integrative Biology David B. Wake Professor Integrative Biology David Winickoff Assistant Professor ESPM Déborah A. Blocker Associate Professor French Duncan Williams Associate Professor East Asian Languages and Cultures Edwin R. Lewis Professor emeritus EECS

Elad Alon Assistant Professor EECS Ellen L. Simms Professor Integrative Biology Fiona M. Doyle Professor Materials Science and Engineering Ganesh Iyer Professor Haas School of Business Ian Duncan Professor English Ion Stoica Associate Professor EECS Isha Ray Assistant Professor Energy and Resources Group Ivan Kamimnow Professor EECS James O'Brien Associate Professor EECS Jeff Romm Professor ESPM/ARE Jeffrey Boore Associate Professor Integrative Biology Jennifer Chatman Professor Haas School of Business Jere H. Lipps Professor Integrative Biology Jitendra Malik Professor EECS Johan Walden Assistant Professor Haas School of Business John Efron Professor History John Harte Professor Energy and Resources Group Jonathan Leonard Professor Haas School of Business Karl Ashoka Britto Associate Professor French & Comparative Literature Katherine Snyder Associate Professor English Kevin Padian Professor Integrative Biology Kevis Goodman Associate Professor English Kris Pister Professor EECS Laura Kray Associate Professor Haas School of Business Laura Tyson Professor Haas School of Business Leo Goodman Professor Sociology Dept. and Statistics Dept. Louise Fortmann Professor ESPM Maria Nondorf Assistant Professor Haas School of Business Mark Goble Associate Professor English Matthew D. Potts Assistant Professor ESPM Maximilian Auffhammer Associate Professor Agricultural and Resource Economics/IAS Meg Conkey Professor Anthropology

Meghan Busse Assistant Professor Haas School of Business Michael Iarocci Associate Professor Spanish and Portuguese Nelson Maldonado-Torres Associate Professor Ethnic Studies Pablo Spiller Professor Haas School of Business Patrick Kirch Professor Integrative Biology and Anthropology Paul Licht Professor & Director Univ. California Botanical Garden Pradeep Chhibber Professor Political Science Randy Katz Professor EECS Richard B. Norgaard Professor Energy and Resources Group Richard Cándida Smith Professor History Richard Gilbert Professor Economics Richard Lyons Professor Haas School of Business Robert Rhew Associate Professor Geography Ronald C. Cohen Professor Chemistry/Earth and Palnetary Science Ronald Fearing Professor EECS Rosemary A. Joyce Professor Anthropology Rudolf Schmid Associate Professor Integrative Biology Rui de Figueiredo Associate Professor Haas School of Business and Department of Political Science Santiago Oliveros Assistant Professor Haas School of Business Scott Shenker Professor EECS Sebastian Teunissen Adjunct Professor Haas School of Business Severin Borenstein Professor Haas School of Business Shannon Steen Associate Professor Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies Steven Tadelis Associate Professor Haas School of Business susan maslan Associate Professor French Susan Schweik Professor English Tony Long Professor Classics Tyrone B. Hayes Professor Integrative Biology Vinod K. Aggarwal Professor Political Science Wasim Azhar Lecturer Haas School of Business Wayne Getz Professor ESPM Zsolt Katona Assistant Professor Haas School of Business

UC vandalism complicates protests - San Jose Mercury News

UC vandalism complicates protests - San Jose Mercury News:

"Weekend vandalism at the UC Berkeley chancellor's home has complicated a philosophical battle over the best way to protest student-fee hikes and budget cuts.

UC police arrested eight people Friday night after demonstrators broke windows and other property at the campus home of Chancellor Robert Birgeneau while he and his wife were inside. At least six of those people are expected to be charged with multiple felonies for what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called 'terrorism.'"

Faux reform - Political games snarl education effort - LA Daily News

Faux reform - Political games snarl education effort - LA Daily News:

"LAST week the state Assembly failed California's schoolchildren yet again by allowing special-interest politics to stall important reform. This week, the legislature has the chance to redeem itself and revive a sidelined bill that allows the state to apply for $700 million in federal Race to the Top funds.

More important than the money, however, is that the legislation would give education reform in California the single-biggest boost in modern history.

Last week the 17-member Assembly education committee reviewed two bills intended to qualify the state for the Obama administration's $4.35 billion Race to the Top program - the largest pool of money ever created for education reform."

CTA shows who’s boss / Hijacking of school reform effort typical of Sacramento - SignOnSanDiego Newsletter - SignOnSanDiego.com

CTA shows who’s boss / Hijacking of school reform effort typical of Sacramento - SignOnSanDiego Newsletter - SignOnSanDiego.com:

"In 2002 and 2003, published reports detailed how a Beverly Hills law firm had filed thousands of lawsuits against small businesses often run by minorities with poor language skills. The suits alleged violations of obscure state regulations. Given the option of settling the suits for thousands of dollars, many business owners made the payoffs rather than risk going to court. Then-Attorney General Bill Lockyer and others likened the practice to extortion and pushed for reform legislation.

But in a testament to trial lawyers’ clout in Sacramento, “reform” legislation advanced that actually would have made it easier to pursue shakedown lawsuits. It took a 2004 ballot initiative to limit the ripoffs."

Soldier Can’t Recall His Course Lessons at For-Profit College - Bloomberg.com

Soldier Can’t Recall His Course Lessons at For-Profit College - Bloomberg.com:

"Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Marine Corps Corporal James Long knows he’s enrolled at Ashford University, one of at least a dozen for-profit colleges making money off active-duty military with subsidies from American taxpayers. He just can’t remember what course he’s taking.

The 22-year-old from Dalton, Georgia, suffered a brain injury that impaired his ability to concentrate when artillery shells hit his Humvee in Iraq in 2006, he said. Long signed up for the online college, a unit of Bridgepoint Education Inc., after its recruiter gave a sales pitch this year at a barracks for wounded Marines at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Under base rules, the barracks are off-limits to college recruiters, said Robert Songer, director of lifelong learning at Lejeune."