May 16, 2009

UC MERCED'S FOURTH
UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT

...See full story

April 30, 2009

UC Merced’s Sigma Xi honors local math, science educators

The University of California, Merced, Chapter of Sigma Xi, recently recognized outstanding teachers who contribute to math and science instruction at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
With help from local educational agencies, such as the Merced County Office of Education, Sigma Xi, a scientific research society, honored four county teachers.

April 22, 2009

Blue Ribbon Commission Releases Intercollegiate Athletics Report

Proposal provides guidelines for creation of competitive sports program at UC Merced

MERCED – The University of California, Merced, now has a strategic plan to guide the future of its athletics program. The Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, which was convened in July, released its report today, April 22.

Chancellor Sung-Mo "Steve" Kang and Cobi Jones

March 9, 2009

Virtual Heritage: Reconstructing the Past
UC Merced Professor to Discuss Importance of Preserving Heritage in Public Forum

MODESTO - Preserving the past for the future is no easy task. For every monument and landmark that has stood for centuries, thousands have been lost to the elements, war, neglect and natural disaster. But there is a growing group of scholars committed to ensuring the past is never forgotten.

Maurizio Forte, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/faculty/facultybio.asp?facultyid=97> a virtual archaeologist at UC Merced, is one such scholar. A professor of world heritage, Forte uses digital technology and archaeology to reconstruct the past.

Forte will discuss his research - and his efforts to preserve the past around the globe -next week in a public lecture at the Modesto Convention Center's Stanislaus River Room. Scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, "World Heritage: A Bridge Between Past and Future" will cover how digital technology can help preserve the past now for those in the future.

Forte's talk will open the 43rd annual meeting of the Society for California Archaeology (SCA). Forte's appearance at the only public portion of the professional meeting was arranged by Kathleen Hull, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/faculty/facultybio.asp?facultyid=74> program chairwoman for the 2009 SCA Annual Meeting, who is also on the faculty at UC Merced.

"While focusing on the global crisis in heritage preservation, Professor Forte's work also highlights the exciting new technologies that can be used to preserve and inform the public about California's unique archaeological record," Hull said.

World heritage is an emerging interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary area that includes architecture, history, archaeology, art history, geography, anthropology, management, law, environmental sciences and other disciplines.

Forte and his team of researchers employ traditional and contemporary archaeological methods to collect data. In the field, his team uses laser scanning, photo modeling, digital photogrammetry, global positioning and even visual observation to recreate the shell of a landscape. From there, computer technology is used to create objects, models, monuments, landscapes, avatars and simulations that allow users to navigate and interact with the scenery within the virtual world.

"The bridge between global and virtual heritage is constituted by the information process: We communicate what we perceive and learn," Forte said. "Virtual heritage allows people to experience the ancient landscape up close. They can see texture and explore freely."

January 26, 2009

UC MERCED SAYS STUDENT APPLICATIONS REMAIN STEADY FOR FALL 2009

MERCED - The University of California, Merced said today (Jan. 23) applications from first-time students to the newest UC campus once again surpassed the 10,000 mark in fall 2009, despite the state's deepening economic difficulties and the UC system's recent decision to enroll 2,300 fewer freshmen systemwide in 2009 than in 2008.

UC Merced's incoming freshman class is expected to total approximately 1,080 this fall, the largest in the university's five-year history. Expansion of the Merced campus will continue at a modest rate consistent with available resources. Last year's freshman enrollment was 925.

UC Merced is one of only two UC campuses with a projected freshman increase this fall. The other, UC Berkeley, is expected to add a small increase in freshman students.

Overall, UC Merced expects to enroll approximately 3,200 students this fall, an increase of 15 percent over the 2,718 enrolled in Fall 2008. The increase in students will include new incoming freshmen, transfer students and graduate students, minus this academic year's graduates and students who do not return to school. Approximately 450 students are expected to finish their studies at UC Merced this academic year.

"We are extremely pleased that our applications and the quality of our applicant pool remain strong, despite the well-documented budget difficulties we face throughout California," said UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang. "In the long run, the best hope for sustained economic growth and prosperity in the state is a highly educated populace. We are deeply committed to our fundamental mission of increasing UC-quality educational opportunity for the young people of the San Joaquin Valley and throughout the state."

Kang said construction of campus facilities also remains on track to accommodate the larger student population. On-campus student housing for all incoming students is guaranteed for those who apply by the deadline, he said.

Total student applications to UC Merced, including freshmen and transfer students, amounted to a record 10,296 (as of Jan. 23) for fall 2009 admission, compared with 10,216 in 2008. Freshman applications totaled 9,065, down slightly from 9,105 in 2008, while transfer applications rose to 1,231 versus 1,111 the prior year.

UC Merced's application results generally parallel those of the system as a whole, which experienced a slower pace of overall growth than in the prior year. Freshman applications were essentially flat, reflecting the statewide economic slowdown.

"We are doing everything we can to assist our current and new students financially and help them attend and stay in school," said Kevin Browne, UC Merced assistant vice chancellor for enrollment. "More than half of our applicants are from low-income families. It takes real sacrifice and courage to send a family member away to college when he or she could be helping to support the family at home."

Approximately 53.5 percent of UC Merced's freshman applicants come from families that meet the state's definition of low-income family, Browne said. A similar number (53.3 percent) are first-generation college students. Both percentages are the highest for any campus in the UC system.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR FALL 2009 UNDERGRADUATE APPLICANTS

. Through March 2 -- Financial aid priority application filing period for students to submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a GPA Verification Form for Cal Grants. UC Merced's FAFSA School Code is 041271
. Feb. 15 -- Application deadline for graduate student admission
. March 1-31 -- On-time freshman applicants notified of admission decision
. March 1-May 1 -- On-time transfer applicants notified of admission decision
. April 18 - Bobcat Day; campus open house for prospective students and their families
. May 1 -- Deadline for freshman admits to submit Statement of Intent to Register
. June 1 -- Deadline for transfer admits to submit Statement of Intent to Register

For more information about UC Merced visit http://www.ucmerced.edu/

Fall 2009-10 application data for the University of California's nine undergraduate campuses are available at the following site: http://www.ucop.edu/news/studstaff.html

December 5, 2008

UC Merced Library Unveils Holocaust Exhibit
Student-curated exhibit focuses on genocide, features rare artifacts
from Merced-area collection and Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance

MERCED - Wednesday, Dec. 10, is Human Rights Day. It's also the day UC Merced will open its first-ever exhibit on the Jewish Holocaust. Named "The Holocaust: Genocide in History," the exhibit has been curated by three students enrolled in an applied research class at UC Merced.

Amanda Oesterreich, Paolo Diaz and John Lara are all juniors who are majoring in history. The class they are taking together, History 190, is a requirement of all majors.

But their chosen project is anything but typical, professor Gregg Herken said.

"These students elected to feature a painful and controversial topic: the systematic effort by Nazi Germany to exterminate the Jews of Europe during World War II. That would be a challenging task for any curator, and it's proven to be a valuable learning experience for these students."

One of the challenges, Herken said, is in controlling the message sent by the exhibit. The students' goal was to use the Holocaust as a 20th-century example of genocide, which continues today. Herken's goal, as a former Smithsonian curator, was to see a fair and accurate depiction of a controversial topic in contemporary history.

"When creating an exhibit on such a sensitive topic, you have to be aware of what you're communicating to those who view it," Herken said. "You want to be accurate but not sensational."



Artifacts for the exhibit - such as death camp guard and prisoner uniforms - have been loaned to the university by Michael Akers of Atwater, who has been instrumental in helping the library and students create the exhibit. The Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance has also loaned items from its permanent collection to round out the university's exhibit.



There will be a brief reception to open the exhibit at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, on the third floor of the Leo & Dottie Kolligian Library, which is also where the exhibit will be on display until February. The exhibit is free and open to the public during the library's normal business hours. For information: Herken, (209) 228-4362 or Emily Lin, (209) 658-7146.

November 24, 2008

How Fast Can Plants Absorb Our Carbon Emissions?
UC Merced Professor Develops New Photosynthesis Measurement Method
Results published in Science expected to significantly improve accuracy of climate change forecasting

MERCED – We count on vegetation to absorb a large portion of the carbon dioxide emitted from the burning of fossil fuels, helping mitigate climate change through photosynthesis. But what happens if the temperature warms enough to change that process? Heat, drought or a shift from snowfall to rainfall caused by climate warming may affect the amount of CO2 absorbed through photosynthesis by vegetation, but how much?

“Our inability to accurately measure and forecast photosynthesis has been responsible for a big part of the uncertainty in our climate change forecasting so far,” said Professor Elliott Campbell of the University of California, Merced.

A new study by Campbell and several colleagues in today’s issue of the journal Science outlines a method for measuring photosynthesis by quantifying the relationship between CO2 and another form of carbon, carbonyl sulfide, or COS, in the atmosphere. His results – obtained in collaboration with fifteen other scientists from around the United States and other countries – will allow accurate information about photosynthesis to be incorporated into major climate models, helping make climate change forecasts much more reliable.

“Professor Campbell’s discovery represents a workable way to measure photosynthesis and a major contribution to climate change science,” said Dean Jeff Wright of the UC Merced School of Engineering. “The publication of his new paper in Science is a great accomplishment for him and his colleagues worldwide, and a source of pride for our campus.”

Campbell found himself spotlighted in media outlets nationwide last year upon the announcement of his research finding that we could meet up to 8 percent of our energy needs by using sustainably produced biofuels – fuels made from crops grown on abandoned farmland, for example.

His new work may have an even bigger impact.

COS is used by plants, in a process parallel to photosynthesis, at about the same rate CO2 is used in photosynthesis. Using COS to measure photosynthesis is more straightforward than using CO2, because while plants do absorb CO2, they also emit it.

The Science study places observed data on North American atmospheric COS and CO2, as well as information gleaned from laboratory experiments, into a 3-D computer model, showing that plants draw COS down from the atmosphere and providing evidence that the relationship between COS and CO2 measurements indicate the rate of photosynthesis.

Campbell said the method he and his colleagues have devised may now be used to analyze large atmospheric carbon datasets assembled by the North American Carbon Program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA. Resulting information can be used to refine or even correct the models we now rely on to predict what will happen to our climate in the future.

UC Merced is rapidly establishing itself as a center for climate change research. The Sierra Nevada Research Institute, an interdisciplinary research organization on campus focusing on resource-related research in the Sierra Nevada and the neighboring Central Valley of California, houses major projects investigating precipitation, water supplies, species habitats and more issues hinging on what happens in Earth’s warming climate. The UC Merced Energy Research Institute emphasizes research aiming at energy-related approaches to mitigating climate change – solar energy, biofuels, and other sustainable solutions. Campbell is a participating faculty member in both institutes.

The research for this paper was conducted before Campbell arrived at UC Merced earlier this year.

The Science abstract for Campbell’s paper can be found online at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/322/5904/1085. Subscribers to the journal can read the entire text online.

November 24, 2008

Paramount Farms Gift to Help UC Merced Nurture Minds
$250,000 endowment supports students from Kern, Kings, Tulare and Fresno Counties

MERCED, CA – Prompted by its commitment to improving educational opportunities for Central Valley students, Paramount Farms donated $250,000 to an endowed scholarship fund at the University of California, Merced. The endowment will provide low-income students from Kern, Kings, Tulare and Fresno Counties with the opportunity to achieve their education goals at UC Merced.
“Our friends at Paramount Farms understand that higher education is a student’s direct path to potential in their careers and their lives,” said John Garamendi Jr., vice chancellor for University Relations. “An investment in their education is one which will provide dividends not only for the students, but also for their families and the community.”
Paramount Farms and its owners Lynda and Stewart Resnick have been longtime supporters of UC Merced. The Resnicks and Paramount Farms have supported UC Merced since its founding, helping the young campus get off of the ground.
“As a graduate of the University of California system and as a Central Valley business owner, I am proud to support the youngest of the UC campuses,” Stewart Resnick said. “A UC Merced education can open doors otherwise unavailable to hard-working high school graduates and we are happy to do what we can to bring a college education within reach for students from the Central Valley.”
Paramount Farms, the largest farmer of tree crops in the world, grows and processes almonds, lemons, oranges and pistachios. Paramount Farms is headquartered in Los Angeles, with operations throughout Central California. The Resnicks also own FIJI Water, Teleflora, Paramount Citrus and POM Wonderful.
Resnick’s first gift of $200,000 in 2003, aided members of UC Merced’s first freshman class to afford the costs associated with college. Since that first gift, about 200 UC Merced students received scholarships thanks to the Resnicks and Paramount Farms’ generosity. Additionally, the Resnicks and Paramount Farms have donated to help fund the expansion of the UC Scholars Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) to the Delano region.
“I thank Paramount Farms for helping me see the UC system as an option,” said scholarship recipient Jesus Medina, a freshman from Wasco. “The UC Scholars program showed me the opportunities available, but scholarships are what allowed me to come here to UC Merced.”
The first nine scholarships from the Paramount Farms Endowed Scholarship Fund were awarded this fall, allowing students to focus more on their studies and less on their finances.

November 12, 2008

UC Merced Professor Henry Forman Appointed to San Joaquin Valley Air District

MERCED - UC Merced Professor Henry Forman <http://www.ucmerced.edu/faculty/facultybio.asp?facultyid=6> has been appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, the board that oversees air quality in the eight-county region.

Forman, a founding faculty member and professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the School of Natural Sciences <http://naturalsciences.ucmerced.edu/> , fills a vital new position on the board mandated by state legislation last year. Senate Bill 719 added four new positions to the 11-member board, including a scientist and doctor. Forman becomes the first scientist to be appointed to the board, which was previously comprised entirely of elected officials.

Forman is internationally known for an extensive body of research and publication on the ways the lungs react to and protect themselves from disease, including asthma, cystic fibrosis and damage from air pollutants. His expertise is especially relevant in the San Joaquin Valley, a region plagued by chronic lung disease stemming from poor air quality.

In an editorial published shortly after Forman's appointment was announced by the governor's office, the Fresno Bee lauded the selection as "an excellent choice," addressing a widely perceived need to bring "a more rigorous and skeptical approach to the board's work." The Bee also noted that both environmental groups and agricultural leaders, often at odds over policy issues, applauded Forman's selection.

"Professor Forman brings more than 25 years of research experience and a critical scientific perspective to the deliberative work of this important body," said Chancellor Steve Kang. "I would like to congratulate him on his appointment and thank him for the contribution he will undoubtedly make to the people of the San Joaquin Valley and their quality of life."

Before joining the faculty of UC Merced in 2003, Forman was a professor and chair of the department of environmental health sciences at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Previously he had held faculty appointments at the University of Southern California and the University of Pennsylvania in the fields of molecular pharmacology, toxicology, pediatrics, pathology and physiology.

Forman currently serves as associate editor of Free Radical Biology & Medicine, as treasurer of the International Society for Free Radical Research, and as co-director of the Lead Campus Program in Atmospheric Aerosols and Health of the University of California Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Program. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Queen's College (NY) and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Columbia University.

November 12, 2008

UC Merced Releases Updated Plans for Physical Layout, Character, Sustainability Goals, Environmental Impacts of Full Development
Changes reflect 2007 decision to reshape campus and university community, reduce wetland impacts and create sustainable model for Valley's growth

MERCED - The University of California, Merced released two major planning documents that provide the most detailed preview to date of the proposed layout, character and sustainability objectives for the campus, as well as environmental impacts of its fully developed campus and associated university community.

The publication of the 2009 Draft Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) and a corresponding Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) is the latest step in the process of developing a model 21st century campus and securing regulatory authorization for construction of the campus and university community, a contiguous development of housing and commercial services supporting the campus.

Both documents are updates of earlier reports, necessitated by the university's decision, announced in October 2007 <http://www.ucmerced.edu/news_articles/10052007_uc_merced_modifies_plans.asp> , to modify the size and configuration of its planned development to reduce impacts on vernal pool wetlands, achieve greater land-use efficiency and accommodate future needs of the planned 25,000-student campus.

"We are extremely pleased to provide this fresh and more comprehensive look at the type of campus and community we intend to build over the next 20 to 30 years," said Steve Kang, UC Merced chancellor. "The thoughtfully revised layout makes excellent use of space and natural features of the campus topography while reducing impacts on wetlands by about one-third, compared with the previous plan. We believe it will create a rich, attractive, highly interactive learning environment for our students and a welcoming atmosphere for all who visit."

Kang said the new plans also reinforce UC Merced's stated objective of setting new standards for environmental stewardship and sustainability.

"UC Merced has already earned recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council and the American Institute of Architects for the design and construction of facilities that make wise and efficient use of water, energy, light, building materials and other resources. The progressive planning framework, policies and processes reflected in these documents will accelerate that trend during the remaining phases of development."

LRDP presents form, character, quality of planned campus at full development

The 2009 Draft Campus LRDP revises the footprint and expands upon the sustainable planning principles of the original LRDP published in 2002, three years before the campus officially opened. The revisions incorporate the input of students, faculty, staff, community members and local elected officials solicited through an extensive series of planning workshops held over the past academic year.

The plan addresses not only the form and character of future development but also establishes ambitious new objectives for sustainability and environmental stewardship. The university believes the plan can serve as a model of sustainable, higher-density development for the region, with its projected rapid population growth and environmental challenges.

The draft LRDP describes a campus built around a 200-acre "academic core" that includes classrooms, laboratories, administration, research and development and related activities. The core will be developed in four parts - the Gateway District (the primary campus entrance and "public face" of the campus), the North Campus (the current campus, which will be largely complete by 2012), the Central West Campus (phase 2) and the Central East Campus (phases 3 and 4).

Embracing the academic core to the north, northwest and northeast will be four student neighborhoods built on 225 acres. These areas are commonly served by a major open space and recreation area formed by the North and South Bowls. Each neighborhood will house about 2,000 to 3,000 students and will be served by a defined central open space flanked by dining, recreation and other student services and support.

Two other neighborhoods will be housed along north-south Main Streets connecting through the academic core to the adjacent town center of the community. These will be linear mixed-use districts with housing above student services, dining, recreation and other street-activating uses. Housing options will include traditional residence halls and apartments in various density configurations. The goal is to accommodate approximately half of the UC Merced student population on campus.

The balance of the 815-acre campus complex will be allocated to athletics and recreation, passive and active open space, campus services and parking.

The entire campus will be interconnected through a series of broad sidewalks, bike paths, limited-access streets and transit options for convenience and ease of navigation. The layout will make it possible to walk from the academic core to most other locations on campus within 10 minutes. Streets will be lined with trees for shade and aesthetic and environmental value.

"One of the most intriguing aspects of the plan is how its physical form and pattern of development distinguishes itself from traditional campus models," said Thomas E. Lollini, FAIA, associate vice chancellor for design and construction. "While located next to an expansive natural landscape, its form and density are urban in character, with interior park spaces formed by the natural topography and linked by canals meandering through the grid to create variety and interest."

Lollini said planned densities for the future campus and community are considerably higher than typical in the Central Valley, allowing for a more accessible campus by foot or bicycle, minimizing environmental impacts and modeling future growth in a region projected to see its population increase very rapidly, while also conserving its rich agricultural resources.

The revised LRDP also sets new standards for sustainability and environmental stewardship by raising the bar on UC Merced's previously stated goal of achieving LEED Silver certification for all buildings on campus. (LEED, or "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design," is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council that rates structures on various aspects of environmental performance.)

"By early next year we will have achieved LEED Gold ratings on six of our first nine projects," said Lollini. "This accomplishment has led us to set our sights on a minimum of LEED Gold for future projects."

No other university in the country has established an equivalent goal, Lollini said.

In addition, the LRDP adds a new "triple-net-zero" goal for the university: to consume no offsite or nonrenewable energy, to produce no net carbon emissions, and to produce no landfill waste by 2020. The campus also commits itself to minimizing water consumption and exploring the feasibility of achieving water neutrality.

The LRDP may be found at http://lrdp.ucmerced.edu <http://lrdp.ucmerced.edu/> .

EIS/EIR addresses wetlands impacts, mitigation measures

The Draft EIS/EIR examines the environmental effects of full development and notes the reduced impacts the revised footprint will have on seasonal wetlands found within the 815-acre campus and the northern and southern portions of the proposed university community. It specifies that roughly 85 acres of wetlands will be affected by the combined development, compared with approximately 121 acres in the previous plan.

The improvements are the result of the university's decision, announced in 2007, to reduce the size of its fully developed campus, from an originally proposed 910 acres to 815 acres, and of the university community, from 2,115 to 1,951 acres. The revised layout also reduces wetlands impacts by repositioning portions of the future campus and university community further south and east of their originally planned locations. The footprint shift is completely accumulated within the holdings of the University Community Land Company, LLC (UCLC).

The university said it developed the revised footprint last year following consultations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which have jurisdiction over wetlands development under the U.S. Clean Water Act, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game. The County of Merced, the City of Merced, agricultural representatives and environmental groups, including the California Endangered Species and Habitat Alliance, were also key contributors to the process.

Development of the 85 acres of wetlands will be fully offset by mitigation measures to ensure "no net loss" of wetlands values and functions, as required under the Clean Water Act. Approximately 2,318 acres of in-kind wetland habitat will be set aside for permanent preservation, a ratio of 30 acres preserved for every acre of wetlands developed. In addition, the university in cooperation with the state has set aside 26,000 acres of grasslands for permanent conservation.

USACE must issue development permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act before the next phase of campus construction can begin. In March 2008, the university and the UCLC jointly submitted a permit application for full development of the campus and the northern portion of the university community, based on the revised footprint. UCLC, a not-for-profit organization composed of the University of California and the Virginia Smith Trust, owns the land to be developed into the northern portion of the university community.

The northern portion of the university community, totaling 833 acres directly south of the campus, is included in the current Section 404 permit application for the campus. The southern portion of the university community, consisting of 1,118 acres directly south of the northern portion, is privately owned and is not part of the current application. UC Merced and UCLC are working cooperatively with the owners of the southern portion of the community to ensure coordinated and compatible development consistent with Merced County's University Community Plan (UCP), which will need to be revised.

Though separate from the campus' planning process, the revised UCP will require an amendment to Merced County's General Plan. The university has proactively engaged the County to ensure that the revisions to the UCP comply with the principles prescribed by the Merced County Board of Supervisors in 2004 when they approved the original UCP. Furthermore, the County will prepare a separate EIR for the revised UCP that is scheduled to be released for public comment next year.

The Draft EIS/EIR may be found at http://lrdp.ucmerced.edu/.

Public comment on the Draft EIS/EIR is an integral part of the permitting process. The comment period starts today and will run through January 7, 2009. USACE and UC Merced will host a joint public hearing December 2, 2008 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the California Room on the UC Merced campus at 5200 North Lake Road. The general public is invited to attend.

Members of the public will have several methods at the meeting by which they can present their views: through interaction with experts, by recording their comments with a court reporter or by submitting their comments in writing. They can also address comments to: UCMerced@usace.army.mil.

For more information about the University of California, Merced visit:
www.ucmerced.edu .

To view new artistic renderings of future campus development click here
http://lrdp.ucmerced.edu/2.asp?uc=1&lvl2=29&lvl3=29&lvl4=30&contentid=31

November 9, 2008

ACCIDENT IN RESEARCH LABORATORY REPORTED AT UC MERCED
One graduate student injured; section of building evacuated and closed temporarily

MERCED - A minor chemical explosion occurred in a research laboratory in the Science & Engineering building on the UC Merced campus at about 2:45 p.m. today (Nov. 8). The building was immediately evacuated and temporarily closed. One portion of the building will remain closed until at least tomorrow. Classrooms in the building were not affected.

Eric Joseph, a UC Merced graduate student, was taken immediately by ground transport to the Fresno Regional burn unit. His age and city of residence are unknown at this time. The victim received cuts to his hands and face from an exploding beaker that contained nitric acid and butanol, as well as burns to his forearms and face. No other people were in the laboratory at the time of the explosion. No other injuries have been reported.

The UC Merced Police Department responded immediately to the call. In addition, Merced city and county fire crews, a HazMat squad and a rescue crew were dispatched to the scene per protocol.

Butanol is an alcohol with low toxicity in single-dose experiments and is considered safe enough for use in cosmetics. It is used as a solvent for a wide variety of chemical and textile processes, in organic synthesis and as a chemical intermediate. Nitric acid (H <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen> NO3) is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid that can cause severe burns.

Classes in the Science & Engineering building will resume as scheduled Monday, Nov. 10.

October 27, 2008

UC Merced Awards Spendlove Prize to Childhelp Founders

Nobel Peace Prize Nominees Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson have dedicated their lives to helping children in need

MERCED - The University of California, Merced <http://www.ucmerced.edu/> , has awarded this year's Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance to Childhelp <http://www.childhelp.org/> founders Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson for their lifelong commitment to helping children in need.

The award comes from an endowment to the university from Merced native Sherrie Spendlove, given in honor of her parents to recognize a scholar, author, artist, or citizen whose work exemplifies the delivery of social justice, diplomacy and tolerance in local and global society.

"Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson are the social justice champions of children everywhere," Spendlove said. "They have demonstrated that two people working together with much will and determination can positively change the lives of millions of people."

CEO Sara O'Meara and President Yvonne Fedderson started Childhelp as International Orphans Inc. (IOI) in 1959. The two women were young actresses participating in a goodwill tour of Asian countries when they discovered the plight of orphans on the streets of Tokyo. Their efforts to help these children evolved into an organization, which for 15 years operated four orphanages in Japan, plus five orphanages, a children's hospital and a school in Vietnam. During the fall of Saigon, IOI helped organize "Operation Baby Lift," which brought Vietnamese orphans to the United States for adoption.

In the mid-1970s, O'Meara and Fedderson turned their focus to the problem of child abuse in America and the organization subsequently was renamed Childhelp. They established the leading national non-profit organization to help victims of child abuse and those at-risk of such crimes. Childhelp's approach focuses on advocacy, prevention, treatment and community outreach and its programs include the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline <http://www.childhelp.org/about/programs-and-services/childhelp-national-child-abuse-hotline-1-800-4-a-child> (1-800-4-A-CHILD), Good Touch/Bad Touch <http://www.childhelp.org/gtbt> and more.

O'Meara and Fedderson have built residential treatment villages in California and Virginia, and children's advocacy centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia outside of Washington, D.C. They pioneered the use of animal therapy in treating abused children and also revolutionized the use of art therapy in dealing with traumatized children. They have worked tirelessly with the U.S. Congress to sponsor, ensure passage, and help fund legislation that created a national registry of substantiated cases of child abuse. The bipartisan effort they led was signed into law in May 2007 as part of a comprehensive bill entitled "The Child Safety Act."

They were instrumental in establishing Childhelp's National Day of Hope, which mobilizes people across the U.S. each April during National Child Abuse Prevention Month to join the fight against child abuse.

"We are extremely honored to receive this award because the underlying principles signify all that we strive for on a daily basis to help and heal the innocent children who are being sexually, physically or emotionally abused," O'Meara said. "We also honor Alice and Clifford Spendlove and Sherrie Spendlove for establishing this award as true visionaries," O'Meara said.

The pair has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in honor of their extraordinary mission.

"We accept the Spendlove Prize on behalf of children around the world, who are our greatest resource to create a future filled with justice, tolerance and diplomacy for all mankind," Fedderson said. "We are deeply appreciative of the Spendloves for bestowing this tribute upon us, and most importantly, Childhelp and the children we serve."

O'Meara and Fedderson will serve as role models for students, staff and faculty and the community surrounding UC Merced <http://www.ucmerced.edu/> . Recipients of this award are expected to produce or provide a legacy that would be retained at UC Merced, such as a publication or an artistic production.

The selection committee is chaired by the dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts <http://ssha.ucmerced.edu/> and is made up of a representative from the Spendlove family or designee; an undergraduate student; a graduate student; a faculty member; and representatives from the UC Merced community.

"This year's recipients embody the spirit of the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize. They have dedicated most of their lives to helping children in need and are an inspiration to us all," said Hans Björnsson, UC Merced's interim dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. "Our students can learn from the example they've set as founders of one of the oldest and largest national nonprofit organizations."

The first award, given at campus opening in 2005, went to Charles J. Ogletree Jr. <http://www.ucmerced.edu/news_articles/11302005_noted_legal_scholar_and.asp> , a Merced native who is now a law professor and the founding executive director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard University. In 2007, the prize was awarded to John Y. Tateishi <http://www.ucmerced.edu/news_articles/11262007_second_spendlove_prize_awarded.asp> , an activist for civil rights. Tateishi has been involved with Asian-American communities for nearly 30 years, gaining national prominence in 1978 when he launched a national campaign to seek redress for Japanese Americans interned in U.S. detention camps during World War II.

October 17, 2008

UC Merced Unveils New Athletics Logo

Blue Ribbon Commission Continues to Guide Creation of Intercollegiate Sports Program Proposal

MERCED - The University of California, Merced, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/> is sporting a new look. Well, at least its athletics teams are. Campus officials today (Oct. 14) unveiled a brand-new athletics logo that marks a definite move toward competition-minded branding.

The UC Merced Golden Bobcat's makeover includes a fiercer look and piercing blue eyes - showcasing the university's trademark colors of blue and gold. Though the university will have a handful of variations on the logo for multiple uses, the primary mark, which features the bobcat leaping over a shield with the words "UC Merced Bobcats Athletics" emblazoned in front, will be the most commonly used version.

"In light of our initiative to create a divisional intercollegiate athletics program, we wanted a sportier image," said David Dunham, director of recreation and athletics <http://recreation.ucmerced.edu/> for UC Merced. "Our new Golden Bobcat is definitely leaner and meaner than his predecessor."

The new logo design was created by Phoenix Design Works of New York City with direction from a committee of university officials and students.

"Creating athletics logos is what Phoenix does best," Dunham said. "They have exceeded our expectations and provided us with a logo that is guaranteed to stand the test of time."

That "test of time" is scheduled to begin almost immediately with volleyball players being among the first to don uniforms with the new Golden Bobcat logo. Other student-athletes have received T-shirts with the university's new logo to help them show their school spirit.

"To me, the new logo represents what the founding generation of UC Merced has forged here," said Francesca Devlin, a university senior who sat on the logo selection committee. "Our students are competitive in academics and daily life - just like our Golden Bobcat."

Beginning today, Oct. 14, branded merchandise featuring the new logo is on sale at the campus bookstore <http://bookstore.ucmerced.edu/home.aspx>

"Right now, we're just focused on T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats, but more items - including a plush bobcat - are on their way," said Kevin Storms, bookstore manager.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics (see news_article) which was convened in July, is working with consultants to create a strategic athletics plan. The plan is expected to be completed by January 2009.

The commission, which includes Los Angeles Galaxy coach Cobi Jones, and other UC Merced representatives and community supporters, is charged with offering guidance to the consulting team as it drafts its proposal for UC Merced's future athletics program.

The consultants, Cedric Dempsey and Ted Leland, both have a long history in collegiate athletics. Dempsey served as president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association from 1994 to 2003, and Leland was athletic director of Stanford University from 1991 to 2005.

Branded merchandise can be purchased through the university bookstore online at bookstore.ucmerced.edu. <http://bookstore.ucmerced.edu/home.aspx>

October 3, 2008

Facebook Fans Can Now Find UC Merced's Official Page
Official presence on popular social networking site offers links, video, info, open forums

MERCED - It's rare to find a college student who's not connected with friends on Facebook.
The University of California, Merced, now provides an official presence on the popular social networking site including links, photos, videos, and the chance to talk freely with others interested in the goings-on at the newest UC campus.
"This is a natural way to reach out to current and future students, not to mention families and friends who want to stay current with what's happening at UC Merced," said Patti Waid Istas, executive director of communications for the rapidly growing campus. "There are already dozens of UC Merced-focused groups and events listed on Facebook. Our official page provides a great starting place on the site for people interested in our campus."
Many universities, including UC Davis and UCLA, have found Facebook to be a natural fit for them - which makes sense, considering the site was started as a student networking tool at Harvard University.
Only recently, Facebook has begun to allow the general public to join up. That means you don't have to be officially associated with UC Merced to follow its Facebook page.
After joining Facebook, you can just type "UC Merced" into the site's search box, click "UC Merced Official Page" and choose to "become a fan." It's an easy way to follow university news, link to other official campus Facebook pages and groups, get a glimpse of what's happening on campus, and connect with other people interested in UC Merced.

September 30, 2008

New Equipment at UC Merced Will Help Examine Robot-human Interactions, Complex Robot Tasks
$476,500 NSF grant will buy two advanced robotic units for cognitive science and computer science study at Central Valley research campus starting next year

MERCED - Real robotics isn't like an old sci-fi movie where robots are out to take humans' jobs and run the world.

Instead, say the scientists who will use newly funded robotics equipment at the University of California, Merced, the humanoid robots that will be developed in the next 20 years will serve as helpers for people. They may step in on jobs that are too dangerous for human hands, like defusing bombs, or too tedious for our taste, like washing the nightly dinner dishes.

But the science of robotics needs to take some big steps to create the machines that can both manage those kinds of tasks and interact effectively with people. That's where the new UC Merced robotics equipment - funded with a new $476,500 grant from the National Science Foundation's Major Research Instrumentation program - will come in.

"This is a significant boost for our Computer Science and Engineering program and will have strong positive impact for our both our teaching and research programs," said Dean Jeff Wright of the UC Merced School of Engineering. <http://engineering.ucmerced.edu/> "Professor Carpin and his colleagues are developing a facility that is truly unique and innovative among top Engineering programs in the country; our current and future students will be the real beneficiaries of this vision."

A team of five investigators in computer science and cognitive science at UC Merced are now ordering the equipment - a humanoid robot that will run on its own, as well as advanced, three-fingered robotic arms that they will connect with a torso and head to be built on by UC Merced graduate students. The NSF funds will also be used for state-of-the art motion capture cameras, which will allow mapping motions from people to the robots. The team expects the equipment to arrive around the beginning of 2009.

"With these two systems, we can study a wide range of problems in robotics," said Professor Stefano Carpin, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/faculty/facultybio.asp?facultyid=76> the robotics expert who led UC Merced's team to a second-place finish in the worldwide RoboCup virtual rescue robot competition <http://www.ucmerced.edu/news_articles/07222008_uc_merced_team_places.asp> last summer. "The small humanoid robot will be ideal for studying human-robot interactions, and the arm-torso-head assemblage will help us investigate complex tasks, gestures and hand-vision coordination."

Such a broad array of tasks requires a talented team of researchers. Professors Marcelo Kallmann, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/faculty/facultybio.asp?facultyid=55> a computer motion specialist; Teenie Matlock, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/faculty/facultybio.asp?facultyid=27> a cognitive scientist specializing in language and embodied cognition; Shawn Newsam, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/faculty/facultybio.asp?facultyid=52> who studies computer vision; and David Noelle, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/faculty/facultybio.asp?facultyid=82> a cognitive neuroscientist, are also principal investigators on the new grant. With distribution of expertise through these fields in engineering and cognitive science, they are poised for deeply interdisciplinary research in robotics.

The team is now in the process of finding the right spot for the equipment at UC Merced. Fortunately, their space needs - always a consideration on this rapidly growing campus - are modest, especially in view of the potential for discovery using the new equipment.

The humanoid robot measures up at about two and a half feet tall - "more the size of a monkey than a human," Carpin said. Its small size may seem cute and friendly to people, but the real advantage is that smaller is cheaper - not to mention easier to store.

The robotic arms in the lab are expected to be under high demand. Carpin noted that a lab at Stanford, housing only one arm of the same type as the two he is ordering for UC Merced, is busy with researchers around the clock.

Made by Barrett Technology in Massachusetts, the arm has three fingers compared with only two on most others. Carpin said it is the most advanced device of its type available.

"This will help us attract and retain students and faculty," he said.

Student involvement will be an important piece of the new robotics lab, as it is for most research occurring at UC Merced. Grad students <http://graduatedivision.ucmerced.edu/default.asp> built the head that will top the arm assembly, and many grad students will use the new lab. Carpin said the next step will be bringing in undergraduates - possibly through another NSF program for which he will be applying in the spring - to program software simulations that will allow pre-testing of different protocols before researchers try them on the actual lab equipment.

September 30, 2008

Toyota Donation to Support Environmental Leadership and Wilderness Education Programs at Yosemite National Park and the University of California, Merced
$600,000 and five Prius donated by Toyota to Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park, Calif. - September 29, 2008 - Toyota <http://www.toyota.com/community> is providing more than $600,000 and five hybrid vehicles to Yosemite National Park <http://www.nps.gov/yose/> to support a number of environmental education programs at Yosemite and the University of California, Merced, it was announced today.

"The development of environmental education programs is key to preserving our majestic national parks for future generations," said Bill Duff, Corporate Manager, Environmental Office, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "Toyota is proud to be part of this endeavor through our donation to The Yosemite Fund and Yosemite National Park."

The donation was facilitated through the park's nonprofit fundraising partner, The Yosemite Fund <http://www.yosemitefund.org/> . The park will use Toyota's contribution to support the Yosemite Leadership Program (YLP), a partnership between Yosemite, UC Merced and California State Parks. The internship program provides students with work experience in a park, wilderness education, a living stipend and the opportunity for possible future employment with the park. In addition, Toyota funds are being used to refurbish cabins in the park to be used as dorms for the interns.

"We are grateful for Toyota's generous support of these key educational programs in Yosemite," said

Mike Tollefson, Yosemite National Park Superintendent. "Toyota's grants, received through our partnership with the Yosemite Fund, ensure that parks and wild places remain relevant to future generations by providing access to higher learning and residential internships in one of America's flagship parks."

The Wilderness Center on the campus of UC Merced was established in part with funds from the Toyota donation. As the home base of the Yosemite Leadership Program <http://ylp.ucmerced.edu/> , the Wilderness Center fosters a wilderness ethic among students, as well as assists students and faculty with planning for trips to Yosemite and other national parks and forests. Students staffing the center are also paid through a fund developed with Toyota's grant.

"Working as partners with the National Park Service, institutions of higher learning and nonprofits, Toyota's generous contribution advances leadership and education opportunities to protect and preserve

Yosemite National Park," said Bob Hansen, president, The Yosemite Fund. "The breadth of their contributions provides the resources to inspire new generations to develop an interest in conservation, environmental management and a passion for the outdoors."

Toyota's donation will also be used to establish a two-week Executive Leadership Seminar in 2009 designed specifically for experienced professionals in park and protected area land management. Leaders from government, corporate, and non-profit sectors will focus on proactive approaches and strategic leadership for use in complex, real-world land management challenges. This course draws on the University of California's academic leadership, and pairs it with the unparalleled opportunity for field study and experiential learning in Yosemite National Park.

In addition to the monetary donation, Yosemite will receive five Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles, which will be used to support Yosemite's air quality, bear management, wilderness education, search and rescue and visitor services.

The donation to Yosemite National Park is part of a $5 million contribution from Toyota in support of five National Parks and the National Park Foundation to enhance environmental leadership and educational programs at parks around the country. The company is also donating 23 vehicles in total to the national parks.

About Toyota <http://www.toyota.com/community>

Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, with another under construction in Mississippi. Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Through its corporate initiatives, manufacturing operations and philanthropy, Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. In 2007, Toyota contributed more than $56 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit www.toyota.com/community.

About The Yosemite Fund <http://www.yosemitefund.org/>

The Yosemite Fund is a non-profit organization that provides broad-based private funding and resources for projects that preserve, protect or enhance Yosemite National Park. Since 1988, more than 100,000 individual, corporate and foundation donors have enabled the Fund to grant over $40 million to complete over 200 projects in Yosemite. Contributors to the Fund provide a margin of excellence in Yosemite, extending a long-standing tradition of private philanthropy in National Parks. Results of the Fund's work on major projects can be seen most notably at the approach to lower Yosemite Falls ($12.5 million), Glacier Point ($4 million), Happy Isles ($2 million), Tunnel View overlook ($1.8 million) and Olmsted Point ($1.2 million). Learn more at www.yosemitefund.org <http://www.yosemitefund.org/> or 1-800-4-MY-PARK.

September 25, 2008

UC Merced Symposium Examines Emerging Solar Energy Technologies
Nicola Cabibbo, head of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, to anchor the university's first solar symposium

MERCED - Amid concerns about rising gas prices and the growing need for environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels, the University of California, Merced, will host a solar symposium, "Solar Energy: Today and Tomorrow," at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26.

The symposium, jointly sponsored by the UC Merced Energy Research Institute (UCMERI) and the Dan David Foundation, was designed to promote public knowledge regarding present and future solar energy technologies, and to examine the current state of the solar energy industry.

Nicola Cabibbo, Italian physicist, professor at La Sapienza University of Rome, and president of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, will present the keynote address. He will provide insight into how solar technology is being implemented in Europe and describe how advances in solar technology can help to shape the global energy discussion.

The symposium will include expert presenters:

* Sarah Kurtz, principal scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
* Martha Krebs, deputy director for Energy Research and Development for the California Energy Commission
* Arno A. Penzias, venture partner, New Enterprise Associates, and Nobel laureate
* Jeff Wright, dean of UC Merced's School of Engineering and director of UCMERI
* Roland Winston, professor in UC Merced's schools of Natural Sciences and Engineering and Presidential Chair holder
* David Kelley, professor for UC Merced's School of Natural Sciences

The symposium will culminate with a dinner honoring Sarah Kurtz and Jerry Olson of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

In March 2007, Kurtz and Olson were honored with the prestigious Dan David Prize Laureate for their work toward the development of concentration solar power systems using multi-junction solar cells. Kurtz donated her portion of the prize, $225,000, to establish the Dan David Solar Endowment Fund at UC Merced. The gift is set up as an endowed fellowship to provide financial support for graduate students interested in studying solar energy.

The Dan David Prize was founded in 2001 by businessman and philanthropist Dan David and is headquartered at Tel Aviv University. Three prizes of $1 million each are awarded annually for achievements having an outstanding scientific, technological, cultural or social impact on our world. Each year fields are chosen within the three Time Dimensions - Past, Present and Future. The laureates for a given year are chosen from these fields.

The symposium is free and open to the public. For more information and to register online, visit https://eng.ucmerced.edu/sett.

September 16, 2008

Cognitive Scientist George Lakoff to Discuss Politics and the Mind at UC Merced

Acclaimed author talks about how framing shapes values, beliefs -
or why Midwestern conservatives are threatened by the actions of California liberals

MERCED - The University of California, Merced, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/> will host an evening with cognitive scientist George Lakoff <http://cogsci.ucmerced.edu/lakoff-info.pdf> on Sept. 23. Lakoff, a UC Berkeley professor and senior fellow at the Rockridge Institute, will speak at 6 p.m. in the university's Lakireddy Auditorium <http://www.ucmerced.edu/news_articles/10052006_culture_on_display_as.asp> . The event is free and open to the public.

"George Lakoff is one of the greatest cognitive scientists <http://cogsci.ucmerced.edu/lakoff-info.pdf> of our time," said UC Merced Professor Teenie Matlock <http://facultyexperts.ucmerced.edu/Faculty/SSHA/Matlock/Teenie/> , who coordinates the university's Mind, Technology and Society talk series <http://cogsci.ucmerced.edu/Talks.html> . "He has a huge following and has had a tremendous impact for about four decades now, starting with his early work on generative semantics and transitioning to his pioneering research in cognitive linguistics. It's really no surprise that he's still forging new areas of study, including what is appropriately termed 'cognitive political science.'"

Lakoff is the author of numerous books on linguistics and cognitive science, in addition to more recent books that merge cognitive and political sciences. His latest book takes a bold stand on how the intricate workings of the mind affect the political beliefs and values of Americans. His latest book, "The Political Mind: Why You Can't Understand 21st-Century Politics with an 18th-Century Brain," uses insights from cognitive science to explain how conservatives and liberals frame issues.

Since frames shape our modes of thinking, Lakoff believes they can readily transform our political views and make for a complex tapestry of political values. Lakoff's approach to framing can explain why a typical Midwestern conservative feels threatened or put off by the actions of San Francisco Bay Area liberals and vice versa.

"Framing is the most natural thing we do," Lakoff says, adding that all frames are made up of elements and scenarios and make up the reason behind why humans think the way they do.

Matlock and several other cognitive science faculty at UC Merced will honor Lakoff with the campus' first-ever Distinguished Cognitive Scientist Award on the night of his presentation. The award is made possible by a generous gift from the Glushko-Samuelson Foundation <http://www.ucmerced.edu/news_articles/03042008_glushko_samuelson_foundation_gift.asp> , which also funds the Mind, Technology and Society series on the campus.

"This is a unique and timely opportunity for students and the community to hear a presentation about ground-breaking, provocative research at the intersection of politics and cognition science." Matlock said. "Some of Lakoff's claims about the cognitive mechanisms that underlie everyday political reasoning will inspire and arouse."

NOTE: Permit parking is enforced in all lots on campus until 6 p.m. on weekdays. Parking permits are $1 per hour and available in bright-yellow dispensers on campus.

September 15, 2008

UC Merced Launches Blog with News Items for Journalists, General Public

One-stop shop offers latest updates on what's happening at Valley research university

MERCED - The University of California, Merced, <http://www.ucmerced.edu/> has created its own news blog <http://newsblog.ucmerced.edu/> to serve the needs of journalists and others interested in what's happening at the UC system's newest campus.

"As our university grows, it's become more challenging to make sure everyone is able to find out everything happening on campus," said Patti Waid Istas, director of communications for the university. "Our hope is that the news blog will be a useful tool for journalists covering our campus, as well as members of the public who want to know about our growth and accomplishments."

Postings will include summaries of UC Merced news releases, Web site Spotlights <http://www.ucmerced.edu/viewallspotlights.asp> and Features <http://www.ucmerced.edu/viewallfeatures.asp> , story tips, and other bits of news. Though visitors can't comment on individual posts, feedback can be e-mailed to communications@ucmerced.edu.

"This is just one more way for the public to read the latest news about our campus, as it occurs," Istas added. "We hope the addition of video and photos will make visitors feel like they are 'in the know.'"

Perhaps most importantly, anyone wishing to follow the development of UC Merced can subscribe to the blog's RSS feed, allowing them to see UC Merced news content on their own customized home page through services like Yahoo! or Google. Visitors may also subscribe to be alerted by e-mail whenever new items are posted to the blog.

Friday, May 23, 2008

UC MERCED'S
THIRD
UNIVERSITY
COMMENCEMENT

...Full Story

November 26, 2007

UC Merced Awards Second
Spendlove Prize

Founding Trustee John Tateishi has devoted his long career to civil rights

MERCED - University of California, Merced, Trustee John Y. Tateishi, an activist for civil rights, has won this year's Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance, awarded by a committee at the newest UC campus.

The $10,000 award comes from an endowment to the university from Sherrie Spendlove, given in honor of her parents to recognize a scholar, author, artist, or citizen whose work exemplifies the delivery of social justice, diplomacy and tolerance in local and global society.

"This recognition means a great deal because of the connection between my work with Japanese Americans and the Central Valley where UC Merced resides," said Tateishi. "I look forward to continuing interaction with the campus community and helping to prepare the next generation to take the torch and continue working for justice and tolerance."

John Y. Tateishi

Tateishi has been involved with Asian American communities for nearly 30 years, gaining national prominence in 1978 when he launched a national campaign to seek redress for Japanese Americans interned in U.S. detention camps during World War II.

As the National Redress Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Tateishi crafted the legislative and public affairs strategies of the campaign that successfully culminated in 1988 with an apology from the president and Congress, and monetary redress for internment victims.

From 1999 to 2006, he served as national executive director of the Japanese American Citizens League, the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization, undertaking the challenge of shepherding the 73-year-old organization into the new millennium. The JACL honored him for his years of dedication in a special ceremony in May 2007.

Tateishi's leadership in the redress campaign prompted the BBC to make him the focus of a television special in England, and NHK Television in Japan produced a two-hour documentary on him and his work.

He has appeared before public audiences throughout the country as well as in the media; authored "And Justice for All," an oral history of the World War II internment of Japanese Americans; and served as a contributing author to "Last Witnesses," a collection of essays by the children of the WWII internment camps.

Tateishi was a senior fellow at the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research for the 2001-02 academic year and was a founding trustee of UC Merced.

"The injustice of the Japanese-American internment during World War II has lessons to teach us even today as we find ourselves in another unfortunate time of war," Sherrie Spendlove said. "It is my fervent hope that our democratic constitution will never again allow such a travesty of justice to take place within the United States of America."

Clifford Spendlove

"In our lives as educators and public servants, we have drawn strength from our sense of responsibility that the injustices of society must be addressed and that our youth must develop an ethic of tolerance," Alice and Clifford Spendlove once wrote. "What is local is now global, and what is global is now local. Social justice, diplomacy and tolerance are relevant concepts for citizens whatever their identity. We hope that the prize will honor those who promote and act on these beliefs."

Sherrie Spendlove, John Tateishi, and Chancellor Sung-Mo "Steve" Kang

The selection committee is made up of a representative from the Spendlove family or designee; an undergraduate student; a graduate student; a faculty member; and one or two representatives from the UC Merced community.

The first award, given at campus opening in 2005, went to Dr. Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a Merced native who is now a law professor and the founding executive director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard University. He served as the keynote speaker for UC Merced's opening ceremonies.

UC Merced opened September 5, 2005, as the 10th campus in the University of California system and the first American research university of the 21st century. The campus significantly expands access to the UC system for students throughout the state, with a special mission to increase college-going rates among students in the San Joaquin Valley. It also serves as a major base of advanced research and as a stimulus to economic growth and diversification throughout the region. Situated near Yosemite National Park, the university is expected to grow rapidly, topping out at approximately 25,000 students within 30 years.

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