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Friday, 15 February 2013
1. UC student takes Dream Act case to YouTube
San Francisco Chronicle
Korean-born mathematics student Terrence Park has issued a video that is part of “The Dream is Now,” a creative effort started by Steve Jobs' widow, Laureen Powell Jobs, which aims to build support for a path to earned citizenship for young, undocumented immigrants nationwide. His video compares the cost of deporting 2.1 million undocumented "Dream" students to the economic benefit they would contribute as citizens. It is also his way of personally "coming out" on his undocumented status, something he had never dreamed of doing, especially not on YouTube. Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau says, "It's important to get the human stories out. ... For a long time, there was so much demonizing of people who came here not of their own will. ... This is a country of immigrants -- and we're a country who welcomes people and tries to help them." Other stories on this topic appeared in the San Jose Mercury News, NBC Bay Area, and KGO TV--link to video. Full Story
2. National labs spawn jobs, construction projects
San Francisco Business Times (*requires registration)
Innovative laboratories are proliferating in the Bay Area, and many are affiliated with UC Berkeley. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's planned 2-million-square foot second campus at UC Berkeley's Richmond facility is an example. According to Berkeley chemical engineering professor Jay Keasling, also associate lab director for biosciences at LBNL: "When you get 700 to 800 bioscientists working together, that’s a pretty substantial workforce. ... It’s great for science and it stimulates the local economy.” Full Story
3. Bay Area colleges see spike in Asian giving
San Francisco Business Times (*requires registration)
A story about the growing trend of Asian and first-generation Asian-American philanthropists donating to Bay Area colleges mentions gifts to Berkeley from Hong Kong businessman Ka-Shing Li and Marvell Technology Group co-founders Sehat Sutardja, Pantas Sutardja, and Weili Dai. The article also hints: "What’s more, UC Berkeley soon could announce a $15 million gift from another Asian benefactor." Full Story
4. Forum with Michael Krasny: Is It Time to Raise the Minimum Wage?
KQED Radio
Labor economist professor Sylvia Allegretto, of Berkeley's Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, joins a discussion of President Obama's proposed increase of the federal minimum wage. Link to audio. Another story on this topic, citing research by Berkeley economists David Card, Arindrajit Dube, and Michael Reich, also appeared in the Economist Online. Full Story
5. What QE means for the world: Positive-sum currency wars
The Economist Online
A story about the Federal Reserve's policy of quantitative easing stimulating global "currency wars" cites forthcoming research by Berkeley economics professor Barry Eichengreen. His new study follows up on research he had done in the 1980s about how the decision to abandon the gold standard affected economies worldwide. Full Story
6. Universal pre-school not the solution: Column
USA Today
A 2005 book by education professor Bruce Fuller is cited in a story arguing against universal preschool after President Obama proposed it in his State of the Union address. Full Story
7. Cal Performances Presents Circus Oz at UC Berkeley
San Jose Mercury News Online (*requires registration)
Circus Oz was warming up for their weekend shows on Sproul Plaza Wednesday. Described by the New York Times as “simultaneously laid back, satirical, funny, slightly naughty, chaotic and richly musical,” the group from Australia will perform at Zellerbach Hall Friday Feb. 15 at 8 pm, Sat. Feb 16 at 2 pm and Sun. Feb 17 at 3 pm. Link to slideshow. Full Story