UCSD News

A Sampling of Clips for
November 16^th, 2007

* UCSD faculty and staff may obtain a copy of an article by e-mailing the University Communications Office

Your Name May Shape Your Destiny
CBS News, Nov. 15 -- Your name may help put you at the head of the class or leave you in the strikeout column, a new study shows. The researchers report that MBA students whose first or last names start with the letters A or B tend to make better grades than those whose names start with C or D. So say Leif Nelson, PhD at the Rady School of Management at UCSD and Joseph Simmons, PhD at Yale University. More

Similar story in:
The Peninsula (Qatar)

Politics and the Brain
New York Times (Letters to the Editor), Nov. 15 -- This Is Your Brain on Politics” (Op-Ed, Nov. 11) used the results of a brain imaging study to draw conclusions about the current state of the American electorate. The article claimed that it is possible to directly read the minds of potential voters by looking at their brain activity while they viewed presidential candidates. For example, activity in the amygdala in response to viewing one candidate was argued to reflect “anxiety” about the candidate, whereas activity in other areas was argued to indicate “feeling connected.” While such reasoning appears compelling on its face, it is scientifically unfounded. (Authors of letter include UCSD psychology professors Adam Aron and Piotr Winkielman). More

UC Pending Plan Calls for an $18 Billion Budget
FOX 6, Nov. 15 -- The Board of Regents of the University of California, which includes UCSD, today approved an $18 billion overall budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year, with $3.46 billion coming from the state. The state's portion of UC's budget, which funds the university system's core educational program, represents an increase of $378.2 million, or 7.2 percent over the current fiscal year. More

State Universities Poised to Raise Fees Next Year
Associated Press, Nov. 16 -- Public university students in California may be writing bigger checks next year. Leaders for the University of California and California State University systems won't make a decision on fees until after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger releases his proposed budget to the Legislature in January. But the governing boards of both systems approved budgets this week that could mean fee increases unless lawmakers allocate more money for higher education. More

Across Bay Area, Obama Calls For Change
CBS News, Nov. 15, -- As Barack Obama addressed thousands of people in San Francisco last night, his message was clear to all —American politics needs to change and it needs to do so now. Obama spoke to a crowd of more than 6,000 people at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, many of whom were students. Among cheers of support, Obama promised to tackle the everyday problems of Americans, including what he called inaccessible health care and public education systems. (Quotes Menno Goedman, a recent graduate from UCSD and youth outreach director for the campaign). More

University Systems Oppose Community College Measure
San Diego Union Tribune, Nov. 16 -- A ballot issue that would boost community college funding while lowering student fees faced unusual opposition this week from the state's two other higher education systems, the University of California and California State University. More

Teacher: Allegation, Firing Tied
San Diego Union Tribune, Nov. 16 -- A former teacher at a nationally known charter school based at UCSD claims she was fired after she complained about grade-tampering and cooperated with university investigators. An attorney for Jennifer Howard, a former history teacher at The Preuss School, laid out her grievances in a legal claim filed Oct. 30. More

Cutting Edge Surgery Promises Less Pain, No Scars
KPIX, Nov. 16 -- A cutting edge approach to surgery promises less pain, a faster recovery and no scars. The new method is shaking up the medical world. Natural orifice surgery has been pioneered by Dr. Mark Talamini of UCSD. The experimental procedure involves going through the nose, mouth, rectum, bladder and even vagina to repair injuries and remove organs. More

A Trip to the Chiropractor Could Turn Deadly
Fox 6, Nov. 16 -- A trip to the chiropractor could cost you your life. Having your neck adjusted could inadvertently tear a vessel wall of the main artery that leads to the brain. If it's not caught early enough it could rob you of your sight, leave you a quadriplegic, or even cause death. (Quotes UCSD Medical Center neurological surgeon Lawrence Marshall). More

Monkey Embryos Cloned for Stem Cells, Scientists Say
KCPQ-TV FOX 13, Nov. 15 -- After years of false starts and an international scientific scandal, researchers said Wednesday that they had achieved a feat that some scientists believed was impossible — cloning a monkey embryo from a skin cell of an adult and using it to harvest embryonic stem cells. (Quotes Larry Goldstein, director of UCSD’s stem cell research program). More

Questions Answered
San Diego Union Tribune, Nov. 15 – QUESTION: What is Nature's purpose for wisdom teeth? ANSWER: Wisdom teeth were the greatest thing before sliced bread. The extra surface area they provide is handy for chewing nuts, coarse grains and raw meat. In other words, they helped our ancestors extract more calories from tough stuff. (Written by Sherry Seethaler, UCSD science writer and educator). More

Free Vaccinations for Fire victims slated Near Mall
San Diego Union Tribune, Nov. 16 – People affected by the recent wildfires can receive free vaccinations for the flu and pneumonia tomorrow near the entrance to Plaza Bonita Mall, 3030 Plaza Bonita Road.Excessive exposure to smoke can make people more vulnerable to lung infections, said Dr. Timothy Morris, a volunteer with the lung association and a pulmonary specialist at the UCSD Medical Center. More

Remembering Max 'Lee' Leichtag:
Philanthropist's Grants Touched the Lives of Many
North County Times, Nov. 16 – People of all ages have benefited from the generosity of Lee Leichtag. Others will continue to benefit thanks to the legacy of giving the self-made businessman established through his family foundation. Max "Lee" Leichtag died Nov. 4 at Palomar Medical Center as a result of injuries from a car accident. He was 88. Leichtag's largesse went to schools, hospitals, libraries, retirement facilities and museums. Through the foundation, he and his wife, Toni, made a $12 million grant in 2004 to the UCSD School of Medicine for a biomedical research building. More

Bali Climate Change Conference Offers Glimmer of Hope
San Diego Daily Transcript, Nov. 15 -- In a few weeks, a year of intensive activity related to climate change will culminate when representatives from all around the world convene in Bali, Indonesia, for the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. (Written by Robert Monroe, editor of UCSD's Scripps Institution of Oceanography Explorations online magazine.) More