Archive for June, 2009

Welcome New Students!

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Is that early, you think?

I just figured after someone get’s into Cal all they are obsessing about for the entire summer is getting here, settling in, having cute clothes and being prepared for class. So from today on, I am going to do a series to help our new students and parents prepare for the move.

First, don’t be scared.  The campus is lovely, you’re on your own but there are lots and lots of resources.  For those who have not signed up for  a dorm room, which I believe everyone is advised to do for their first year, my advice to you is get to know the Cal Housing site very very well.

There are lots of great options and almost all of my close friends had a great experience living in the coops.  I hear in some of these places, there is never a shortage of food.

Speaking of food, my next post will involve a campus tour of yummy spots and joints you cannot miss just outside of Berkeley, like “Bake Sale Betties”, where often you will be handed a free cookie just for being in line to buy something else like… another cookie.

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Is your student stuck here for the summer?

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

I remember staying every summer on the Berkeley campus to score a few more units, in the hopes of lightening my workload during regular semesters. What is an over-achiever to do if not give up yet another summer for the sake of grades?  There are so many ways to help lighten the loss of blissful vacation time.  I’m thinking (you may be watching your pocket book but I’m gonna recommend gifts anyway) concert tickets.

We are lucky to have several concert venues in the Bay area, Berkeley’s own Greek Theatre being one of the nicest. Death Cab for Cuties will be playing at the Greek Theatre on July 11. , Sonic Youth is performing at the Historic Fox in Downtown Oakland Aug 2, there’s a Hip Hop festival at the Shoreline Ampitheatre on Aug 9 and a three day music festival in Golden Gate Park on Aug 28-30, with names like Dave Matthew’s band and the Beastie Boys headlining.

I say give the gift of concert tickets.

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Someone Amazing is coming to town

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

I was perusing the Daily Cal, as I often do nostalgically (funny since I rarely read it when I was on campus) and every time I do I am glad I did. I found out from their Arts Blog that Hayao Miyazaki will be in town this July 25 to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Center for Japanese Studies.  Wow right?  I know all I have to say is “Spirited Away” and everyone will know who I am talking about. This man is a legend, and apparently, Berkeley agrees.

I am vying for a film festival at the PFA.  It’s only logical that they do something like that in his honor.  Plus, I would love to see those films on a big screen.

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Berkeley is giving up biofuel

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Four years ago, the city of Berkeley went the bio-fuel route for fueling up city vehicles. Since then, researchers have found that biofuels have more negatives than positives; the production of biofuel is at least as polluting as the use of non-biofuels. Yey for Berkeley for righting it’s wrongs.

I wound’t call this a huge embarrassment. We tried and it didn’t work out. We can admit when we’re wrong and move on. FYI, in Iowa, they are selling ethanol for cars for about half of what we pay for regular gas and still tout that biofuel is better for the environment. This is from personal experience as I recently took a road trip across the states.

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Cal Grant is safe

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Thanks Matthew Yi for clarifying that the Dems took this off the table for budget cuts.  CA cannot afford for the UCs reputation as a diverse globally recognized institution to deteriorate, not now or ever.  Legislators need to consider every other option before they consider getting rid of Cal Grants.

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No, Not the Cal Grant

Friday, June 5th, 2009

I hate to keep bringing up such somber news but the campus as a whole must be feeling the same ominous mood. If the Cal Grant goes, as Schwarzenegger claims must happen, it will equate to the University losing it’s soul, it more ways than one. Apparently, 81% of the campus would have received some aid through Cal grant making it possible to have cultural and class diversity on campus. That is a major achievement that makes Berkeley’s and other U. C.’s high rankings that much more remarkable.

I think there is a lot of movement and interest in turning this around. I just got tapped to join a facebook group in support of U.C. for federal assistance so hopefully there will be enough noise made to chance the current situation. I know that with the international reputation Berkeley has (my mom says I have lots of Korean mother’s vying for me to marry their sons just upon hearing that I am a Berkeley grad) perhaps the Feds will think it unwise to let Berkeley become a casualty of the current economy.

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R.I.P Ron Takaki

Monday, June 1st, 2009

I didn’t take a class with him but I read his Pulitzer nominated book, “Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans” for a class. During one of my earlier semesters, he taught a class in the same lecture hall right before one of my lower division Philosophy classes.  I would often listen to him lecture outside of his classroom and regret that I chose another class over his due to conflicting finals. It was clear that he had a great rapport with his students.

Every campus death feels like a loss in my extended family.  He will surely be missed by all.

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