Botanist’s $350,000 gift establishes endowed chair Dinner raises funds for students in need Ca m p u s update C Santa Cruz has appoint- cludes investigations of invasive Ued Ingrid Parker, associate plant species and the evolution- matt fitt matt professor of ecology and evolu- ary interactions of plants and tionary biology, to the newly es- plant pathogens. Inauguration of George Blumenthal set for June 6 tablished Jean H. Langenheim “It is such an honor to be eorge Blumenthal, culture of excellence, inquiry, Endowed Chair in Plant associated with Jean, who is a a professor of astronomy creativity, diversity, and public Ecology and Evolution. Parker real pioneer in plant ecology G is the first faculty and astrophysics at UCSC service while developing solu- member to hold the since 1972, was named tions to the world’s most criti- endowed chair, es- tim stephens permanent chancellor cal challenges.” He pledged to tablished by a gift September 19, 2007, after work with staff, alumni, com- of $350,000 from serving as acting chancellor munity members, government Langenheim, profes- for 14 months. In his first officials, and campus sup- sor emerita of ecolo- gy and evolutionary address to the campus after porters to “accelerate UCSC’s Alumna and scholarship recipient Precious Ward (above) spoke biology. being appointed by the upward trajectory.” at UCSC’s Scholarship Benefit Dinner on February 9 about the The endowment UC Regents, he pledged to In a recent interview,* important role individual contributions play in the education of provides funds to “plan strategically and act Blumenthal recalled coming UCSC students. Now in its fifth year, the dinner has become an support and encour- important fundraising event providing undergraduate scholar- boldly” to advance UCSC’s to UCSC as a young profes- age research and Jean Langenheim and Ingrid Parker ships, internships, and research opportunities, as well as gradu- standing in the world. sor in 1972 and finding a teaching in the area ate fellowships. Many scholarship and fellowship recipients of terrestrial plant ecology and and evolution,” Parker said. “Here at UC Santa Cruz, place where “I could reach are students who might not otherwise be able to attend UCSC. evolution, including studies of “The endowment will provide Chancellor George Blumenthal and his wife, law professor Kelly Weisberg, follow- our faculty are making break- out to faculty from other dis- Emmy Award–winning actress and UCSC alumna Camryn Manheim human impacts on plants. valuable support for the projects ing his appointment by the UC Regents as the 10th chancellor of UC Santa Cruz throughs relentlessly. Our ciplines and learn from them. was the keynote speaker at this year’s dinner, which drew a crowd Parker joined the UCSC fac- of students who are working in students are exploring new I discovered the intellectual of 250 and raised $160,000. ulty in 1998. Her research in- plant biology on campus.” he formal inauguration of George Blumenthal ideas and opportunities at a stimulation that continues as UCSC’s 10th chancellor is scheduled for pace they’ve never before ex- to thrive here. Our faculty Friday, June 6, 2008. The ceremony, open perienced. Our graduates are are inquisitive and willing Omigod! Women don’t have lock on gift of gab T changing the world. Our pro- to put aside assumptions ho says women are the differences. But readers resisted to the public, will be held on UCSC’s East Field, grams are defining education or paradigms and think big Wchattier sex? Not psychology the news that the “chat gap” overlooking Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay. and reshaping the future,” he thoughts; students are not professor Campbell is all hype, and The inaugural celebration will feature a traditional told a capacity crowd at the just interested in learning but Leaper, whose “meta- Goodman’s column Music Center Recital Hall, in learning how to think.” analysis” of how men focused on the Frank Kofsky’s photos of Janis Joplin, John Coltrane, and Frank Zappa academic procession, the chancellor’s inaugural and women communi- jennifer mcnulty public’s reluctance address, musical performances, and a reception receiving two enthusiastic cate made headlines in to embrace scientific Archie Shepp, of which only standing ovations. Age of jazz and rock 36 have been published. for all attendees. (For more information and tickets, *The interview with Chancellor the U.S. and Canada findings. Blumenthal called the Blumenthal begins on page 8. for its myth-busting So why do people rolls on with gift of The gift also includes please visit inauguration.ucsc.edu) campus a “place that fosters a conclusion: Women cling to gender stereo- approximately 100 audio re- are no more talkative types? “It’s part of hu- photos, interviews cordings of interviews Kofsky than men. Campbell Leaper man nature to put conducted with these musi- The Washington things in categories,” CSC has received a gift cians, each approximately 30 Alumni Reunion Weekend, April 25–26, will include an Post was the first to write about said Leaper. “People want to an- Uof more than 1,000 photo- to 90 minutes in length. intellectual forum and reception with alumni wines the nonexistent “chat gap,” ticipate what’s going to happen. graphs of renowned jazz and The collection was donat- followed by Boston Globe It trips us up when we overapply rock musicians from the ed to the University Library’s mong the events at this year’s New York Times editor Katy Roberts keppler speakers courtesy columnist Ellen Goodman, and our generalizations.” 1960s, taken by the late jazz Special Collections by Frank A Alumni Reunion Weekend will (B.A. politics, Kresge ’74) will be onassis foundation courtesy numerous other newspapers. Even though he approaches scholar and historian Frank Kofsky’s widow, Bonnie be an intellectual forum on innovation moderator. A reception featuring wines “It’s a sexy topic, and it snow- media interviews with some Kofsky. Kofsky, who has dedicated and education in a global society. by alumni vintners will follow. balled with the media,” recalled trepidation, Leaper believes it The collection includes it to the memory of John Featured speakers will be Innovation For more information on the forum Leaper. is important for academics to 35mm slides, prints, and Coltrane. The gift includes a donation of $8,000 from Nation author John Kao and historian and other Reunion Weekend events Leaper’s review of numerous work with journalists. “We need negatives of such recording studies of talkativeness, mea- to help people understand what artists as John Coltrane, Janis John Coltrane’s widow, Alice and political pundit Victor Davis and activities, please see page 24, sured by the overall number of we’re learning,” he said. “These Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Coltrane, to process and Forum speakers John Kao and Victor Davis Hanson (Cowell ’75) Hanson (B.A. literature, Cowell ’75). or go to: alumni.ucsc.edu/reunions words used by men and women, studies dispel some pervasive Ornette Coleman, and preserve the collection. revealed only inconsequential stereotypes.” 2 UC Santa Cruz Review / Spring 2008 UC Santa Cruz Review / Spring 2008 3 Research grants top Gift funds endowed chair in Sikh, Punjabi studies Prof reveals, revels in NorCal kitsch tim stephens $100 million, again C Santa Cruz has received years, and the Sarbjit Singh Green campus ow does a 2,000-year-old tree at Big Basin Redwoods Ua gift of $367,000 from Aurora Endowed Chair in Sikh HState Park trace the history of imperialism? Who are the esearchers at UCSC at- Hardit and Harbhajan K. Singh, and Punjabi Studies provides an Town joins gown to fight climate change “Cave People” at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk? Why were two Rtracted $111 million in exter- through the Sikh Foundation, opportunity for students to giant white stone cats erected near Highway 17 in Los Gatos? nal grants and contracts to the to fund an endowed chair in learn more about Sikh religion, hancellor George Blumenthal joined Santa Cruz What is the real story behind the Greco-Roman-style Pulgas campus in the 2006–07 fiscal Sikh and Punjabi studies in the history, arts, culture and Ccity and county officials in pledging to reduce greenhouse Water Temple built on the San Francisco Peninsula? year. This marks the second year History Department. diaspora,” said Dr. Narinder S. gas emissions at their respective institutions and to encourage These questions and more are revealed in Local Girl Makes in a row that research funding The Sarbjit Singh Aurora Kapany, chairman and founder private, public, and nonprofit History: Exploring California’s Kitsch has exceeded $100 million. Bin Chen and Camilla Forsberg Endowed Chair in Sikh and of the Sikh Foundation. investment as part of the solu- Monuments, a new book by UC Santa “These research programs, received CIRM New Faculty Awards Punjabi Studies, established in “The gift will solidify UC guy lasnier tion to global climate change. Cruz historian Dana Frank. Blending aside from fulfilling the univer- for stem cell research. memory of the donors’ son, will Santa Cruz’s strength in South Blumenthal, then-Santa Cruz investigative reporting, historical sity’s mandate to increase knowl- be held by a distinguished mem- Asian Studies by creating an en- Mayor Emily Reilly, and Santa analysis, and personal anecdotes— edge, give our students the Forsberg, assistant professor of ber of the humanities faculty dowed chair that focuses on the Cruz County Supervisor Neal along with multiple plot twists and wonderful opportunity to learn biomolecular engineering. and will support research and world’s fifth largest religion, its Coonerty signed a Climate surprises—Frank focuses on four within a real-world environment teaching about the Sikh commu- history, and the history of the Chancellor Blumenthal signs the Action Compact at a ceremo- landmark Northern California sites to from global leaders, who can R A $600,000 gift from the nity from a global perspective.