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Can this marriage be saved? Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates has sued Cal over its Long Range Development Plan. Is there a resolution in sight? To some Berkeley citizens, the University’s mascot isn’t the golden bear—it’s an overpowering gorilla. "The weight is always going up—I think we’re now at 800 pounds," jokes Irene Hegarty, Cal’s director of community relations. With 45,000 people on campus in a city of 104,000, Hegarty says, nuisances like traffic noise, litter, and construction are unavoidable. The most recent row centers on Berkeley’s 2020 Long Range Development Plan (LRDP), which the UC Regents approved in January. The LRDP outlines campus construction and expansion for the next 15 years, including 2.2 million square feet of academic buildings, student housing, and parking spaces. Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates says that the lack of specificity in the plan amounts to a blank check for Cal development, and filed suit against the University in late February. The University says it’s impossible to make detailed construction plans years in advance, and calls the suit groundless. But, like so much in politics, the big issue really comes down to money. The city of Berkeley has asked the University for an annual payment of about $4 million—a substantial hike from the $500,000 that Cal currently pays each year. University sources say that Chancellor Robert Birgeneau has offered the city about $1.2 million, but that Bates turned it down. "I love the University and I'm proud to be a graduate," Bates says. "But I'm the mayor. I have to speak for the people of Berkeley‐I'm trying to equalize the relationship." Among the city's unreimbursed expenses for the University, Bates says, are the fire department, police, sewer, and storm water service. Another major point of contention is parking. The LRDP calls for construction of 1,800 parking spaces, which the city says is too much. Hegarty says the new spaces are long overdue, and notes that the last LRDP, in 1990, called for 2,300 new spaces, but that the University agreed to defer 500. The city also objects to the environmental planning process, which it says shuts out local residents. Hegarty disagrees with Bates’ interpretation. Bates remains optimistic. "The chancellor and I both know this is not personal and that we’ll work through this," he says. "In the end, we're on the same side. There's no other choice." —Ryan Brandt
If it worked for victims of cancer, why not tsunami victims? Or so figured Tejas Narechania ’05, who victims? Or so figured Tejas Narechania ’05, who woke up one morning and saw a sea of celebrities on TV wearing yellow rubber wrist bands sold by Lance Armstrong’s cancer foundation. Tejas and two friends each chipped in about $500 to purchase thousands of bands and sold them on campus for a $1-$2 donation. Part of an effort by 40 student groups to help out, the bands created a wave of their own—28 other campuses picked up on the idea. Blues in the News  The American Association of Physics Teachers honored Eugene Commins, professor emeritus of physics, with the Oersted Medal for his contributions to the advancement of physics teaching, while Carlos Bustamante (pictured left), professor of molecular and cell biology, physics, and chemistry, received the Richtmyer Award for conveying physics to public audiences.  Nicolle Devenish ‘94 (pictured right) was appointed White House communications director by President Bush in January.  A $42.6 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Melinda Gates Foundation to the Institute for OneWorldHealth and its partners, UC Berkeley and Amyris Biotechnologies, will aid professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering Jay Keasling (pictured left) in creating an inexpensive version of the antimalarial drug, artemisinin.  John M. Prausnitz, professor of chemical engineering, was awarded the National Medal of Science. His work in molecular thermodynamics has been used to make large chemical plants safer and more efficient. Paul S. Otellini MBA ’74 (pictured right), currently president and chief operating officer of Intel, will succeed Craig R. Barrett as the company’s next chief executive officer.  Tristan Spinski (pictured left), second-year student at the Graduate School of Journalism, won the Dorothea Lange Fellowship for his series of black-and-white photographs of Nevada rodeos.  Margaret Weir, professor of sociology and political science, has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for a program that will investigate regional responses to economic and demographic challenges. |
 Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Berkeley) welcomed Chancellor Robert Birgeneau and his wife Mary Catherine at a reception in December.
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