Shlemon: senior fellow in math-physical sciences

Roy Shlemon has been appointed senior fellow of mathematical and physical aciences. Shlemon is an environmental consultant specializing in surface geology. His firm, based in Newport, has consulted on issues such as nuclear plant location, mining, environmental contamination and archaeology for clients around the world.

The upaid position of senior fellow recognizes individuals of outstanding achievement who are actively involved in programs in the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and whose work promises extraordinary advances of international impact. The appointment is made at the discretion of the dean and continues as long as the fellow is actively involved with the program.

Shlemon has helped communities and government agencies throughout the West reduce the impact from landslides, floods and earthquakes.

As senior fellow, Shlemon will focus on developing mentoring in applied geosciences for students and young scientists. He will also sit on a state panel reviewing research on risks to the delta.

Shlemon is a former professor at UC Davis and is currently a research associate for the geology department. About 10 years ago, he established the Roy. J. Shlemon Endowed Chair in Applied Geosciences, currently held by Jeff Mount, professor of geology.

Student's gun was fake, citation real, police say

Campus authorities last week cited a student for allegedly brandishing a replica firearm in public on Jan. 18.

Police Lt. Nader Oweis said someone called police that morning after seeing a man with what looked like a real rifle at the Mathematical Sciences Building. It is west of Mrak Hall near the campus's south entry.

Prior to making contact, police theorized that the man might have been someone they knew had an appointment at Student Judicial Affairs, so, as a precaution, authorities locked down Dutton Hall across campus. Dutton, home of Student Judicial Affairs, is just east of the Quad.

In fact, there was no connection between the student with the replica M-16 and the student with the Student Judicial Affairs appointment, police said.

Officers then caught up with the student with the replica rifle in the Mathematical Sciences Building, which also had been locked down. Police identified the student as Glenn Alexander Kirkpatrick, 22, and described him as a UC Davis student who participates in the Navy ROTC program at UC Berkeley.

Police said Kirkpatrick planned to meet with a professor, then catch a shuttle bus to Berkeley, where he needed to turn in the replica rifle that is used in training exercises.

Carrying a replica firearm in public is a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine.

Police also detained a student who had been seated next to Kirkpatrick on the floor of a hallway in the Mathematical Sciences Building. Police determined that the woman did not know Kirkpatrick and just happened to be sitting next to him.

Human Corps asks you to make a difference

The university's Human Corps office announces that the 7th annual Week of Service will take place from Feb. 9 to 16. During this week, staff, faculty and students can sign up for volunteer opportunites in the Davis area. Human Corps maintains a database of more than 650 nonprofit agencies and offers weekly e-mail bulletins of up-to-date volunteer opportunities. For information: http://humancorps.ucdavis.edu, hcorps@ucdavis.edu, (530) 752-3813, 225 South Hall.

Davis ranks 24th in Peace Corps volunteering

UC Davis moved up one spot to No. 22 on the top 25 list for large schools with 46 alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers. Since the Peace Corps' inception, 1,232 alumni of UC Davis have joined the ranks, making it the No. 15 producer of volunteers all time.

Changes marked this year's list, especially at the top. After 20 years of the University of Wisconsin-Madison being the top producer of Peace Corps Volunteers, the University of Washington's 110 currently serving alumni moved them into the top spot for the first time since 1981. Overall, UC Berkeley has produced the most Peace Corps volunteers since 1961, with 3,282.

Student leadership awards

Students, faculty and staff at UC Davis are invited to nominate candidates for the annual Mary Jeanne Gilhooly, Veloyce Glenn Winslow, Jr. and Margarita Robinson Student Leadership Awards. These awards publicly recognize the outstanding senior woman, the outstanding senior man and outstanding juniors.

The recipients will be announced at the end of May, and honored May 29. Nomination forms are available at the MU Information Desk; Student Programs and Activities Center, 457 MU; Student Affairs, 476 Mrak Hall; and at studentawards.ucdavis.edu. Nominations are due to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 476 Mrak Hall, by 5 p.m. Feb. 7.

Former terrorist to speak

Walid Shoebat, a former Palestinian Liberation Organization terrorist, will speak at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 in Freeborn Hall. The author of the book Why I Left Jihad, Shoebat left the PLO and is now an anti-terrorism speaker. The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a student organization registered with the UC Davis Student Programs and Activities Center, is sponsoring Shoebat's visit.

Admission is free to students and is $12 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door at the Freeborn Hall ticket windows.

Grad students gather

Graduate students are invited to Coffee, Bagel, Donut Days held from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday in 253 South Silo. The event is hosted by the Graduate Student Association, which is the representative student government of UC Davis graduate students. "Remember, it is carbs and caffeine that gets one through graduate school," notes the association on its Web site at gsa.ucdavis.edu.

For information on the Graduate Student Association, call (530) 752-6108 or e-mail gsa@ucdavis.edu.

Handyman accused in retired professor's murder

Yolo County authorities say retired UC Davis Professor John Finley Scott was murdered, and that a 38-year-old handyman is accused of the killing, even though Scott's body has not been found.

Scott, 72, was a graduate student and lecturer at UC Davis from 1963 to 1966, and a professor from 1968 to 1994. A mountain biking pioneer, he was reported missing June 3 from his home just outside Davis, the district attorney's office stated.

A grand jury indicted Charles Kevin Cunningham, whom authorities described as "a handyman in the area," and he was being held without bail on a murder charge with a special circumstance of murdering a witness; the special circumstance would make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted. He also is charged with grand theft, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was due in court Jan. 26 for continued arraignment.