Matthew Hargrove rocks around the clock. When he's not advocating on behalf of UC Davis, Hargrove, the director of state government relations, strums classic rock songs on the rhythm guitar. On Nov. 13, he jammed in Skip's Favorite Band at the Hard Rock Cafe in Sacramento. "The last show I did was standing room only," he noted in spreading the news about his Hard Rock Cafe appearance. ...

In the Nov. 18 Dateline, we told you about the campus's new international faculty database, an online listing of faculty members described as having expertise in one or more countries. The database is a work in progress, and faculty are urged to go to the Web site to input their international backgrounds. William Lacy, vice provost for University Outreach and International Programs, reminds faculty that if they join the listing they will be eligible to win $25 gift certificates to the UC Davis bookstore. Drawings are held periodically. Find the new database at www.ucdavis.edu/international (under Quick Links, click on International Faculty Database). Log in as a faculty member, open the form and fill it out — it takes only a couple of minutes.

Ever hear of a UC Davis environmental science professor named Brad Lotus? Probably not, because he never existed. "Lotus" was a "creation" of former Bakersfield Californian and Fairfield Daily Republic reporter Nada Behziz. Before she was fired Oct. 17 for plagiarism and fabrication, Behziz had worked as a reporter for several years in Northern California. One of her articles had quoted "Lotus" at UC Davis about toxic mold in the Vacaville City Hall. A recent investigation by the Bakersfield newspaper found serious problems with her work, including plagiarism, misquotes, factual errors and people whose existence could not be verified — including a UCLA professor. Behziz was fired last month after a reader told Californian editors about a plagiarized quote.

On Nov. 29, KVIE Channel 6 aired "The Sacramento: River of Life," in which actor Peter Coyote narrated an installment on the Sacramento River, which feeds the Central Valley and is home to many wildlife species. The documentary includes the work of two UC Davis scientists — geologist Jeff Mount and Cooperative Extension fish biologist Lisa Thompson. It was inspired by UC Davis alumnus and ardent supporter Charley Soderquist. KVIE is likely to repeat the broadcast, so stay tuned. ...

Two UC Davis television programs will air on UCTV in early December (nationally on Dish Network, worldwide on the Internet, Davis local cable, and campus dormitory cable). They include University Chorus and UC Davis Symphony, with D. Kern Holoman conducting, performing Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, at 10: 30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 (can be seen on Ch. 15 Comcast in Davis), and at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 (can be seen on Ch. 17 Comcast in Davis).

The other show is On Salmon and Tribes, a panel discussion and video documentary examining the state of the fisheries in the Klamath River watershed. Sponsored by the UC Davis John Muir Institute of the Environment, it airs at 8 p.m. Dec. 13 (can be seen on Ch. 17 Comcast in Davis) and again at 9 a.m. Dec. 15 (can be seen on Ch. 15 Comcast in Davis).

In an exhibition of ceramic art ranging from funk to super-realism to post-modernism, the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University explores the legacy of the late Robert Arneson. The exhibition, titled Fired at Davis: Figurative Ceramic Sculpture, will be on display through Feb. 26. Arneson was a professor of design and ceramics. He designed the famous "egghead" sculptures on campus.

Andy Hargadon, an associate professor in the Graduate School of Management, "felt like Scrooge" when he held his Managing Innovation class at 6 p.m. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. But 55 out of the 77 students enrolled in the class showed up. "It's a testament to their good characters and dedication as students," said Hargadon, who tried to sweeten the class with cookies and dessert. "I owed them that, but it was embarrassing," he said. "I didn't want to hold the class, but the short quarter required it. I was amazed so many braved the traffic to come to class. My hat's off to them." ...

Send news and information about campus personalities or achievements to cparker@ucdavis.edu.