80 turn out for protest over budget cuts

A protest over budget cuts and other issues started on the Memorial Union's south patio at lunchtime March 2 and continued through that afternoon in a largely peaceful manner, with no arrests.

The initial gathering drew about 80 people for a series of brief speeches, after which protesters marched around the Quad and walked through several buildings: Shields Library, Olson Hall, the Memorial Union, Wellman Hall and Dutton Hall.

The protesters then marched to the Chancellor's Residence, briefly blocking the intersection of Russell Boulvard and Howard Way before returning to the campus. The protest prompted the cancellation of a reception at the Chancellor's Residence — an event where she planned to present this year's Chancellor's Achievement Awards for Diversity and Community.

The protesters dispersed at about 6 p.m.

Similar protests took place at other UC campuses in what organizers called an "International Day of Action to Defend Public Education."

Carrying signs such as "Defend Public Education" and "World Wide Class War," the UC Davis protesters professed solidarity with protesters in Wisconsin and the Middle East.

Besides budget cuts, the UC Davis crowd also protested the university's Organizational Excellence Initiative and the closing of the Baggins End domes.

Ambassador to address 'Transatlantic Agenda'

The German ambassador to the United States, Klaus Scharioth, is due on campus on Wednesday, March 9, to deliver a talk on “The Transatlantic Agenda.”

A flier announcing the talk states: “Germany and the United States face enormous challenges in 2011, including the aftermath of the global financial crisis, regional conflicts, climate change, terrorism and nuclear nonproliferation.

“Tackling such complex problems requires reliable and strong partnerships. Ambassador Scharioth will discuss the shared values and interests between the United States and Germany, and how we can build on them to solve global problems.”

Scharioth’s talk is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in the Institute of Government Affairs Reading Room, 360 Shields Library. The organizers said Scharioth will speak for 30 minutes and take questions after.

Sponsors: University Outreach and International Programs, the Department of German and the Russian Program, and the Institute of Governmental Affairs.

The talk is free and open to the public, the organizers said. People planning to attend are asked to arrange reservations by Monday, March 7, by contacting Parvin Damania, (530) 754-9707 or padamania@ucdavis.edu. Directions to 360 Shields Library.

TRANSITION: Professor Martin heads International Programs

Vice Provost William B. Lacy announced the appointment of Adrienne L. Martín, professor of Spanish, as associate vice provost for International Programs in the office of University Outreach and International Programs.

Martín succeeds Jean-Xavier Guinard, a professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology, who now leads the systemwide Education Abroad Program.

As associate vice provost for International Programs, Martín has primary responsibility for providing campus leadership and coordination for UC Davis faculty, students and staff in international research and education, and outreach activities and programs.

She has led UC Davis and Stanford University study abroad programs in Iberia and North Africa. Under the auspices of the National Endowment for the Humanities, she directed seminars in Spain, for U.S. high school teachers.

Martín joined the Department of Spanish 15 years ago and has taught undergraduate and graduate seminars in all genres of Golden Age and medieval Spanish literature, chaired the Spanish department’s Graduate Program and directed numerous doctoral dissertations.

She is the author or editor of six books and scores of scholarly articles, reviews and critical notes in her fields of specialization: Cervantes, humor, erotic literature, drama and performance, and women’s lyric poetry.

She is the vice president of the Cervantes Society of America, and previously served as president of the Society for Renaissance and Baroque Hispanic Poetry.

Martín received a doctorate in romance languages and literatures from Harvard University and taught at Stanford for eight years before coming to UC Davis.