A draft of the campus’s new Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan will be the subject of a community forum from 5 to 7 p.m. this Thursday (Oct. 27).

The committee behind the plan is seeking additional feedback on top of what has come in online. The draft plan is posted here, on a page that includes a “Submit your feedback” button.

The forum will include small-group discussions designed to identify the key components of the plan that most resonate with students, faculty and staff, and to identify areas that need to be strengthened or revised for the plan to be successful, said Adela de la Torre, vice chancellor of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity.

“Don't miss this critical opportunity to participate in the review process,” de la Torre said in an email invitation to the campus community.

She said the program will start with a brief overview of the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative and how community input guided development of the draft plan over the last year.

The forum will be held at the Conference Center. Space is limited, said the organizers, who are asking for RSVPs. Light refreshments will be served.

FBI special agent to discuss cybersecurity

The Information Security Office is inviting faculty, staff and students to a Cybersecurity Awareness Month program featuring FBI Special Agent Christopher Thomas.

The free program, including lunch, is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 26) in Temporary Classroom 3. The organizers said Thomas will give a talk on current topics in cybersecurity and answer questions.

For more information, contact Dewight Kramer, information security consultant, by email.

More TechNews: Education a top target of ‘ransomware’

A campus information security analyst is offering best practices to protect against “ransomware,” malicious code that hackers install on your computer to encrypt and lock up your files. Then the hackers demand money to get your data back.

The volume of attacks has risen sharply, and although anyone can be a victim, education is a top target. So what do you do? In a recent UC IT blog post, UC Davis analyst Wayne Fischer recommends nine fairly simple steps, including regular backups of your files, timely patching, and using good anti-virus and anti-malware programs. Follow all nine, and you should be in good shape.

He also offers advice about how to respond if your computer is infected. “Don’t panic or rush to pay,” he wrote. “Help is often available.”

Read the complete TechNews article by Bill Buchanan.

Clown sightings investigated

Campus police are maintaining an increased presence at UC Davis West Village after two reports of scary clown sightings Sunday night (Oct. 23): One caller reported having been chased by a clown and the other caller reported seeing a clown who may have been armed with a knife.

A crime report was filed in response to the report of a knife being brandished, Interim Police Chief Jennifer Garcia said.

Police sent out a WarnMe message to the campus community Sunday and officers were stationed there overnight, but so far have not turned up a clown. Officers also worked with West Village to remind residents them that if the clown is in fact a resident playing a prank, those responsible will face serious consequences.

Authorities ask people to call 911 if they see anyone dressed as a clown and acting suspiciously.

Free calendar order deadline: Oct. 28

Circle this date on your calendar — Oct. 28, this Friday — to remember that’s your last day to order a new calendar for next year, a free, personalized poster calendar from Repro Graphics.

The university print shop offers the calendars to Davis and Sacramento campus employees and students with valid Kerberos ID. Repro Graphics produces the calendars on its HP Indigo color press, to demonstrate how it produces photo-quality images with vibrant colors and amazing detail, and how it can handle variable data.

Variable data on your free calendar includes a university-themed image of your choice (from 10 options), and different descriptions for different days of the year (you choose up to four days per month, to designate as you like: birthdays or anniversaries, or university holidays or special days like National Walk You Dog Day).

Orders are being taken online. Questions? Send an email to Repro Graphics or call 530-752-2679.

Blood drive rivalry returns

Sac State held its three-day drive last week, and UC Davis is holding its drive next week, three days in a row, Tuesday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the Quad.

To recap last year, UC Davis had a turnout of 1,517 participants and collected an impressive amount of blood from generous donors. Our ambition for this year is to exceed those numbers as well as reclaim the Causeway Classic Blood Drive trophy.

Every participant will receive a free T-shirt along with MyBloodSource Rewards points that can be redeemed for gift cards, dining and entertainment, electronics and more.

— Hailey Jenkins

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