Hackers may have breached UC Berkeley database

Law enforcement officials are investigating whether computer hackers who gained unauthorized access to a computer database at UC Berkeley successfully acquired personal information — including social security numbers — of more than 600,000 individuals who provide and receive in-home health care.

Campus officials first announced the apparent security breach, which took place in early September, on Oct. 20.

At the time, a visiting scholar used the numbers as part of her research project to determine how wage and benefit increases could improve the recruitment and retention of quality home care workers.

Campus networking and law enforcement officials are working in concert with the FBI and other state and federal authorities to determine how the breach occurred, according to a university statement.

The investigation has not yet determined whether hackers acquired any personal data, and the state’s Department of Social Services has reported no evidence of identity theft or misuse of the data.

At the time of the incident, Berkeley administrators were working to institute new standards for security scheduled to go into effect in the spring that will deny university network access to all individuals without proper software patches, anti-virus programs and other potential security problems.

UCSA beats 25,000 goal for student voter registration

The UC Student Association has announced that it beat its goal of registering 25,000 new college voters by 5,000 students.

In an attempt to target the age group with the lowest reported political participation, the organization launched the campaign to make students more engaged, UCSA President Jennifer Lilla said.

In addition, the group is trying to increase voter turnout on UC campuses by 5 percent in the Nov. 2 election, and has planned statewide voter education events targeting students.

Iraq adviser to address reconstruction on Oct. 25

Ambassador Joseph Ghougassian, who has advised the Iraqi Higher Education Ministry and the Coalition Provisional Authority, will talk about challenges facing the reconstruction of Iraq in a discussion with the campus’ International Affairs Group.

A former professor at University of San Diego, Ghougassian also served as the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar.

At the Oct. 25 event, humanitarian-assistance expert Eric Greitens will moderate a discussion between Ghougassian and audience members.

The free event that is open to the public will begin at 7 p.m. at Great Hall and is administered by UCSD’s International House.

Students prefer ideal weight to longer life, study finds

College students say they’re willing to cut short their lives if it allows them to be thin, according to a new survey by the Dole Nutrition Institute.

Almost four in 10 respondents said they would be willing to die a year earlier in order to remain at their ideal weight for the rest of their lives, though only 18 percent believe they are currently overweight, the study found.

However, only 22 percent said they would accept lower grades if it allowed them to shave off 10 pounds of extra weight. Eighty-four percent of the students said they believed it would be worse to be 20 pounds overweight than to be $20,000 in debt.

In addition, the study reported that college students do not drink as much alcohol as is commonly believed. Almost half of respondents said they do not drink on a regular basis, and almost one-third said they drink five or fewer alcoholic beverages in an average week.

Only 12 percent said they consume 10 or more drinks per week.

Fewer international students applying to study in U.S.

The number of prospective graduate international students has declined from last year at many of the nation’s top academic institutions, a new joint survey by five higher education interest groups has found.

The declines appear to be the largest in the nation’s doctoral and research institutions, and among the 25 research institutions that enroll the most international students, according to the study. The numbers indicate that the decline in applications is most serious for Chinese students.

Though the groups stated that an analysis of the causes for the decrease would require a separate study, they have cited “an unwelcoming climate for international students” as a reason for the declines. They also pointed to “substantial anecdotal evidence” from higher education institutions across the country indicating that current security policies and procedures have had a negative impact on students, especially those studying science.