CAMPUS — UCSD was recently voted the most vegan-friendly college in America in an annual contest sponsored by peta2, PETA’s youth division. There were 32 large schools in the competition this year, including Cornell University, UC Berkeley and UCLA. The vegan restaurant Roots was the biggest factor in UCSD’s victory. The restaurant serves popular dishes such as the Spicy Sierra — vegan chicken in barbecue sauce with chipotle soy cream and caramelized onions — and the El Capitan — vegan Italian sausage, dairy-free cheese and sautéed peppers.
CAMPUS — Five UCSD students who were former foster children and two junior faculty members were chosen to receive the latest Sony Electronics products. This is the fourth year that Sony has partnered with UCSD and other colleges to provide scholars with technology tools. The products include a VAIO laptop, Xperia tablet, PlayStation Vita and an Alpha NEX-7 digital camera.
CAMPUS — Janice Katz of Poway pledged $2 million to the Center for Pain Medicine at UCSD. She and her husband, David Katz, sold their Chicago business and retired in San Diego when she was diagnosed with chronic neck and back pain. After little success with her orthopedists, she was treated at the pain center, where she found relief after doctors injected some of her neck and back muscles with Botox. Her positive experience led to the couple’s decision to make a donation that will support the center’s general operations.
CAMPUS — UCSD Political Science Professor Samuel Popkin was revealed as a member of President Obama’s “Academic Dream Team,” a group of at least six unpaid academic advisers called the Consortium of Behavioral Scientists. Popkin is an expert on polling and communications and has consulted previous presidents and vice presidents about elections, including Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Al Gore. His new book, “The Candidate,” described management strategies for political campaigns and how to use the power of incumbency. Mesa College professor Carl Luna said the President used many of Popkin’s strategies in his re-election campaign that helped him win a second term.
SAN DIEGO — A quadriplegic rapist won his appeal to be released from prison due to his current condition. Steven Martinez applied to be released from prison under a medical parole law – created to lower prison costs – and was rejected. Martinez had been the first prisoner in California to apply for the law. He appealed the rejection and an appeals court in San Diego supported him. Martinez was paralyzed instantly after two inmates stabbed him in the neck in 2001. In 1998, Martinez was convicted of driving his car over a woman, assaulting her, kidnapping her and then raping her.
Additional reporting by Rebecca Horwitz.
