? Scripps Students Suspended: 33 students from Scripps Ranch High School were suspended and banned from attending prom and commencement following a twerking video released on YouTube.
In the video, which was created by students in the school’s media class using school equipment and property, 32 teenage girls were seen popping their hips and dancing suggestively to a song by rapper YG. According to one of the disciplined teenagers, all seniors involved must now request permission to attend prom and graduation ceremonies in front of a panel.
“I don’t think they should have gotten suspended,” senior Brooke Carlucci said in an interview with NBC 7 San Diego. “I think the filmers should have been suspended, but not the girls involved.”
? Nathan Fletcher Joins Democratic Party: UCSD professor, former California assemblyman and San Diego mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher is joining the Democratic Party after a one-year stint as an independent politician.
“I’m proud to join the party and comfortable with my decision,” Fletcher wrote in an announcement on his Facebook page. “I hope you will respect my decision and not fall into the cynicism that so often dominates our political discussions.”
Fletcher left the Republican Party in March 2012 to run as an independent status San Diego mayoral candidate, finishing third in the primary. He began teaching California politics and elections courses at UCSD in winter quarter of this year.
? UCSD Professors Join National Academy of Sciences: The National Academy of Sciences elected UCSD professors Peter J. Novick, Nicholas C. Spitzer and Nancy Knowlton to join the academy for distinguished achievements in research. Ninety-five UCSD members were previously elected to the National Academy of Sciences. The number of academy members on university faculty is used as a benchmark to compare the strength of research across the nation’s institutions.
“These individuals are the world’s recognized leaders in their respective fields, and their presence on our campus is confirmation of the quality of our faculty and the excellence of our research university,” Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said.
? UCSD Health System Receives Outstanding Achievement Award: The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer awarded UCSD Health System’s Moores Cancer Center the 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award for excellence in cancer patient care. The Moores Cancer Center is one of three programs in California to receive the award and recently entered the National Comprehensive Cancer Network as its first San Diego-based program.
? “Anchorman: The Legend Continues” Casting San Diego Locals: “Anchorman: The Legend Continues” — the sequel to the 2004 Will Ferrell film — is hosting an open casting call in San Diego this Saturday, according to Central Casting. The agency is looking for hundreds of city locals of any age and ethnicity to participate as paid background actors during the movie’s filming this month. Casting takes place at the Mission Valley DoubleTree Hotel on May 11 from noon to 4 p.m. Interested San Diego residents should visit centralcasting.com for more information.
