A Worm in a Bubble in the Ocean, New York Times
P. californiensis is a segmented marine worm that, in its larval stage, uses the bubbles to filter food particles from the water. That's the discovery of Dr. Bruno Pernet, an assistant professor of biology at California State University, Long Beach.

Teaching assistants strike 23 campuses, San Francisco Chronicle
Academic student employees at the 23 California State University campuses will stage a one-day strike today over unresolved labor issues.

Steve Harvey: Close Encounters of the CSUN Kind, Los Angeles Times
Is there intelligent life at Cal State Northridge?

Study shows the CSU system's impact on state, Nguoi Viet Daily News
The California State University system and its 23 campuses have a major, positive effect on California’s economy, according to a new comprehensive study by the university system.

Strike planned at CSU campuses, Ventura County Star
Graduate and undergraduate student teachers at California State University's 23 campuses are being asked to go on a one-day strike today to protest what union representatives say are unfair labor practices by the university.

CSUSM kinesiology major gets formal approval, North County Times
A new program in kinesiology at Cal State San Marcos has received the official approval of the CSU chancellor to be a new major for a bachelor's degree, the university announced this week.

CSUSM names business, finance leader, North County Times
Cal State San Marcos will welcome a new member to its staff in spring, with the appointment of Neal R. Hoss, who will serve as one of the university's four senior officers.

CSU's student workers to strike, Daily Review
Newly unionized teaching assistants, tutors and other academic student employees at California State University campuses are planning a one-day strike today to protest what they say are unfair labor practices by the university system.

UCR gets ally in medical school push, Press-Enterprise
Plans to bring a medical school to UC Riverside won the support of a key University of California official Wednesday.

Connerly to step down as regent, Monterey County Herald
Ward Connerly, the outspoken affirmative-action opponent who led the drive to end preferential college admissions in California, will not seek a second 12-year term as a University of California regent.

Conference's goal is to help Latino boys, San Diego Union-Tribune
South County educators plan to bus about 500 Latino boys to UCSD on Saturday to encourage them to get college degrees and good jobs as a way to reverse lagging achievement among Latinos.

Templeton High biotech program draws educators, San Luis Obispo Tribune
A few dozen educators from around the state gathered at Templeton High School on Wednesday to get a look at the campus's biotechnology program.

Cost for education complex to rise, North County Times
The 227,000-square-foot Temecula Education Complex is earmarked for 31 acres at Diaz Road and Dendy Street, west of Interstate 15. The campus is expected to be used jointly by Mt. San Jacinto College, Cal State San Marcos, UC Riverside and Concordia University Irvine.

Cupertino teacher on Fox talk show, San Jose Mercury News
Nearly 3,000 people packed the Flint Center in Cupertino for a live broadcast Wednesday of Fox News' ``Hannity & Colmes'' talk show featuring Stephen J. Williams, the teacher at the center of a reinvigorated debate about the place of religion in public schools.

College official demands apology, Fresno Bee
Teresa Patterson, spokeswoman for the State Center Community College District, has demanded $20,000 and an apology to compensate her for what she describes as sexual harassment by district trustee Phillip Forhan.

Activating the next generation, USA Today/AP
Results of a five-year, $5 million study of AmeriCorps, a 10-year-old national program that provides scholarship money to young people in return for their volunteer work, show positive effects for volunteers and the nature of volunteerism.

Congress Blocks Exemptions That Colleges Had Hoped Would Ease Visa Delays, Chronicle of Higher Education
Hidden in the intelligence-reform bill that cleared Congress on Wednesday is a provision that would bar the U.S. State Department from exempting more foreign students and scholars from a requirement that they have a personal interview with a consular officer before getting a visa.

In a Global Test of Math Skills, U.S. Students Behind the Curve, Washington Post
American high school students have a poorer mastery of basic math concepts than their counterparts in most other leading industrialized nations, according to a major international survey released yesterday.

Education: Volviendo al buen camino, La Opinion
[Spanish language version of Chancellor Reed's opinion piece on getting education back on track.]

Opinion: California should end social promotion, San Diego Union-Tribune
It is no secret that California's education system is in need of repair. According to our calculations, a full third of students in California dropped out of high school in the class of 2001, and the state consistently performs poorly on nationally respected standardized tests.

Opinion: After-school programs keep children safe but face challenges, Sacramento Bee
Among the buzz words politicians use to woo voters, "after-school programs" pops up a lot, garnering more mentions in campaign news coverage than the terms "standardized tests" and "class size" combined, according to a 2004 database search.

Letters to the Editor: Dissect the state's land sell-off idea before we bite, San Luis Obispo Tribune
The Tribune's notion (Sunday Opinion, "Put those 'for sale' signs up," Dec. 5) that argues for selling state land at Camp San Luis Obispo, Atascadero State Hospital and the California Youth Authority at Paso Robles to provide additional housing and offset budget shortfalls should not be viewed as the highest and best use of these lands.[CSU professor].

Opinion: Public schools must teach about religion, San Jose Mercury News
When it comes to public policy toward religion, I'm a freedom lover in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. When it comes to teaching American history to California schoolchildren, I favor the students learning the basic facts.

Economy is growing, but so is state deficit, San Francisco Chronicle
California's economy is growing, revenue is up and unemployment is down, but the state government still faces huge budget deficits.

NOTE: For additional political coverage, visit the Rough & Tumble website.

UAW Strike Announced, CSU Public Affairs
First Contract Negotiations Disrupted by Illegal UAW Activity.

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