Cal State SB enters world of gaming with design class, San Bernardino Sun
Every seat was filled Thursday night in the computer lab at the Center for Extended Learning at Cal State San Bernardino for a class the first of its kind at the university.

Poll: Locals oppose school cuts, Orange County Register
"Cut where the money is not, and spare where the money is." That, Cal State Fullerton political science professor Keith Boyum said, is the bottom line of a poll released Thursday on the state budget deficit. [Poll conducted by Fullerton.]

CSUSM chief: Higher ed at risky juncture, North County Times
Cal State San Marcos President Karen Haynes called Thursday for an end to the idea that the state budget somehow ought to be balanced by cuts to higher education.

Lessons Learned, Fresno Bee
Fresno State students tap center for tutors and workshops.

Regent Seeks Admissions Study, Los Angeles Times
Chairman wants outside analysis of how UC deals with race.

Mathematicians honored for 'index theorem' concept, San Francisco Chronicle
Two noted mathematicians who helped found the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute on the UC Berkeley campus were named by a Norwegian academy Thursday to receive a new international award considered the equivalent of a Nobel prize for math.

New Online Images Trace Valley History, San Jose Mercury-News
A coalition of private and public organizations is assembling, digitizing and posting online thousands of images that offer a glimpse into life in the Santa Clara Valley over the past few centuries. [Includes San Jose State.]

Schools could face further cuts, education chairwoman warns, San Francisco Chronicle/AP
Schools could face cuts beyond the $2 billion agreement reached by the governor and educators if lawmakers have to balance the budget by making harsh health care cuts, the chairwoman of the Assembly Education Committee said Thursday.

State will take over Vallejo schools, Contra Costa Times
About $2.5 million in budget cuts that Vallejo's school board made this week will not be enough to save the district from a state takeover.

Drug tests encouraged for high school sports, Contra Costa Times
California should require a special credential for school coaches, and it should test high school athletes for drug and steroid use, former 49ers' coach Bill Walsh told lawmakers Thursday.

Norco college campus evolves, Daily Bulletin
The Norco campus of Riverside Community College is taking its first steps toward becoming a full community college of its own.

Schools stepping up efforts to reduce teacher turnover, CNN/AP
In the sink-or-swim approach that first-year teachers have endured for decades, Sabrina Scott-Feggins was hired, thrown into a classroom and told to teach. There was no guidance, and little help. Times have changed.

Push Is On to Limit Aid to Rich Universities, New York Times
Following the Bush administration's lead, Republicans in the House say they will push to overhaul a financial aid system that often sends a disproportionate share of federal education money to wealthy universities with relatively few low-income students.

PeopleSoft Board Wins Support of Shareholders, Dealing Another Blow to Takeover Bid, Chronicle of Higher Education
PeopleSoft shareholders voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to keep their board of directors intact, delivering another blow to Oracle's $9.4-billion takeover bid for the software company.

A Right to Drink Cheaply? Students at U. of Wisconsin Sue 24 Bars That Eliminated Specials, Chronicle of Higher Education
Faced with higher prices at local bars, many students might simply have embraced an American campus tradition by drinking in their residences or at their fraternities. But two students at the University of Wisconsin at Madison this week opted for a different American tradition. They sued.

Massachusetts Court Overturns Jury's $4-Million Award to Parents of Northeastern U. Student, Chronicle of Higher Education
The Appeals Court of Massachusetts on Thursday overturned a jury's decision to award $4-million to the parents of a Northeastern University student who they said had died because the campus health clinic failed to diagnose her leukemia.

Letters to the Editor, San Jose Mercury-News
This promise is too hard to keep.

Opinion: The color of identity -- 50 years from now, San Jose Mercury-News
After reading an article on how Latino immigrants threaten America's identity, values and way of life, I went looking for one of the culprits.

Opinion: How to Solve Campus Parking Problems Without Adding More Parking, Chronicle of Higher Education
Faculty members, administrators, and students always want their colleges to build more parking, no matter how much is available.

Dan Walters: Political money talks - but gagging it could be worse, Sacramento Bee
The influence of special interest money on both elections and post-election decision-making utterly galls what Capitol insiders call "goo-goos," shorthand for "good government groups" such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters.

Governor's Staying Power, Los Angeles Times
Schwarzenegger has been calling businesses, such as organic food firm Amy's Kitchen, to find out how he can persuade them to remain in California.

Workers' Comp May Test Governor's Battle Tactics, Los Angeles Times
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's threat to state lawmakers this week was a familiar one: If they fail to pass the top item on his agenda, he will go around them and get what he wants by popular vote.

State lottery gambles with schools' share, Oakland Tribune
The state lottery and its giant gambling-equipment suppliers are quietly pushing legislation -- backed by a powerful East Bay lawmaker -- that would slash schools' share of gaming revenue about 10 percent and give it to prize winners to reignite lotto mania.

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

CSU Newsline
Here's the latest news from the CSU's 23 campuses.

CSU Leader
For breaking news and upcoming events, subscribe to CSU Leader, the weekly e-news publication of the CSU.