FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013
Highlander University
Volume 61
of
C a l i f o r n i a , R ive r s i d e
Issue 29
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Campus task force releases 40 safety recommendations Dean Mayorga SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Colin Markovich SENIOR STAFF WRITER
WHY ARE PARKING COSTS GOING UP? WHERE ARE THE TROLLEYS? WHY CAN’T I FIND A PARKING SPOT?
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH TAPS? In the first of a series of reports on the finances of campus departments, the Highlander investigates one of the most controversial issues on campus, the bleeding of money from Transportation and Parking Services. Page 7
The UCR Task Force on Campus Safety has released a list of 40 recommendations, also known as “action items,” based on existing campus and community security measures. Released on May 8, the recommendations were made publicly available on the task force’s page, found at safety.ucr.edu. The 40 potential safety initiatives include recommendations such as eliminating unsafe parking spots, increasing the number of police bike patrols, encouraging local apartment managers to participate in the Crime Free Multi-Housing program and increasing the number of emergency call boxes around campus. According to Chair of the Task Force and Associate Vice Chancellor Charles Rowley, the discussions behind the potential safety initiatives revolved around “promoting safety in areas around the campus, enhancing safety on campus and improving communications with faculty, staff and students about safety issues and resources.” He states that a wide array of staff, faculty, students and community members provided input, which either enhanced existing proposals or developed entirely new ones. Ultimately, no suggestions were excluded from the report. RECOMMENDATIONS CONT’D ON PAGE 6
W e s l e y N g /HIGHLANDER
UC Regents file restraining order against systemwide labor union Winnie Jeng STAFF WRITER
Issuing a notice to the UC Office of the President (UCOP), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union (AFSCME) is planning to strike on May 21 and 22 to protest against reduced pensions and poor working conditions. UCOP considers the union’s threat of withholding medical service during the two-day strike as “grossly inappropriate,” since it would substantially endanger health care patients. In response, the UC is therefore pursuing a restraining order on the premise that any strike that poses a threat to public health or safety is illegal according to California state law. The union, which represents 12,900 workers across five UC medical centers and nine student health centers, received an overwhelming majority approval rate of 97 percent
to pursue the two-day strike. The patient technical workers voiced concerns of chronic understaffing, skyrocketing management payroll and exorbitant seven-figure pensions for top executives. Earlier this year, the union released a 31-page whistleblower investigation report, “A Question of Priorities,” revealing the dwindling patient care quality in conjunction with subsidizing excessive management costs and rising debt service payments. In the report, AFSCME accuses the UC of placing profit before patient care, jeopardizing not only its reputation as a premier, world-class facility, but also the well-being of its workers. Many medical care workers have reported feeling sorely burnt-out by the understaffing situation, while many more RESTRAINING ORDER CONT’D ON PAGE 5
INSIDE: Editorial: Students are ignored in the controversy surrounding a UCR professor’s resignation.
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OPINONS
The Food Truck Festival gives the UCR campus a unique dining experience. PAGE 16
FEATURES
The first annual MCS student film festival loses its focus on students. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Baseball: UCR claws to a win against the Toreros, but loses close bouts to the Dirtbags.
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SPORTS
C o u rt e s y o f T h e A g g i e AFSCME protestors temporarily shut down the UC Regents meeting held on May 15 in Sacremento.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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STAFF
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