The Minuteman

From the February 2007 Print Edition

Cal professor: Reduce pedestrian deaths in Berkeley with “traffic calming”

Recently there were two pedestrian deaths in the city of Berkeley. A UC Berkeley professor, Michael Jerrett, wrote in to the Berkeley Daily Planet, stating that traffic-calming measures would solve the problem. Apparently, Berkeley was one of the first to have implemented traffic calming but it was only extended to wealthy neighborhoods, according to Jerrett. One of Jerrett’s solutions includes a fee for driving in high-traffic areas, following the example of London’s high-congestion areas. It is important, in his estimation, that there is equality across the board so that poorer people would be able to live in low-traffic areas as well. Of course, this kind of proposal could only happen in Berkeley.

What did you learn in school today?

On the last day of lecture for History 127AC last semester, Professor Kurwin Lee Klein ended the course with a special bonus fact about California history. He posed the question to the class, “What sexual act was invented onstage in San Francisco?” Students in the class threw out some guesses, but none got the right answer. The professor then yelled out the answer, “Fist-f—ing.” He then put his fist up in the air and said, “Power to the people!” and left.

Statewide plastic-bag ban?

The city of San Francisco banned the use of traditional plastic bags in large grocery markets. Now Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, has announced a new measure that would allow markets to charge up to 15 cents for one-time-use plastic bags. Additionally, stores that did not show a marked improvement with recycling the bags could be forced to remove plastic bags as an option altogether. The Bay Area always seems to be the catalyst for these kinds of crazy eco-totalitarian ideas.

Fight for Native American remains looks to Che for support

UC Berkeley houses remains of approximately 12,000 Native Americans in the basement of Hearst Gymasium. Many of these bones were dug up during the 1960s by archaeologists, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. Many Native American tribes are pushing for the repatriation of the remains. Though the Times detailed the ongoing fight for the remains, it did not mention the rally on Sproul Plaza in October of last year. Zachary Running Wolf, a local Native American and oak activist, waved a flag depicting communist leader Che Guevara. So what do Che Guevara and Native Americans have in common?

Lesbian minister in the Bay Area?

The San Francisco Presbytery, which is the local governing body for the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the Bay Area, has challenged a new “authoritative interpretation” that allowed for some wiggle room in church law. Under the Book of Order, which outlines the rules that are required under the Presbyterian Church, ministers must be faithful in marriage or chaste in singleness. Marriage is defined as between a man and a woman. The presbytery voted 167-151 in favor of the ordination process for Lisa Larges, an openly lesbian deacon who is pursuing the ministry. Though the Presbyterian Church (USA) opened a loophole for possible homosexual ordinations at its last General Assembly in 2006, the San Francisco Presbytery is the first to challenge that. Go figure.

Tuition for spring semester down $1.50

As students began the new semester, they were able to keep another $1.50 in their pockets because of a reduction in the AC Transit Class Pass fee. While the Class Pass totaled $58.50 during the fall semester, it was discovered that the pass charged students for a service that they were not even using. However, there are many ridiculous costs in our “Campus Fee,” including a $5 Green Initiative Fund Fee and a $2.25 Ethnic Studies fee, to name just a few of the different fees that make up the $205 charge. The university should seriously reevaluate the usefulness of charging students these arbitrary fees. Meanwhile, think of all of the things you could do with a spare $1.50.

If you enjoyed this article, please consider supporting the Patriot