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Jan. 19, 2023

Anteater Time Machine: In 1973, “Classical Gas” guitarist Mason Williams, who also wrote for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” performed at UCI’s Persian-themed coffeehouse, the Patogh, which was almost named after Folgers mascot Mrs. Olson (see story below under #UCIconnected). Photo by Mark Brickley ’74
Anteater Time Machine: In 1973, “Classical Gas” guitarist Mason Williams, who also wrote for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” performed at UCI’s Persian-themed coffeehouse, the Patogh, which was almost named after Folgers mascot Mrs. Olson (see story below under #UCIconnected). Photo by Mark Brickley ’74

UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

UCI Health expands partnership with Catalina hospital

Since 2016, UCI Health has provided emergency room services at the Catalina Island Medical Center in Avalon, the island’s primary hospital for residents and tourists. Now, UCI Health and CIMC have announced a clinical affiliation that “opens the door to possible expansion of primary and specialty care” at the Catalina center, according to Chad T. Lefteris, CEO of UCI Health.

Ballet expert explores history of pointe shoes

UCI dance professor, author and self-described “ballet coroner” Jennifer Fisher, who once trained to be a Russian ballerina, recently displayed her collection of pointe shoes and discussed the history of ballet footwear.

UCI’s 2022 sustainability report

UCOP released its annual sustainability report for all UC locations, including a summary page for UCI.

UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS

Free speech center discusses cancel culture on campuses

In the latest podcast from UC’s National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, author Sigal Ben-Porath discusses her new book, Cancel Wars: How Universities Can Foster Free Speech, Promote Inclusion, and Renew Democracy. A transcript is also available.

Motorists stand on Highway 101 after the Ventura River flooded the road.
Motorists stand on Highway 101 after the Ventura River flooded the road.

Recent storms likely weren’t caused by climate change, experts say

The atmospheric rivers that pounded California with rain and snow this winter appear to be typical of the intense, periodic storms that the state has experienced throughout its history and not the result of global warming, according to researchers interviewed by the Los Angeles Times.

Paycheck reminders for 2023

A UCnet article outlines tax changes and other paycheck adjustments for employees to double-check in the new year.

EVENTS

Dreamtime: Jane and Louise Wilson art exhibition
Saturday, noon, through March 25 (sponsored by University Art Galleries)

Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.

UCI IN THE NEWS

Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
NBC News logo

After California’s deadly storms left towns and farmland flooded, residents are struggling to recover

NBC News, Jan. 18
Cited: Brett Sanders, professor of civil and environmental engineering

KCBS logo

“Buy now, pay later” warning

KCAL/KCBS On Your Side (video), Jan. 18
Guest: Ben Lourie, associate professor of accounting

Daily Pilot logo

A local comes home as contemporary ballet company BalletX takes the Irvine Barclay stage

Daily Pilot, Jan. 18
Cited: Alumna Andrea Yorita ’12

#UCICONNECTED

Remembering UCI’s Patogh coffee and music lounge

In the early 1970s, the ASUCI Concert and Dance Committee planned to open a campus cafe and music venue called Mrs. Olson’s Coffee House, named after the fictitious spokeswoman for Folgers. The actress who played Mrs. Olson was set to fly out from New York for the grand opening, but the deal fell through, and the venue instead became the Patogh, which featured Persian decor and live entertainment on weekends. Social ecology alum Mark Brickley ran the lounge as an undergrad and sent us the photo at the top of today’s UCI Digest. We scoured UCI and New University archives for more pictures, but came up empty. If you have a snapshot and/or memory of the Patogh, we’d love to consider publishing it. Email us at ucidigest@uci.edu.

#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.

COVID-19 NOTIFICATION & HEALTH RESOURCES

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By coming to campus each day, students and employees are attesting they are free of COVID-19 symptoms and are not COVID-19 positive. If you currently have symptoms of COVID-19 or recently tested positive, do not come to campus, or if you currently live on campus stay in your residence, and follow instructions for reporting your case or assessing symptoms on the UCI Forward page. Close contacts to a COVID-19 case are not required to stay home or quarantine, but should follow guidance for close contact instructions for masking and testing on the UCI Forward page.

Potential workplace exposure

UCI provides this notification of a potential workplace COVID-19 exposure. Employees and subcontractors who were in these locations on the dates listed may have been exposed to the coronavirus. You may be entitled to various benefits under applicable federal and state laws and University-specific policies and agreements. The full notification is available on the UCI Forward site. If you have been identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 case, the UCI Contact Tracing Program will contact you and provide additional direction.

UCI Forward – information on campus status and operational updates

Monkeypox information - Information and resources on monkeypox

UCI Health COVID-19 Updates – important information related to UCI Health

UCI Coronavirus Response Center – available at covid19@uci.edu or 949-824-9918

Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services – assistance with vaccines and vaccine uploads or to report a case, available at contacttracing@uci.edu or 949-824-2300

For questions specific to your personal health situation, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider.

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