Evelyn Castle, a third-year health science major at UC Santa Cruz, has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship by the Strauss Foundation to support her work improving the healthcare system of Nigeria. Last year, Castle spent three months helping create Nigeria’s first electronic medical records system, providing both physicians and policy makers with up-to-date information on patients and procedures. With the scholarship, she plans to return for six months and expand the electric EMR system to seven general hospitals and five primary healthcare centers—creating a network of healthcare information sharing and a database that will help NGO’s and policy-makers respond to critical public health needs.

Climate change crusader Al Gore engages local youth
Former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore opened his May 17 talk at California State University Monterey Bay with a classic quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.”

Every seat was taken for the fourth lecture in the annual series hosted by the Panetta Institute, a CSUMB-based nonpartisan educational foundation focused on public policy. The roughly 800 students in attendance came from campuses throughout the Central Coast, and the processes used to select them for participation were as diverse as the region itself. Later in the evening, Gore would speak at an $85-per-ticket event at the Golden State Theatre in Monterey (broadcast live on local television). But here, the crowd would be tougher to play to—after all, it rests on the slim shoulders of the students in this room and their generation to make amends for the climate crisis.

Three Santa Cruz preschool co-ops fight to remain open
On Tuesday, May 18, uncertainty filled the classroom as the parents of Soquel Parent Education Nursery School (Soquel PENS) congregated for their last monthly parent meeting of the school year—and what might be their last meeting ever.

Soquel PENS is a preschool co-op with two sister schools, Westside PENS (WPENS) and Santa Cruz PENS (SCPENS). The schools have been a part of the Santa Cruz community for decades, ranging from 35 years to 61 years in operation. “There are grandmothers that went there before their daughters. And now their daughters’ daughters are going there,” says Matthew Kirk-Williams, father of 4-year-old Logan, who attends Soquel PENS.

How has public opinion and state and national plans for offshore oil drilling been affected by the BP oil spill?
A poll came out on May 6 that I thought had some very interesting numbers. Among the results, 20 percent of respondents said they’d drive less, attributing their decision directly to the oil spill in the Gulf [of Mexico].

A community at a crossroads
Recent violence and attacks on downtown have done more than torn through the fabric of our historically peaceful community; it has left many residents simply asking, “What happened to the Santa Cruz I know?” In search of easy answers we often look toward short-term policy changes (more police overtime) or easy scapegoats (elected officials). But a micro approach, while satiating the initial visceral need to do something, really does little to address the underlying issue. That issue, simply stated, is that our community is no longer the community we knew.

For those of us blessed with ultra fashionable sisters, we have the luxury of raiding said sisters’ closets to obtain the latest apparel and accessories trends without spending a dime. I am always envious of my lovely little sister’s careless chic, looking as though she just stepped out of a bohemian café in the 6^th Arrondissement in Paris, yet always managing to retain a touch of that glam California girl in her style portfolio. For those of you lacking in the sister department, Cameron Marks boutique on the Westside is a close second choice.

Amidst the drastic increase in student fees, loss in teachers, classes, and whole departments, Assemblymember Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) has a plan to revive public higher education. At a press conference at Cabrillo College on Thursday, May 20, Torrico discussed his proposal for AB 656, the Fair Share for Fair Tuition Act. The bill will create a 12.5 percent oil severance tax on oil companies, which will raise $2 billion a year to fund higher education. “Californians are fed up with the status quo that has us spending more money on prisons than on all three higher education systems combined,” said Torrico. So far, more than 75,000 fed up Californians have registered their support for the bill.

An open letter to fashionistas: Dear ones, we’ve recently become obsessed with the modern, stylish, clean lines and creative designs of indie label Dear Creatures. Owning their garments is our most recent addiction and obsession. Put on one of these frocks and you’ll no doubt feel lovely and inspired. Maybe you’ll take up painting, enroll in singing classes, or begin that novel you’ve always been longing to write. There’s something about the garments by Dear Creatures that stirs up creativity and makes you feel like a fashionable, free spirit. While hordes of designers are turning over new creations in the race to make it in the challenging fashion industry, this line of clothing stands out from the rest with its daring vision and completely original pieces that are enticing to women. You can pair any striking blouse with a pair of jeans of your choice and some sweet flats or heels, and you’ll be quite the eye-catcher. Our favorites?

This is a big week for the house of ideas with Marvel kicking out the first issue in their biggest event so far this year: “Age of Heroes.” A series that sets out to wipe the darkened slate from the last several years of violent, harder edged crossovers and shed a little light back in their universe. Bringing together the creative writing team of Kurt Busiek (awesome), Rick Remender (dunno), Paul Cornell (ditto), and Dan Slott (LOVE him) as well as several top notch artists, I’d be lying if I said I had no interest in the book. I know that Marvel has been hit and miss for a while now, but I still have fond memories of those incredibly fun giant-sized issues (no Man-Thing jokes, please) rolled up in my back pocket as a kid and this whole new take appears to be a return to comics that aren’t taking themselves so seriously. Always welcome in my opinion.

So is this Marvel’s answer to DC’s lightening up of its titles with “Brightest Day” after their remarkably bleak, Blackest Night series? Personally, I feel like the softening up might have something to do with the company’s recent acquisition by Disney – In any case it’s nice to see a return made by both companies to the type of stories that made comics so great to read back before the industry went all grim ‘n gritty in the mid-eighties. In the words of Dan Slot: “Fun is not a dirty word anymore.” Sounds great to me. Check out the other releases here.

A call for increased strength and a new commitment
In less than a year, on March 1, 2011 in Washington, D. C., there will be vibrant speeches and sustained applause for the United States Peace Corps. The agency will be 50 years old. More than 200,000 volunteers will have served in 139 countries around the world.  The Peace Corps volunteer contributions deserve both commendation and recognition.