1st appeared 05 August 1998

Playing Possum Police

It might not be in his job description, but UCSF police officer Harold Caligiuri found himself standing guard for 25 minutes Monday over a disoriented possum who couldn't find its way to the right ER. An employee reported the wayward critter at the front of UC Hall on Parnassus, and Caligiuri came to assist. He correctly diagnosed it was either injured or feeling under the weather, as it was a bit too lively to be well. A healthy possum would have played possum, but this one tried to sneak his way down a ramp into the Clinical Sciences building. That would have worked in the old days, when that structure was a patient care facility. He held the possum in protective custody, and fortunately for the campus and possum, there was no other police emergency during that time. Although the main campus lies between Mount Sutro and Golden Gate Park, wildlife are smart enough to stay off Parnassus, so possum calls are rare, says Caligiuri. Complaints about raccoons, however, are common at the Aldea student housing up the hill. After nearly a half-hour, Caligiuri turned over his long-nosed, long-tailed pal to county animal control officers, who surely got it to the correct primary possum care provider.

Chili-ing Out On Parnassus

Campus chili chefs will get their chance to show off their hidden talents Wednesday, Aug. 12, 11:30-1:00, in the Millberry Union Gym. And if you don't give a crock about chili, you can try homemade salsa. It's all part of Empact's Seventh Annual Chili and Salsa Cookoff, which is about as close as you can get to a free UCSF lunch.

Charles Smith, a Facilities Management project director, left campus in May and can't defend his title in the People's Choice Competition. His winning "Lab Rat Chili" last year was much more tasteful than its name. No word yet if Laura McCarty of Facilities Management, whose chili and salsa were the judges' pick last year, will come to Parnassus from Mission Center to test her roasted vegetable chili on picky campus tastebuds. Empact has extended its entry deadline to the day of the event. Call them at 476-2675 or visit their website (www.empact.ucsf.edu) to sign up. UCSF Stanford Health Care CEO Peter Van Etten; Bruce Schroffel, UCSF Stanford senior VP and chief operating officer for UCSF adult services; and Randy Lopez, director of UCSF Human Resources, are scheduled to judge. But all tasters are judges, too.

Prizes for best chili include Macy's gift certificates valued at $300 (People's Choice Award), $200 (People's Choice Runner-Up), and $250 (Judges' Choice). For the best salsas, the prizes are Macy's certificates for $150 (People's Choice), $75 (People's Choice, Runner-Up) and ($100 Judges' Choice).

And to spice things up even more, the band "Cubanacan" is scheduled to perform in the MU Gym.

Skinema II, The Sequel

Dermatologist Vail Reese recently teamed with Joe Bob Briggs, the Siskel or Ebert of B movies, for a session on creepy skin in the movies. Reese, who flew to "hot as heck Dallas" recently to tape an "acne night" segment for Briggs' "summer school" series, ended up discussing several topics, including scarring (Freddy from Nightmare on Elm Street), albinism (Village of the Damned), and ichthyosis (congenital dry skin -- The Alligator People). Reese was chosen as a Joe Bob guest because of his dermatology and movie expertise. (See previous Daybreak story) Other summer guests of Briggs include director Wes Craven, actor/rapper IceT, wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, and military expert Colonel David Hackworth. "Certainly an eclectic bunch," he says. The show featuring Reese will air Saturday, Aug. 29, 10:30, on cable TNT.

Gym Rats

From the suggestion/comments box at the Millberry Union Gym. In addition to the usual concerns about athlete's foot, rock music in the weight room, and offenders of the 30-minute treadmill time limit was a complaint about a nine-year-old boy in the women's locker room. With kids' swimming classes during the summer, the delicate issue arises of how old -- or young -- can one be to be with a parent or adult in the locker room of the opposite gender. MU, where self-policing and a nifty staff usually are good enough to handle any disagreement, says six years old. But is a kindergarten student body card a good enough proof of age?

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