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by Andy
Evangelista First
appeared 22 February 1999
Grave Issues, the Guv, and Games People Play
Cloud Over Ishi Issue
Although the troubling mystery surrounding the autopsy and cremation of Ishi has been
solved (see Daybreak story),
an unanswered question remains: Why did his supposed friends not only allow removal of his
brain, but not stop the shipment of the preserved organ in 1917 to the Smithsonian?
UCSF historian Nancy Rockafellar's investigation and report removes the halo from Alfred
Kroeber, the revered anthropologist and museum curator who was Ishi's biographer, best
friend and protector after Ishi came to UCSF in 1911. True, Kroeber was not in town at the
time of the autopsy, but he knew very well of Ishi's and the Yahi belief that only those
whose bodies are whole reach the "land of the dead," according to experts.
We can't undo history, but we hope all parties now involved do the right thing by finally
returning Ishi's remains for proper burial in his tribal homeland.
The Governor at Laurel Heights
Gray Davis made his first appearance as governor at last Thursday's UC Regents meeting,
mainly to back a plan that would open the University to more students from high schools
that traditionally have not sent many of their graduates to UC campuses. (As lieutenant
governor, Davis actually had a good attendance record at Regents meetings.) Quite
noticeable at Laurel Heights, the regular meeting place of the Regents, were the less
stringent police measures compared to when Davis' predecessor use to show up. Many of the
times Pete Wilson showed up were when volatile issues -- such as the banning of
affirmative action programs -- were being discussed. So, protestors -- and police -- were
part of the presence. Davis did have his entourage of advance and security people last
week, but nothing compared to Wilson's. And, as some veteran UC police reminisced, nothing
compared to the laid-back late 70s when the Regents meetings were held only a couple miles
away at UC Extension and then-Governor Jerry Brown would pull up in his Plymouth and ask
"why are there police here?"
When the Budget Pie Sliced Differently
At the Regents meeting, members discussed projections of a substantially higher number of
students entering the UC system than expected in the next decade and lamented over
anticipated budget woes. William Bagley noted than in the 60s, 60% of the UC budget came
from the state. As we near the 21st Century, about only a quarter of the UC budget comes
from the legislature. State schools superintendent Delaine Eastin added more perspective
-- in the 60s, 14% of the state budget went to UC and 3% went to the prison system. Today,
UC receives less of the state budget pie, about 9%, and the prison systems gets more,
somewhere over 9%, according to Eastin.
Night Games
A faxed press release, addressed to "Lifestyle Editor" and forwarded to the Eye,
notes that nearly 25% of adults surveyed -- including more than one-third in the 40-49 age
group -- have taken toys to bed. The research and correspondence comes from a company
called "Adam & Eve" (must be some kind of bible or religious organization),
which apparently is pushing night-time playfulness as healthy and aiming right at the Baby
Boomers (because they're suckers for anything touted as healthy). Being a member of an
institution where confirmation of scientific research is encouraged, we of course did our
own test. Our findings: we agree that playing with toys before bed is fun, and, indeed,
the battery-operated ones are best -- Nintendo's Game Boy was a whole lot more exciting
than Etch-a-Sketch. We do not concur, however, on the issue of positive health effects --
not only did we lose sleep, there was a constant craving for a cigarette after playing
Tetris and Centipedes for an hour.
The 100% Solution
A joke making the email rounds: Americans always give 100% at work -- 12% on Monday, 23%
Tuesday, 40% Wednesday, 20% Thursday, and 5% on Friday. Of course, this is not true at
UCSF, where workers give 100% every day -- except those who play with toys the night
before.
Why 2K?
If you're not already too bugged by all the Y2K
stories: the LA Times has unearthed a morbid problem -- a low-tech one, but also caused by
some lack of foresight. In the US there are some 250,000 empty graves with prepaid
headstones with 19s already carved in. Most owners hope to make it through the next 10
months, so it's one investment they hope goes bad. They certainly would rather ante up
anywhere from $200 for epoxy to cover-up the offending numbers to $2,000 for a new
headstone or complete refacing.
Readers: If you have any items or suggestions for this
column, send us an email: andye@itsa.ucsf.edu. |
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