The Office of Campus Dialogue and Deliberation presents a workshop for staff this week on “Understanding Free Speech on Campus.”

The program is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday (April 26) in the Hamilton Room at the Heitman Staff Learning Center.

Carolyn Penny, director of Campus Dialogue and Deliberation, will lead the workshop, addressing such topics as, Why are so many controversial speakers and events happening in higher education? To what degree are these speakers protected by the First Amendment? Why does this controversy matter to public education?  How are staff impacted?

Registration is required and can be arranged online. Refreshments will be provided.

Students may be able to attend if space is available; interested students should send an email to Trish Nichols to have their names put on a wait list.

Grad student dies in Shasta County crash

Cristobal Andres Heitmann, who was just finishing his master’s degree in the Department of Plant Sciences, died last week in traffic collision between him on a bicycle and another man on a motorcycle near Shasta Dam north of Redding.

Heitmann, 32, had attended UC Davis since the winter of 2016, studying horticulture and agronomy. Hours before the crash on April 17, Professor Allen Van Deynze signed off (approved) Heitmann’s thesis, according to the Department of Plant Sciences. He had just begun a high-level position as a production nursery manager for Driscoll Strawberry Associates in Redding, the department reported.

Heitmann came to UC Davis in 2014, working with Van Deynze and another plant sciences professor, Alan Bennett, on an international maize project. Van Deynze said: “Cris had excellent skills as an agronomist with exceptional attention to detail and understanding of plant sciences.”

Originally from Chile, Heitmann had been active in the Chilean Students Association.

His friends and colleagues hosted a celebration of his life, Sunday (April 22), at Putah Creek Lodge on campus.

He was a member of the Davis Bike Club and its Race Team. As a triathlete, he qualified for the 2019 Ironman World Championship and had been described as one of the top three athletes to watch in that event in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The California Highway Patrol’s Redding office reported the bicyclist and motorcyclist collided head-on at about 7:15 p.m. on Highway 151. The bicyclist died at the scene, according to the CHP; the Shasta County coroner’s office identified him as Heitmann, a resident of Redding. The CHP identified Richard G. Machado, 28, of Marysville as the motorcyclist, and reported that he was hospitalized with major injuries.

As of this morning (April 24), the cause of the collision remained under investigation.

Food trucks are rolling in for TGFS

For the first time ever, meals for Thank Goodness for Staff will come from food trucks — 15 to 20 of them, rolling onto Russell Field for the celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16.

Staff Assembly, TGFS organizer, announced that meal ticket orders are due by 5 p.m. Friday, May 4; each diner will get a wristband with a detachable tab to use at any food truck, including trucks that will accommodate people’s dietary restrictions.

The same order deadline applies for two other TGFS events:

• TGFS After Dark for swing shift — food trucks, 7-9 p.m. May 16, Buehler Alumni Center
• TGFS Morning Program for graveyard shift — breakfast burritos, 6-8:30 a.m. May 17, Mrak Mall (north side of Mrak Hall)

Organizers say each department and unit should assign one person to find out who’s going and what they want to eat: regular meal, vegetarian meal, vegan meal, gluten-free meal, or gluten-free/vegetarian meal.

The Office of the Chancellor pays the bulk of the meal cost; departments and units pay $3 for staff tickets and $12 for student-staff tickets. Order tickets here. Pick up tickets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Friday, May 7-11, in the lobby of the Buehler Alumni Center (bring your email receipt).

Other TGFS news:

• Logo Contest for 2019 — Submission deadline 5 p.m. Monday (April 30).

• Tennis Tournament — Registration closes this Friday (April 27).
• Fun Run — The TGFS Fun Run has been rolled into the Stride for Aggie Pride 5K, scheduled for this Sunday (April 29). All staff members are welcome to visit the VIP TGFS Tent to pick up extra swag and snacks just for staff.

Questions? Contact Staff Assembly by email.

‘Asparagus Fest 2018’ at campus eateries

The region’s largest asparagus-themed event — the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival — may have come and gone, but fans of the green, slender vegetable will have a chance to try some on campus this week.

Thursday (April 26) is being dubbed “Asparagus Fest 2018” at the eateries run by Student Housing and Dining Services: Scrubs Café, The Gunrock restaurant, Spokes and Silo Market, as well as the dining commons. Here’s a look at what the retail dining outlets will serve, featuring asparagus from the Capay Valley’s Durst Organic Growers:

Scrubs Café (Health Sciences District)

• The salad bar will feature a grilled asparagus salad with parmesan and lemon.
• “Chef’s table pasta” with asparagus, smoked salmon, dill, cream and red onion.
• Asparagus and mushroom pizza with Russel Ranch sun-dried tomatoes.

The Gunrock (Silo)

• The three menu items above.
• Asparagus and Dungeness crab salad with lemon, student farm microgreens, avocado and a seven-minute Aggie egg.

 Spokes (Silo)

• Crispy asparagus, Pakora style.
• Asparagus milkshake with lemon and herbs.

Silo Market

• Asparagus pizza with cream, goat cheese, mushrooms, and Russel Ranch sun-dried tomatoes.

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