Features

In his youth, Professor Lindon Barrett loved fuzzy wool sweaters. His friend Jackie Popplestone remembers that he bought nearly every sweater in Dapper Dan's, the clothing store where she and Barrett worked. Popplestone recalls that one night, while she and Barrett were working together, Barrett said he wanted to expose her to a new kind of music and blared the song "Fuck You Symphony" by Millie Jackson over the store's PA system. Barrett believed that brilliance wasn't limited to the university community, and often told his students that bright people could be found anywhere, from a college campus to the streets of Long Beach to a 24-hour donut shop. He regaled his students with stories of his conversations with the homeless people he befriended at Dunkin' Donuts.

THE SOCIAList: After the reaction I got from my "Gossip Guy" article in the features section last week, the New University features staff, for some odd reason, awarded me a column in their section with the free rein to speak about whatever I want.

An Assessment of Barack Obama's Cabinet Nominations and Selections

An Assessment of Barack Obama's Cabinet Nominations and Selections

Looking to "go green" without actually making the strenuous effort to carpool or ride a bike? If you haven't made a New Year's resolution yet, going green can be as easy as driving to a car wash. Here are 10 easy ways to help out the environment that should only take a few minutes of your day.

Irvine Planeteers: Over winter break, I went on a full moon hike in Bommer Canyon. Bommer Canyon is a remnant of the Irvine Company's property, originally obtained by James Irvine in 1867. Sold to the city of Irvine in the 80s, it has been set aside to remain open space. The area is only a few minutes from UC Irvine's campus, located next to gorgeous Shady Canyon.

Members of the jazz sextet performing at Anthill Pub's "Interactions," held the first Thursday of every month, take a break from performing to catch a glimpse of a football game.

The UC Irvine men's swim team won the UCI/Ayres Invitional this past weekend at the Anteater pool.

Rick Stein adds his signature to a crowded I-Beam at the Media Arts Center Beam-Topping Ceremony.

Students interested in Study Abroad Programs should note that deadlines typically arrive in the middle of Winter Quarter for the next year's programs. Check online at www.cie.uci.edu for EAP details.

Imagine this. You wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom you share with your suitemates. In the morning, a friend stops by to show you a picture on his digital camera. It's a picture of the white board on your door. However, instead of the usual funny pictures and inside jokes from hallmates and visiting friends, scrawled across the board is the word "NIGGER." Trying to spare you the embarrassment, your friend erased the hateful word before more people could see it.

SUBURBAN OUTFITTER: Last night, I had a nightmare about Chictopia.com. I was clicking through page after page of girls in oversized white t-shirts, black leggings and black boots. Every single ChicBlog was exactly the same. My legs began to hurt as if the sight of so many bland outfits was physically painful and I suddenly woke up in actual pain. Lying in bed, I began to wonder if I go on Chictopia too much.