June 17 - Commemorating and podcasting about Juneteenth
Section 1
We’ve got character: In honor of #NationalMascotDay – yes, that’s a thing – we honor our own Peter T. Anteater, shown here congratulating UCI graduates at Angel Stadium on Wednesday. Photo from Twitter/@UCIrvine
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
No UCI Digest on Monday
In honor of the Juneteenth holiday, UCI Digest will not be published Monday. Enjoy the long weekend, and we’ll see you Tuesday.
Davin Phoenix reflects on the link between Black commemoration and pride as well as his important research on political engagement. Photo courtesy of the School of Social Sciences
Commemorating Juneteenth
“Juneteenth holds a unique place in the African American mythos because of its apt representation of the Black experience in the United States,” writes Davin Phoenix, associate professor of political science and Inclusive Excellence Term Chair Professor. “The date is both a historical testament to the resilience of Black people and a sobering reminder of the exhaustive toll of justice delayed and justice denied. It is a celebration of the culmination of centuries’ worth of efforts by Black people working independently and in collaboration toward a vision of abolition and freedom. And it is a sobering reminder of the equity that remains elusive to Black people in sociopolitical, legal, economic, and health spheres.”
UCI Podcast: Recognizing Juneteenth
In honor of Juneteenth, the UCI Podcast is bringing back a June 2020 podcast with Jessica Millward, associate professor of African American studies and history, who discusses this important day in the context of the thousands of Black Lives Matter rallies across the world protesting the police murder of George Floyd.
A very special Father's Day gift
When James Alvarez's pregnant wife was struck and killed by a drunk driver, UCI Medical Center trauma, obstetrics and neonatal intensive care teams rallied to save their premature baby. He views Adalyn Rose, now almost 2 years old, as a gift that emerged from unspeakable tragedy. She is thriving and her grateful father volunteers to teach new dads what he knows best: how to lovingly care for a baby.
UCI Health enters partnership to build state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital
UCI Health and Kindred Rehabilitation Services, a business unit of LifePoint Health, announced Thursday that they have signed a definitive agreement to create a joint venture to construct and operate a 52-bed, 68,000-square-foot inpatient rehabilitation hospital at 17931 Von Karman Ave. in Irvine. UCI Health Rehabilitation Hospital will employ up to 200 people and serve growing clinical needs in Orange County.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
Friday fun fact
What to do after graduation? About 40% of undergraduates want to enroll in graduate school, and almost a third want to work full time. What about the rest? Click on the link, the carrot symbol (>) at top right of the data chart and then the Plans tab.
California ranks No. 11 in nation for pandemic response
The health system in Hawaii performed best of all the states during the pandemic and Mississippi performed the worst, according to new rankings from The Commonwealth Fund. The rankings weighed such factors as vaccination rates, capacity in hospitals and ICUs, and death rates.
COVID-19 reinfections ‘part of the new normal’
In 2020, reinfections were considered rare. In 2021, breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals could occur, but again, the risk was low. In 2022, that's no longer the case for either — so much so that the U.S. currently is not tracking reinfections.
EVENTS
Transfer 101 at UCI
Tuesday, 1 p.m. (sponsored by Student Success Initiatives)
Blood Drive
Wednesday, 9 a.m. (sponsored by UCI Health)
Car Rentals v. Taxi/Uber
Wednesday, 11 a.m. (sponsored by ConnextUC)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.