AS Food Bank Drive

 A.S. Food Bank Fall Donation Drive  As we approach the holiday season, our hearts tend to soften and our giving nature comes out. I wanted to make you aware of an opportunity we have here on campus to help each other out. The Associated Students (AS) Food Bank has organized a food collection drive for the holidays. As some of you may know, the AS Food Bank was started in an effort to help our campus respond to students in need of nutrition services. The AS Food Bank has been operating over the last few years and is currently in the process of undertaking a few new projects and collaborations this year. There are many food collection sites to choose from and they have been set up across campus to help facilitate the donation process for our community. All the departments in the MultiCultural Center have a donation bin for students to drop off their donations, including the Graduate Students Association (GSA) lounge. We encourage you to dig a little deeper than you are used to and think of creative ways to assist this donation drive. If you are thinking of donating food during this drive, please make sure that the food has not already expired. If you would like some suggestions on what items to donate to the AS Food Bank, please click the link below.

Donation Items for AS Food Bank

Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

Hurricane Sandy thrashed into the East Coast just over a week ago. Many individuals are still trying to piece their lives and homes together after the superstorm caused widespread devastation. I recently read a post on Edmodo (a social network for K-12 teachers) from a teacher without a school, books, or supplies, but with students who still want to learn.

There are many ways that you can help the relief efforts (i.e., donating money, supplies, or blood). Us Weekly Magazine shared a list of ways to help in the article "Hurricane Sandy: How You Can Help." Also, check out the TED Blog's article "How you can help Hurricane Sandy relief in and around NY."

Flu Shot Clinics at UCSB

Image Credit: Redeemer CenterAs a grad student, you can't afford to get sick and miss classes or important deadlines. Take care of your health by getting a flu shot. It is harmless and it can protect you against the dreadful flu. You can get a flu shot for free with UC SHIP.

Here are upcoming and ongoing flu shot clinics at UCSB:

Student Health: Tuesdays and Fridays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Carrillo Dining Commons: Nov. 7, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

UCEN: Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Library: December 5, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

If you do not have UC SHIP, you can get a flu shot at the following retail locations:

• CVS
• Walgreens
• Rite Aid

Exploring the Channel Islands

There is no quicker way to forget your worries, anxieties, and stressors than to take a walk in nature, breathe the fresh air, and enjoy the moment.

Luckily, Santa Barbara has a wealth of outdoor adventures that await you. In fact, one of nature’s jewels is right in our backyard: the Channel Islands. On a clear day, you can see the Channel Islands from Campus Point beach or from the top of the Davidson Library. These islands are full of history (see the Channel Islands National Park Timeline) and adventures (see Channel Islands – Things to Do).

My dad recently visited my husband and I, so we took him out to Scorpion Anchorage on the Santa Cruz Channel Island. The boat ride was about an hour long. Along the way, we stopped to watch the Risso dolphins surf the waves and jump out of the water. The boat ride was relatively smooth, with only a few big waves that cause the not-so-exciting stomach-drop feeling. If you don’t get sea sick, head out to the front of the boat and enjoy the rush of the wind in your face as the boat maneuvers up and down the waves in the deep sea.

Once we arrived on the island, we had a short info session from the island docent and then we split away from the optional guided hike to head straight up the Cliffside along the Cavern Point loop (the trailhead entrance is hidden just past the bathrooms – if you reach the campground, you have gone too far). After two to three minutes of hiking up a very steep incline, we reached the top of the cliff, which overlooked the Scorpion Anchorage harbor. We could see Anacapa Island and the Santa Barbara shoreline in the distance. We followed the trail until it merged with the Potato Harbor trail. We made a few stops along the way to enjoy the spectacular view of the vast ocean and the cliffs jutting deep into the water. It was very windy, but the wind provided a nice relief from the hot sun (if you do head out to the Channel Islands, bring a windbreaker jacket).

Potato Harbor

The trail to Potato Harbor was five miles round trip. The trail was mostly flat with a few areas of incline. We enjoyed lunch atop the cliff overlooking Potato Harbor, while watching a family of eight seals swim together in circles around the harbor. We stopped at the Scorpion Ranch House on the hike back to learn about the history of the island before relaxing in the shade and waiting for our boat to take us back to the mainland.

It was surprising how many individuals on our boat were Santa Barbara natives who had never taken the time to visit the Channel Islands. I highly recommend exploring the islands on a day trip or overnight camping trip. UCSB Recreation has a Santa Cruz Island Camping and Hiking trip on November 10-12, 2012. To learn more, visit: UCSB Recreation Adventure Programs.

Navigating your Relationship with a Faculty Advisor: Advice from Dr. Catherine Murphy

Ideally, you have a faculty advisor who recognizes your potential, guides you throughout your graduate program, and helps you land your dream job after graduation.

However, faculty advisors are extremely busy, personalities and research interests can clash, and your relationship with your advisor may hit bumps throughout your graduate program. How do you negotiate a working relationship with your faculty advisor when a problem surfaces?

Dr. Catherine Murphy, a Peter C. and Gretchen Miller Professor of Chemistry at the University of Illinois, recently shared her experience as a student working with faculty mentors as well as being a faculty advisor during a Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships professional development workshop titled "A Need for More Mentoring."

Murphy described the three types of faculty advisors she worked with: the dictator, the hands-off advisor, and the cheerleader. The dictator likes to oversee all projects and constantly make suggestions. This can be helpful when you need ample guidance, but harmful when you actually need to think for yourself. The hands-off advisor let’s you have full reign and rarely checks in with you. While this may seem ideal, everyone needs some guidance once in a while. The cheerleader provides support and guidance, but makes you work hard on your own to think through your research design and papers.

What happens when your faculty advisor’s personality clashes with your own?

If you prefer to get help frequently and have someone check in on you often, a hands-off advisor may not be the right fit. Similarly, if you need an advisor who is more hands-off and you have a micromanager, you may be overwhelmed. One way to improve this situation is to sit down with your faculty advisor and to communicate with them what you need (i.e., “I need you to provide…”). Sometimes faculty advisors assume you need extra help or no help at all and if this is not the case, then you need to share your concerns as soon as possible. You can also get advice from graduate students with the same advisor and ask how they are managing the situation. If nothing seems to work, you can bring in a third-party (i.e., Graduate Program Advisor or Department Chair) to discuss your concerns with your advisor or you can look for a new advisor.

As Murphy mentioned, “It is your thesis, your dissertation after all.” You need to take charge to complete your program and if your faculty advisor is not providing the support you need, then find a way to address this problem before it affects your graduation plans.

The key to a healthy working relationship with your faculty advisor is good communication and trust. You expect your faculty advisor to be open and honest when providing feedback about your research projects and papers. Show the same respect and be open and honest with your faculty advisor when an issue arises.

If you do not have a strong relationship with your faculty advisor, look for someone who can be your cheerleader and mentor. This may be an older student, faculty in another department, the department chair, program advisor, or staff members. A good mentor is someone who cares enough to find ways to help you. They can provide the guidance you need to successfully navigate your graduate program.

Paying it Forward as a Graduate Student Mentor

It's that time of the year again when hopeful undergraduates begin their journey for graduate school admission. Although those of us who are already graduate students don't have to worry about needing to apply every year to remain enrolled, it is still important to many of us for other reasons. I am willing to guess that the reason that it is important to graduate students is because we mentor undergraduate students striving to become admitted into a graduate school program of their choice. Maybe it is also because as current graduate students we also understand what it was like having gone through the process and we appreciate the assistance we received during our experience. As such, the notion of paying it forward runs deep within some of us.

Although it's been five years since I applied to graduate school, I know it's an experience I'll never forget. It seemed like there was this ridiculous list of items I had to check before considering applying (see above comic strip for a visual). I remember thinking how daunting it felt since I had just transferred from Moreno Valley College as an undergraduate and I was focused on getting into my major so I could graduate in the next two years. I was taking some introductory courses in Chicana/o Studies and Sociology when I had my first experience with a graduate student. Once I figured out what the graduate student's role was in relation to me for our class that quarter, I began asking about applying to graduate school. It was then that my TA suggested that I use my junior year to hustle in my classes to try to obtain the best grades I could. It was also suggested to me that I meet professors during office hours and speak to the other TA's about developing my research interests.

This seemed to add a whole lot of pressure in addition to my studies, but I knew that I could count on my graduate student TA's to serve as mentors and guides to get me through the application. In trusting my graduate student colleagues as allies inside and outside of the classroom while I was an undergraduate, I think it definitely helped me understand the value of having a good graduate student network around me during my graduate school tenure. As such, I've transferred my passion for informing undergraduate students on graduate school application details and research possibilities to my job as diversity and outreach peer for the Graduate Division.

This past summer I assisted in coordinating a summer research program for UCSB Graduate Division, which reminded me of how involved graduate students are with helping undergraduate students matriculate to graduate school programs. If you are a part of any of these groups, please feel free to contact the Graduate Division peer advisors for any workshop assistance or facilitation. UCSB's Career Services also hosts graduate school applications and career preparation workshops, and they are an invaluable resource to our mentors and mentees.

Expecting a Baby in Santa Barbara

Front view of the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital MuralAre you considering having your baby's birth in Santa Barbara? Then you might want to read about a recent tour I took of the new labor and delivery wing of the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Baby Mauricio XoaquinMy wife Maria and I are expecting our second child in late November. The last time we were in labor and delivery at SB Cottage we were on the "old hospital" side. We were told that the new addition to the hospital also included the new labor / delivery / recovery units (LDR). The hospital started offering tours of the new hospital addition immediately after opening. It's a good idea to take a tour of the new hospital prior to going into labor because getting oriented with the unit once you're in labor can be difficult. They do have greeters and nurses to offer you assistance along the way, but it makes things easier being familiar with the layout.

Side view of Santa Barbara Hospital Art MuralThe first thing that you're greeted by when you arrive to the Pediatrics floor is this wonderful painting that spans about 20 feet wide! The next thing you notice are the long corridors filled with labor / delivery / recovery rooms. One of the changes to the LDR rooms is their size. The older LDR rooms were equipped with foldout sleeper couches for the support partner during and after birth. These new rooms have sofas that offer bigger sleeping areas as well as fresh sheets, linens, and pillows. People are also encouraged to bring their own sleeping bags or pilows if they'd prefer them for comfort.

Another big change in the new LDR rooms is the addition of jacuzzi tubs. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly, there are jacuzzi tubs located inside the LDR rooms. For many women, being in water during labor can help ease the pain from contractions and generally relax the body's New LDR rooms have private visitor area with a privacy curtainmuscles to assist the women through labor and birth.

The rooms are also outfitted with visitor areas that can be closed off to give the mother and infant privacy during feeding times. In the past, some families would be distracted by visitors and lose track of their newborns' feeding time. To avoid the awkwardness of kicking out a visitor, or your visitor getting lost in the hospital, the new LDR rooms are equipped with extra space.

Although bringing a child into the world is difficult we look forward to the challenge. At the very least we will be able to have a more comfortable sleeping area for me at night, and a bigger visiting area for friends to come and visit our little one after he arrives.

Exploring the UCSB Lagoon

Where can you find pickleweed, monkey flowers, skeleton shrimp, and double-crested cormorants?

Right here on campus at the UCSB Lagoon.

If you have not yet taken the time to enjoy this beautiful environment, take a short break from your research and head toward the beach. There is an easy 1.5-mile walking loop around the lagoon that takes you to the beach, through Coastal Sage Scrub, and past a man-made bird island. Along your walk you will see plenty of birds (pelicans, sea gulls, cormorants) and you might even spot a dolphin or seal surfing the waves at Campus Point Beach.

Here is a walking tour guide from UCSB's Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration:

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

You might have noticed more pink appearing amongst the masses. No, it's not just a fashion statement, it's also a statement for addressing an issue of public health – breast cancer. Although October has been the designated month to specifically address breast cancer in the United States, many public health and professional medical associations collaborate year-round to bring general cancer awareness. Not all cancer has similar symptoms, or any symptoms at all for that matter. Sometimes cancer is not discovered until it has advanced beyond control or assistance, although in some cases, earlier detection might have assisted treatment or led to regression.

I have to admit that I had forgotten that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month until I began watching my Sunday morning football this past weekend. Almost every football team was wearing pink in one way or another (see photo at right). It caught me off guard to see so much pink because as a kid I grew up watching football and even played a couple of seasons in high school. However, I don't ever remember watching any player on any team wear pink as a part of their uniform. Personally, I'm glad that athletes across all sports are actively participating in the promotion of cancer awareness. I think that one huge asset to having athletes promote cancer awareness is that it teaches youth that not everyone is invincible, even their favorite athletic superstar heroes.

My first experience with cancer was when I was in the first grade and my best friend passed away from cancer. I never quite understood what "cancer" meant, I just knew my buddy would not be returning to school and I'd never see him again. The only thing I learned about cancer at that age was that it caused pain. When I was in high school the mother of my best friend at the time also had cancer. She had a brain tumor that was removed and she spent years rehabilitating and adjusting to her new body. Unfortunately, cancer returned and she has undergone many procedures and treatments over the last two decades to combat her bouts with cancer. However, she has made me value life and see that our mortality is very fragile. I know that her conversations had a positive effect on me because when I look back at my high school years, as troubling or difficult as I might have seen them, I had my health and I was and continue to be grateful for that.

I recommend having regular exams and screenings for both males and females. As we grow older and mature, our bodies change, and if we are not going regularly to our doctors to get checked out, then we need to. If going to the doctor can give you extra time to spend with your loved ones, it's definitely worth the appointment. You have to remember that cancer is not just about death, there's also life; miillions of cancer survivors participate in October's cancer awareness events.

Do not forget to check with our UC SHIP insurance advisors in person, or by clicking the link below, for specifics on our health insurance coverage for these exams.

UC Santa Barbara UC SHIP Website

Healthy Living and Learning with Student Health

The great part about being on a university campus is that all of the departments support you as a learner. I recently visited Student Health for a yearly wellness checkup and dental cleaning and I learned more about taking care of my health and teeth from those two visits than I had from all of my other doctors visits combined. The doctors, dentists, and other staff members at Student Health take good care to make sure you are able to learn how to take care of your well-being.

So, if you have UC SHIP and you have not taken advantage of the wealth of resources and services provided by Student Health, make an appointment. It’s easy to make an appointment using the online secure gateway. It is especially important to make sure you are getting your yearly wellness checkup and to address any health-related issues before they become problematic.

For more information about Student Health, visit: http://studenthealth.sa.ucsb.edu/