COMMUNICATOR

All the major news media missed the real story from the November election: the growing number of elected officials who have been students in our graduate program. Earlier this month PPA student Lloyd Levine was elected to the California State Assembly. Additionally, alumnus Christopher Cabaldon was the top vote-getter among West Sacramento City Council candidates. Alumni Yvette Quiroga and Guy Fuson were also elected to the Mendota City Council and Loomis Town Council, respectively. Congratulations to all of them.

DECEMBER 8 POTLUCK

PPA alumni, students, faculty and friends are invited to the second annual fall potluck at my house on Sunday, December 8. Please watch the list serve for more details and directions. Alumni chapter representatives will be present and will be glad to provide membership materials to those who have not yet joined (hint #736). And yes, we're still going to do the spring potluck at Rob Wassmer's house- we're expanding not simply altering our social events.

ELECTIVES AGAIN

We are pleased that the second collaborative decision making course (PPA 296J to be taught by David Booher) has now been approved by the University and will be offered on Thursday evenings in the spring. Meantime the second higher education course (PPA 296K to be taught by Miguel Ceja) has cleared its major hurdle and should receive final approval in the near future; that course will be offered on Tuesday evenings next semester. Note however that neither course will appear in the printed class schedule, and it may be a while before both appear on the web version of the schedule. Also note that for a variety of reasons we're holding off on offering a SAS course.

KUDOS TO THREE FACULTY MEMBERS

Recently Bob Waste authored two front page articles on regionalism and planning in the Sunday Forum section of the Sacramento Bee, while Rob Wassmer co-authored a front page Forum article on urban sprawl, warning about the danger of Sacramento becoming the "next Atlanta." Congratulations to both of them. Additionally, part-time instructor Peter Detwiler was one of the judges for the the Clarity Award Competition sponsored by the Governor's Office for Innovation in Government. That competition, honored (unusual?) examples of clear writing within state agencies. Peter would seem to have been an apt choice since many are aware that he- how should I put this?-- has rather strong beliefs about the importance of good writing.

ANOTHER BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Finally, given the current times I think it's appropriate to leave you with one more book recommendation: Michael Walzer's Just and Unjust Wars (Basic Books, 1992, 2nd ed.). It should stimulate your thinking about many recent conflicts.

Ted Lascher
PPA Department Chair

We welcome your contributions to the Communicator! Contact the Department Chair, Ted Lascher, or the Department Secretary (916) 278-6557, in the PPA Department Office.

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