University Of California At Berkeley

Four animal activists have been arrested for their alleged roles in attacking and harassing animal researchers at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz over the last 18 months, the FBI announced Friday. The arrests are a breakthrough in the investigation of attacks against a number of University of California animal researchers that have long frustrated police and school officials.

Stuck on the sideline for disciplinary reasons, DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan could do nothing to help as California quickly fell behind by three touchdowns. "They were champing at the bit to get in," Cal Coach Jeff Tedford said. "They were prancing around on the sideline. And so when they finally got let loose, they were ready to roll." And they made an immediate impact.

State Senate leaders chastised UC Berkeley administrators Tuesday for trampling on the civil rights of Native Americans by not returning the remains of thousands of their ancestors held in storage at a campus museum. Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), the incoming Senate leader, accused the university of discriminating against Native Americans by keeping the bones and artifacts at the Phoebe A.

A 21-year-old UC Berkeley senior from Bellflower was fatally stabbed during a fight early Saturday in a sorority parking lot blocks from campus, and police arrested a man seen running from the scene, authorities said. Christopher Wootton, an engineering student and Sigma Pi fraternity officer who was weeks away from graduation, was stabbed about 2:45 a.m. in the Chi Omega sorority parking lot. Wootton died en route to a hospital, police said.

In Berkeley's long-running battle over whether to save an old oak grove or build an athletic facility, one thing was clear Thursday: Despite a judge's ruling this week, the fight is far from over. UC Berkeley, which wants to build a training facility for its athletes, and Stephen Volker, an attorney for groups fighting the plan, both say the ruling by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Barbara J. Miller gives their side a boost.

The Times' Chris Dufresne unveils his preseason top 25, one day (and team) at a time: No. 24 California Full disclosure: Cal was not in the top 25 mix until former two-sport Bears star Tony Gonzalez saved a man's life at a Huntington Beach restaurant last month. Sometimes it takes heroics to move a school up in the ratings. Or, sometimes it just takes the setup line Gonzalez provided for a school that otherwise was going to check in at No.

BERKELEY -- It's nearly dark and football practice is almost over, but not before the California Golden Bears work on their short-yardage plays near the goal line. Audio of amplified crowd noise fills otherwise empty Memorial Stadium, the offense crosses the goal line, shrill whistles signal an end to practice and the Bears are one day closer to atoning for a desultory season. Oh, remember last year? Now, forget it, says Cal quarterback Nate Longshore.

The University of California is seeking maximum civil penalties against 16 people who took part in a 21-month tree-sitting protest at UC Berkeley in the hope of deterring similar demonstrations in the future, UC officials said Monday. The protesters, including the final four who were removed from a 90-foot redwood earlier this month, face fines of $1,000 each and potential attorneys' fees ranging from $3,000 to $10,000, said Michael Goldstein, a UC attorney.

So what do we call this place? Cal? Berkeley? Cal Berkeley? UC Berkeley? This question hung above 10 of us -- nine visitors and one student tour guide, all gathered at a busy campus that simmered on an autumn weekday morning with undergraduate enthusiasm, intellectual fermentation and political skirmishing. Way back in 1966, when he was running for governor and the university was awash in demonstrations, Ronald Reagan described this campus as "the mess at Berkeley."

Some UC Berkeley students who are denied federal financial aid because of a drug conviction will be eligible for a new scholarship funded by the student government, the organization decided this week. Though the stipends are only $400, supporters say they are a symbolic protest against a law they call unjust.