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The Regents of the University of California
 

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WEB WORLDWIDE

In the first appraisal of its kind of the social, political and economic effects of the Internet in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States, a new study has found that television viewing is down among Internet users in all survey countries while trust in online information is running high. The study by the World Internet Project, created and organized by Jeffrey I. Cole, director of the UCLA Center for Communication Policy, includes research conducted by universities and research institutes in 14 countries. Internet use varies considerably from country to country, with a high of 71.1% in the United States to a low of 17.5% in Hungary. Korea has the largest percentage of Internet users who are online an average of 10 hours or more per week (55.7%), compared to 41% of American users. The study also reveals that more men than women go online. There were also surprisingly high levels of online use among the poorest citizens in all of the survey countries — in spite of major divisions in Internet use between the richest and the poorest. For details, visit www.ccp.ucla.edu.

CAPITAL STUDIES

The University of California Center Sacramento (UCCS), which was established by the regents last year, recently welcomed its first group of students as part of an innovative program that will provide hands-on learning and research opportunities in Sacramento’s public policy arena to UC undergraduates. Among the 17 students in its inaugural class is UCLA senior Jeffrey Fung, a sociology major. “It’s really very exciting,” said Fung, who was drawn to UCCS by the many internship opportunities involving public policy. In addition to attending classes to learn about California’s political and policy-making processes up close, he will be working with Legal Services of Northern California on a research project that deals with housing in a low-income community in Sacramento.

WORKING TOGETHER

Over the last five months, 18 directors of Chicano and Latino research centers within the University of California have been meeting to discuss collaborative efforts and areas of mutual interest. The centers also want to develop a mechanism for regular communication and coordination, and create an agenda focused on Chicano/Latino research centers within the UC. The meetings come at a crucial time; although the Latino population in California is growing, the centers are grappling with a 20% budget cut, with more on the horizon. “We are working with a large and underserved community, yet we are severely affected by budget cuts,” said Chon Noriega, director of UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center and one of the leaders of the informal group. “It’s imperative that we join efforts and do what we can to support UC’s research mission.”