For the 2011 school year, UC Berkeley created a project for
incoming students designed to break the social ice and spark
intellectual debate among students and professors alike. Last
year’s project, the “Saliva Experiment” asked students to send
in samples of their saliva for genetic testing – which quickly
led to national controversy. The results were ultimately
withheld. This year, however, the university decided on a less
controversial, but similarly personal project. Instead of
collecting spit, Cal is collecting voices. Because, like a
thumbprint, every voice is unique. At UC Berkeley, the number of
international and out-of-state students is a growing population,
a phenomenon that this year’s student orientation project is
exploring. In a story co-produced by Melody Sage, Alexandra
Victoria examines this closely. * * * ALEXANDRA VICTORIA: We’ve
all heard the stereotypes, but there’s actually something
scientific about the way Californians talk that makes us sound
different to everyone else. KEITH JOHNSON: