Wednesday, April 22, 1998
Community Briefs
Medical employee receives Golden Bruin
Kevin Clark, coordinator of blood donor resources for the UCLA
Blood and Platelet Center was recently recognized as a Golden
Bruin.
Clark, a 16-year UCLA medical employee was honored for his
commitment to on the job excellence and his vital contributions to
increasing the importance of blood donation and fund-raising
activities.
"He is devoted not to his job but to the patients to whom we
serve, and gives freely of his time and talents to help multiple
worthwhile causes," said Judy Stanton, chief administrator of
pathology and laboratory medicine.
"Kevin’s forte has been in networking and speaking to groups
campus-wide to motivate people to donate blood and platelets," said
Carma Lizza, UCLA manager of pathology and laboratory medicine.
The Golden Bruin Award was established in 1961 as way to
recognize UCLA health sciences staff who demonstrate commitment to
their position.
UN secretary-general to visit UCLA today
The secretary-general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, will be
the keynote speaker at a conference sponsored by the UCLA Institute
for International Relations and Policy. Annan, who spoke at UC
Berkeley earlier this week, will give a speech titled "Coalitions
in World Politics."
He will speak at 8:30 a.m. in the Faculty Center Main Room.
Chancellor Albert Carnesale will present the secretary-general with
the UCLA Medal, the university’s highest award, for his work in the
United Nations and for humanity.
Annan is the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations,
and has spent more than three decades of service in the United
Nations, in such roles as under-secretary-general for peace-keeping
operations, and special representative to the former
Yugoslavia.
Research schools blasted by report
In a stinging report released Tuesday, the Carnegie Foundation
for the Advancement of Teaching became the latest voice in a chorus
criticizing research universities for treating undergraduates like
"second-class citizens."
The report, a survey of the state of undergraduate teaching at
125 "research universities" around the country, singled out several
major failings of such schools – including huge and impersonal
lecture classes and a failure to engage students with opportunities
for research- and discussion-centered learning.
The committee says research institutions are "guilty of an
advertising practice they would condemn in the real world,"
including using a bait and switch tactic whereby they lure students
in with high-profile faculty and then allow students to graduate
"without seeing the world-famous professors or tasting genuine
research."
UCLA professor wins science award
Rita Effros, a UCLA professor of pathology and laboratory
medicine, recently received recognition as the 1997-1998 Woman of
Science.
The Woman of Science Award was created in 1959 and is designed
to recognize distinguished women scientists who make significant
academic and research-oriented contributions.
Effros is an immunologist at UCLA and was recognized
specifically for her unique contributions in her research regarding
the decline of the immune system as the body ages.
"Perhaps we can ultimately extend the active life of cells to
give the most frail and vulnerable patients more years of
immunological coverage," Effros said.
Effros is currently investigating the roles of exercise and
nutrition in maintaining the immune system’s functional
ability.
Compiled from Daily Bruin wire and staff reports.