Tuesday, May 26, 1998
Community Briefs
Drug reduces breast cancer cells by half
UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center announced a
breakthrough in breast cancer treatment on May 17. The drug
Herceptin is the first successful cancer treatment to target
diseased cells, as opposed to previous treatments that kill healthy
cells as well.
A two-year worldwide study shows that Herceptin measurably
reduced breast cancer by 50 percent or more and a greater than 60
percent increase in the duration of response.
"Herceptin has none of the serious side effects associated with
traditional chemotherapy, such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss or
significant drops in blood counts," said Dr. Dennis Slamon of the
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, director of the Revlon/UCLA
Women’s Cancer Research Program and lead scientist in the discovery
research and early development of Herceptin.
Slamon and colleagues are currently researching the effect of
the drug on other cancers such as ovarian cancer will seek FDA
approval for the drug by the end of this year.
GSA condemns Hershey transition
The graduate students association has passed a resolution
condemning the University’s decision to transform Mira Hershey Hall
into office space.
Hershey, the only graduate and professional student housing on
campus, will hold the offices currently located in Haines and
Kinsey Halls while seismic renovation is done on those
buildings.
Under the university’s current plan, all students currently in
Hershey will vacate by June 30, and be replaced with offices for an
indefinite period.
"For at least the next three to four years, single graduate and
professional students will be without a housing option on campus,"
the resolution reads. The resolution calls for the university to
"renovate and re-open Hershey Hall as a residence hall or student
service center for students at UCLA."
The GSA also passed a related resolution, calling on the
university to utilize 17 university-owned acres in Westwood for
graduate student housing.
The land, set aside by the university master plan, lies between
the Parking Structure 32 and Weyburn Avenue. The resolution calls
for planning and completion of housing within four years.
Computer science grads face bright future
Students concentrating in computer science have a promising
financial future ahead of them after they graduate, according to a
recently released report.
A nation-wide survey conducted by the National Association of
Colleges and Employers concluded that nearly a third of students
about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in computer science are
expected to make $40,000 per year in their first jobs. NACE said
those are reasonable expectations.
The survey found that 17 percent of responding computer science
concentrators expect their first jobs’ salaries to be between
$40,000 and $44,999. Six percent expect to make between $45,000 and
$50,000, and nine percent expect more than $50,000.
In April, NACE’s "Salary Survey" showed an average starting
salary offer of $40,843 to new college graduates with degrees in
computer science.
In addition to the job openings at computer companies such as
Microsoft and Intel, the growing use of computers by many
businesses creates a larger demand for people with a knowledge of
computer science.
Compiled from Daily Bruin staff and wire reports.