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Vol. XXIX No. 9March 3, 1999
http://www.umn.edu/urelate/brief/1999-03-03.html
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Editor: Richard Broderick (612) 624-2801

Jeffrey Kahn, director of U's Center for Bioethics, will consult for the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC), created by President Clinton in 1995. Clinton asked NBAC to consider issues in human embryonic stem cell research after it was reported that researchers had isolated embryonic stem cells. NBAC has been charged with investigating ethical, legal, and policy implications of such research.

Kahn will contribute to a paper for the commission discussing the creation of public policy related to bioethics issues. He will also critique drafts of the commission's reports and provide input to the commissioners and staffs as issues arise.

Prior to his appointment at the U, Kahn served as staff director of the White House Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments. The work of that commission helped lead to Clinton's 1997 apology for the Tuskeegee syphilis experiments that took place from the 1930s to 1970s.

NBAC is expected to issue a report on embryonic stem cell research in June 1999.

Health Plan Task Force is moving toward a new purchasing model Richard McGehee told FCC Thursday. McGehee said the hope is to offer broader provider choices for faculty. Governor's office has included necessary funding for the implementation in its budget, he said, but the legislature must appropriate the funds. The task force has recommended that the U faculty continue on track with the strong state plan, but support the ongoing process of gathering information for alternatives. The timetable for implementation has slipped from Jan. 1, 2000, to at least April 1, 2000, McGehee said.

Replacement for former federal relations director Tom Etten, who accepted a position at Johns Hopkins, will most likely take on expanded duties that include a focus on governmental agencies in addition to Congress, institutional relations VP Sandra Gardebring told the FCC. Gardebring said the goal is to hire someone who, like Etten, will use the Twin Cities as a home base and travel to Washington, D.C., periodically.

Talk of medical school closings in North and South Dakota prompted FCC member Marvin Marshak to suggest that the University strive toward creating regional alliances with neighboring states.

"If these closings happen," Marshak said, "maybe we could consider something at Grand Forks similar to what we have in Duluth, where students attend for 2 years before transferring here."

Special Minnesota House and Senate hearings are scheduled to occur beginning this week on proposed expansion of higher education in Rochester, executive VP and provost Robert Bruininks told the FCC. The U and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities have agreed in principle how to govern the expansion and revision of higher education resources in Rochester. Bruininks said the plan is to have resident University faculty members in Rochester, and the collaboration means a "net expansion of higher education" in the state.

Bruininks said, "The current system down there wasn't working, and the state of Minnesota wants to step up to make higher education a viable enterprise there," but added the move "can't create a risk to the current University budget."

"I think it's important to have faculty support for this as it goes ahead," said Marshak, who favored faculty endorsement of all discussions on the expansion.

Office for University Women seeks nominations for the 1999 Women's Leadership Award and the 1999 Civil Service/Bargaining Unit Staff Award. Application deadline for both awards is March 15, 1999. Contact (612) 625-2385 or women@tc.umn.edu for nomination materials or more information.

Office of International Programs (OIP) is the new name for the Institute of International Studies and Programs effective March 1. OIP is part of the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost; director's office is now in 201 Coffey Hall, St. Paul.

CROOKSTON--"India Mystica: A Journey Through the Mystique of India" with Deeptha Reddy kicks off the UMC 1999 seminar series March 8. Reddy, a UMC student from India, will relate her experiences in India. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with an ethnic dinner for $8, followed by a 7 p.m. program in Sahlstrom Conference Center. For reservations call (218) 281-8586.

Students in the 7th and 8th grade from northwestern Minnesota were on campus to participate in MATHCOUNTS. MATHCOUNTS, a nationwide math program, is both a coaching program and a series of competitions at regional, state, and national levels. Area students who made their school math team competed against "mathletes" from other schools at UMC. The winners will advance to state competition in March.

DULUTH--The 1999 UMD Faculty and Staff Campaign has concluded with a dramatic rise in giving totaling $98,195 compared to $71,000 last year. The generous giving of faculty and staff provides scholarships and other direct benefits to UMD students.

UMD athletic director Bob Corran was in Poprad, Slovakia, for the World University Games. Corran attended as chair of the technical commission for the Federal International du Sport Universitaire (FISU), the sanctioning and governing body for the World University Games. The games attracted 1,500 student athletes from 40 countries, making it the largest multisport games next to the Olympics.

Colleen Belk and Virginia Borden, instructors in the UMD Department of Biology, presented a seminar titled "The Biology of Women and the Medicalization of Women's Biology" at the Women's Health Care Grand Rounds Series at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, Feb. 18.

MORRIS--McKnight summer fellows Ishtiyaque Haji, associate professor of philosophy, and Neil Leroux, associate professor of speech communication, will offer a presentation and discussion March 9, 7-8 p.m., Alumni Room, Oyate Hall. Sponsored by the U of M McKnight Arts and Humanities Endowment.

TWIN CITIES--U is one of 40 sites nationwide that have begun investigating use of lamotrigine, an epilepsy medication, for treatment to control manic phase of bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. For past 30 years lithium has been standard treatment of bipolar disorder, but is effective for only half of patients and causes major side effects for many. About 1 to 2 percent of adult population suffers from disorder.

Patricia Manske, 44, died on Feb. 16 as the result of an automobile accident. Manske worked from 1983 to 1994 at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and since 1994 was the assistant director of the Indoor Air Quality Project in the Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel. She was also a part-time graduate student in the master's of liberal studies program. Memorials to Wolf Center, Ely, or Eagle Watch, Wabasha.

Lectures and Events: Michael Stanton, president of the American Institute of Architects, lectures on "Typologies of Contemporary California Architecture," March 3, 5:30 p.m., Architecture Court.Employee Benefits presents "Understanding Investing Basics," March 4, noon-1 p.m., 215 Donhowe, and through interactive TV on Crookston, Duluth, and Morris campuses, and closed circuit TV in Minnesota Commons, St. Paul Student Center.College of Pharmacy will hold 1999 Samuel W. Melendy lecture, "Telemedicine and Pharmacy: Current Status and Future Implications," March 4, 12:20 p.m., 2-620 Moos Tower. Guest lecturer is former faculty member David Angaran.Alexander Borovsky, of the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, will present "Post Perestroika: The Artists and Arts in Contemporary Russia," March 4, 7 p.m., Shepherd Room, Weisman Art Museum. Lecture is free and open to public.Opening reception for annual graduate exhibition is March 5, 6-8:30 p.m., Nash Gallery. Free and open to public. For information, call (612) 624-6518.Finnish Music/Rautavaara Festival, featuring chamber music of Einojuhani Rautavaara performed by Ted Mann musicians, March 8, 8 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall.Jerry Luckhardt conducts U of M Symphonic Band and Ensembles, March 9, 7:30 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall.U of M String Solo Gala, March 10, 2:30 p.m., Ferguson Recital Hall.Steve Davis conducts U of M Band and Ensembles, March 10, 7:30 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall.U of M String Chamber Ensemble performs free, March 10, 7:30 p.m., Ferguson Hall.Finnish Music/Rautavaara Festival: Annuncations and Fanfares, will be March 10, 7:30 p.m., Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis.Die Hose, a 1908 German comedy of manners, will be performed in German, March 11 at 3 p.m., March 12 at 7 p.m., and March 13 at 1 p.m. All performances are in Shepherd Room, Weisman Art Museum. Tickets are $2 for U students, $4 general admission.