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YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW

EXHAUSTED BUT STILL STANDING

The hardiest of 400-plus UCLA students were expected to stay on their feet for 26 hours this past weekend in support of children who are infected with HIV or have AIDS. Participants in the UCLA Dance Marathon, organized by five student organizations, pledged to raise a minimum of $150 each from sponsors for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital is one of five medical centers in the nationwide Glaser research network. The dancers tried to keep upright from 11 a.m. Feb. 7 to 1 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Grand Horizons Room in Covel Commons. They were entertained by student musical groups, local bands and celebrities making guest appearances. Many students, faculty, staff and community volunteers helped organize the marathon, which is expected to raise at least $100,000 for the foundation.

HEEDING DISASTERS

The UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters is providing Head Start programs with free disaster preparedness workbooks. Nearly 1 million children are enrolled nationwide in the Head Start programs. Until recently, there was no central disaster plan in place to aid these children. The program is funded by a grant from Johnson & Johnson, the multinational company. The workbook authored by the center advises Head Start administrators on assessing risks and vulnerabilities, developing and implementing disaster plans, and building and training effective disaster response teams. The center is based in the Department of Community Health Sciences in the School of Public Health.

NEW CENTER LAUNCHED

More than 200 campus community members gathered Jan. 29 to celebrate the launch of the Center for Community Learning — the UCLA College unit that evolved out of the university’s long-standing programs to create opportunities for undergraduates to learn through civic engagement. The center — formerly the Center for Experiential Education and Service Learning — serves 3,000-plus students annually. Students highlighted seven community projects at the event. While Los Angeles Councilman Jack Weiss presented a city proclamation to the center, the California Campus Compact awarded the 2004 Richard E. Cone Award for Excellence & Leadership in Cultivating Community Partnerships in Higher Education to center director Kathy O’Byrne.