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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

James Davis, associate vice chancellor for information technology, testified Oct. 5 before a Congressional subcommittee on UCLA’s significant progress in halting illegal file-sharing on campus. Davis explained that UCLA has developed an approach that turns a copyright infringement notification into a campus judicial matter. When UCLA is notified by copyright holders of a claim of infringement, the offending computer is identified and put into quarantine. “File-sharing is effectively blocked internally and externally while the claim is adjudicated,” Davis told the subcommittee. But access to on-campus student services, such as library resources, is still maintained so that a student’s ability to do school work is unimpeded. Since the new policy was enacted, there have been no repeat violators, and the university has received fewer claims of infringement. Panel members of the subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee lauded UCLA’s efforts. They urged other institutions to follow the lead of UCLA and others pioneering effective ways to deal with piracy.

UCLA SPIRIT SQUAD

Crowds lining up Sept. 25 for the annual Beijing International Cultural Tourism Parade saw the UCLA Spirit Squad, including Joe and Josephine Bruin, perform with groups from all over China and more than 30 countries. The squad also appeared at other events and went sightseeing during the week. Said Center for Student Programming adviser Mike Kockler, who accompanied the group: “We were treated like royalty by our hosts and like rock stars by the Chinese people.” Philanthropist Stanley Dashew, founder of the UCLA Dashew International Center, assisted students who couldn’t otherwise afford to go.

THEATER, FILM AND TELEVISION

The estate of Azadia Mamoulian, widow of film and theater legend Rouben Mamoulian, recently donated $1.1 million to the School of Theater, Film and Television to establish an endowed chair in theatrical and motion picture directing. Mamoulian’s musical masterpiece, “Love Me Tonight” (1932), was recently restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive and screened at its 12th Festival of Preservation. “To have an artist of the distinction of Rouben Mamoulian associated with the chair is a great honor for us,” Dean Robert Rosen said. “It is particularly appropriate since Mamoulian moved easily between stage and screen, just as our students are encouraged to do during their time on campus.”