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The Regents of the University of California
 

bureau briefs

UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

UCLA has launched a new gateway Web site that streamlines information into categories while also offering exciting, new multimedia features. The unveiling of www.ucla.edu is part of a broad effort to strengthen communications about UCLA, its unique offerings and distinguishing characteristics. New features of the home page include a “Happenings” section that highlights events of interest to the campus community and general public, and a bottom scroll that allows readers to check out events and entertainment without leaving the home page. The popular “Spotlight” feature will continue in an updated format, with audio and video components. Coming soon will be an expanded faculty awards section. As with the launch of any new or updated Web site, it will take users some time to become familiar with the new navigation. The gateway team will continue to learn from feedback and refine the site.

SCHOOL OF LAW

Television personality Bob Barker donated $1 million to the School of Law to create the Bob Barker Endowment Fund for the Study of Animal Rights Law. The endowment fund will support teaching, research, seminars and lectures in the emerging field of animal rights law. Said Barker: “Animals need all the protection we can give them. We intend to introduce a growing number of law students to this area of the law in hopes that they will ultimately lead a national effort to make it illegal to brutalize and exploit these helpless creatures.” UCLA Law Professor Taimie Bryant, an expert in the field of animal rights law, will spearhead the effort and focus her scholarship on the theoretical issues of conceptualizing these rights and on legislative and other legal regulation insuring the humane treatment of animals.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

The University of California, lead plaintiff representing a class of Enron investors who lost billions of dollars, recently announced a $222.5-million settlement with Lehman Brothers in the securities class-action lawsuit. “This agreement continues a pattern of highly favorable settlements with underwriter defendants and provides a substantial recovery to the purchasers of the Enron debt securities that Lehman Brothers participated in underwriting,” said James E. Holst, the university’s general counsel. Last July, UC settled similar claims against the Bank of America for $69 million. In July 2002, UC reached a $40-million settlement with Arthur Andersen’s international umbrella organization.