News in Brief

UCLA Extension expands downtown presence

UC has executed a lease agreement with California National Bank that paves the way for a new UCLA Extension classroom facility in downtown Los Angeles to open later this year. Classes will open at the Figueroa Courtyard office project, located at 261 S. Figueroa St., during summer quarter with a full opening scheduled for fall. The space will be configured into 13 classrooms, some of which will have moveable walls to allow reconfiguration. Figueroa Courtyard offers a campus-like setting on 4.5 acres with five low-rise buildings on fully landscaped grounds. The location features secure parking, 24-hour security, a bank branch and ready access to the major freeways and public transportation facilities available in downtown Los Angeles. UCLA Extension chose the site because of its close proximity to the large business community downtown and has plans to offer many business and professional-development programs there. UCLA Extension currently holds classes in the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo.

New hope in fight against lung cancer

Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center have discovered biomarkers that predict which patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer will respond to a combination treatment of the anti-inflammatory drug Celebrex and the growth factor receptor blocker Tarceva. The findings, published in the Feb. 1 issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, may help oncologists personalize treatment, prescribing drugs they know patients will respond to and sparing them from therapies that won't work. Both drugs are taken in pill form once a day and result in fewer side effects than conventional treatments such as chemotherapy. If the findings are confirmed in further studies, the personalized drug combination would offer an alternative therapy in a disease population for which new, more effective treatments are needed, said Steven Dubinett, professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine and senior author of the study. This year alone, more than 213,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer. Of those, more than 160,000 will die.

Underrepresented applications rise

The number of underrepresented students applying to UCLA are up more than 16% compared to last year, according to preliminary data on applications for the fall 2008 freshman class. UCLA has received 13,331 applications from underrepresented student, compared to 11,483 last year. This year’s applications include 2,798 from African Americans, 299 from Native Americans and 10,234 from Chicano/Latinos. Overall, applications for freshman enrollment jumped by more than 9 percent with a record 55,369 applications received, making UCLA once again the most popular university in the country among new high school graduates.

You and your money

Saving for retirement, making investment decisions, creating a budget, estate planning. Are you interested in these and other topics for future UC financial education seminars? Staff, faculty and retirees are invited to participate in a brief online survey to gauge interest in financial education and retirement savings topics that can be discussed in future seminars at UC locations. The survey takes only a few minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and confidential. The survey will be available through Friday, Feb. 29.

Crime alert

UCLA police are seeking several suspects wanted for a recent rash of crimes, including an attempted kidnapping. On Jan. 28, a female staff member was walking on Westwood Boulevard approaching Weyburn Avenue at around 7:35 a.m. when a man, described as Hispanic and wearing a black ski mask and black clothing, grabbed her from behind. He attempted to pull her towards the opposite side of the street where a white van with tinted windows was parked. Police reported that the victim punched the suspect in the face. The man then released her and ran to the waiting van. Two suspects are being sought in this case. To see the latest crime alert bulletins, go to the UCPD Web site. The UCPD encourages all members of the community to be aware of actions that they can take to prevent crime and victimization and to report suspicious circumstances. Crime prevention tips are available at www.ucpd.ucla.edu, and a crime prevention officer is available for consultation and presentations. Escort and evening van services are available by calling (310)794-9255.

Labor news

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, which represents UC service and patient care employees, held demonstrations Jan. 31 at UCLA and other UC campuses and medical centers across the state. UC is currently in separate contract negotiations with AFSCME for the two bargaining units. "We have been bargaining in good faith with AFSCME for months," said Howard Pripas, UC's executive director of labor relations. "Our focus is on getting two solid contracts that recognize our employees' dedication and many contributions, but that requires a willingness to compromise and work things through at the bargaining table from both sides." UC began negotiating with the union last August regarding patient care technical workers and recently moved into mediation with the union. The university and the union began negotiating regarding UC service workers in October 2007, and the union recently filed for impasse. UC is currently considering the union's request.

UC reaches $11.5 million settlement

The UC announced Feb. 5 that it has reached an $11.5 million settlement with Goldman, Sachs & Co. on behalf of investors who purchased the 7% Exchangeable Notes issued by Enron Corp. The plaintiffs had alleged Goldman Sachs violated Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for marketing the notes via a false registration statement. To date, UC has obtained more than $7.2 billion in settlements for Enron investors. UC has also secured a distribution of $51 million for investors through the bankruptcy proceeding for the LJM2 partnership involved in the Enron scheme. There are still several remaining defendants in the Enron case, including Barclays Bank, Credit Suisse First Boston and Merrill Lynch, as well as several former Enron officers, including CEO Jeff Skilling and Chief Accounting Officer Richard Causey, the Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Bank of Scotland and Toronto-Dominion Bank. For more background on the Enron lawsuit at the University of California newsroom.