Strangers no more

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Strangers no more

Hundreds of UCLA faculty and staff donate blood and platelets regularly for a variety of reasons. But almost no one ever gets to meet the person who receives their priceless gift. These fortunate few did.

Top Stories

New campuswide committee to guide cost-cutting efforts

New campuswide committee to guide cost-cutting efforts
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott L. Waugh has announced the formation of the Restructuring Steering Committee and other efforts to guide campus cost-cutting in the face of ongoing state budget cuts.

Staff, faculty opinions sought on future retirement benefits

Staff, faculty opinions sought on future retirement benefits
The systemwide task force that will help determine what UC's retirement benefits plan will look like in the future wants your opinions before it presents its recommendations to UC President Mark G. Yudof this summer.

Public health schools tackle major issues despite cuts

Public health schools tackle major issues despite cuts
Whether preparing for the next flu pandemic or another mega-quake, two public health schools at UCLA and UC Berkeley have been at the forefront of efforts to promote healthy communities, prevent disease and create a safer world.

College finds strength in numbers

College finds strength in numbers
The College of Letters and Science is best run by a council of deans, campus leaders have decided. The council, which has been managing the College on a pilot basis, is now its permanent governing board.

Management guru calls for companies to focus on people

Management guru calls for companies to focus on people
In today's "knowledge age," companies must focus on people and a corporate culture rooted in guiding principles that everyone understands and works toward, says one of America's most well-known authorities on management.  

Option to use sick leave for baby bonding is up for discussion

Parents would be able to take paid leave for baby bonding under a newly proposed policy now available for employee comment.  

Out and About

disability-dancers
The Center for Performance Studies at UCLA presents an exploration of the body in performance, including "the extreme body ... the disabled body ... and the puppet body." AXIS Dance Company, acclaimed performers with and without disabilities, presents "Choreographing Disability." UCLA's Victoria Marks joins a panel on "differently-abled bodies" as part of the combination performance and lecture. "Choreographing Disability" is free and open to the public on Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. in Glorya Kaufman Hall 200.

People

Young inventor turns philanthropist to help hospitalized kids

Young inventor turns philanthropist to help hospitalized kids
Immobilized in a hip-to-toe leg brace for six months, 11-year-old Cameron Cohen taught himself how to design an app for the iPhone and iPod. He's donating part of his profits to Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital to keep young patients entertained. 

In Memoriam: Mimi Perloff, co-founder of arts outreach program, benefactor

In Memoriam: Mimi Perloff, co-founder of arts outreach program, benefactor
Miriam “Mimi” Perloff, a longtime friend and benefactor of UCLA who was co-founder of UCLA Design for Sharing, died at age 95, surrounded by her family at her Westwood home.

Missing former prof Philip Agre found

UCLA police report that Philip Agre, a former associate professor of information sciences who was reported missing in 2009, was found safe in January, but does not wish to be contacted.

Prize honors daughter's love of disability studies

Prize honors daughter's love of disability studies
Jessie Alpaugh spent a last years of her young life working to win acceptance for the interdisciplinary field of disability studies at UCLA. Her family and friends have now established a prize for UCLA students who do exceptional work in the disability studies minor.

Around Campus

FBI tips to safeguard research from prying eyes

FBI tips to safeguard research from prying eyes
International spies are out there — and they want UCLA's research. That was the message from the FBI at a presentation last week, along with a few tips for protecting the university's intellectual property.

Proposal to use sick leave for baby bonding is up for comment

A new propoal that would allow employees who are parents to take paid leave for baby bonding is now available for employee comment.
 

Reaccreditation review team to hold open meetings

Reaccreditation review team to hold open meetings
Faculty, staff and students are invited to express their views during UCLA's reaccreditation review by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Crime log: Officers chase down, arrest shoplifter

A man suspected of shoplifting clothes from the UCLA Store on Tuesday, Feb. 2, managed to fight off loss-prevention officers and escape, only to be caught after UCLA police officers chased him down.  

Candidates sought for Gold Shield Faculty Prize

Candidates sought for Gold Shield Faculty Prize
Gold Shield, Alumnae of UCLA, is seeking nominations for its annual Gold Shield Faculty Prize. The prize recognizes and rewards mid-career faculty members who have demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments in undergraduate teaching, research and public service within the university.

Staff, faculty can now apply to enroll children in schools near campus

Staff, faculty can now apply to enroll children in schools near campus
Are you interested in having your children attend a school near campus?   UCLA has a program that may make that possible, and it is now accepting applications.

Meals on wheels a huge hit with lunch crowd

Meals on wheels a huge hit with lunch crowd
Bruins are lining up for food from mobile specialty food vendors like the Thai-fusion Yum Yum Bowls truck. UCLA appears to be one of the first universities to join the catering-truck craze by contracting with more than a dozen of these portable eateries.

Helping IT staff keep pace with fast-moving technology

Helping IT staff keep pace with fast-moving technology
The one thing that’s certain — as the saying goes — is change. Ramp up the pace of change to warp speed and you’re talking technology. UCLA’s information technology staff members know this well and work hard to keep up.

New public transit options open up for campus

New public transit options open up for campus
There are now more public transit options to UCLA/Westwood with the start of new commuter bus service from as far away as the Antelope Valley and as near as the Metro Green Line station just south of LAX.  

Software helps campus departments put brakes on travel costs

Software helps campus departments put brakes on travel costs
A software package that 20 campus departments are using to hold virtual meetings on the Web and present lectures and webinars has helped them bring down travel costs without sacrificing interactivity.

Campus celebrates Black History Month

Campus celebrates Black History Month
The campus will mark the annual celebration in February, in conjunction with the 40th anniversaries of UCLA's ethnic studies centers. 

Voices

'Twilight' vamp franchise sucks the Quileute dry

'Twilight' vamp franchise sucks the Quileute dry
Visiting prof Angela Riley on how the Quileute Indians, who become vampire-fighting werewolves in the 'Twilight' books and movies, remain trapped in poverty as others profit off their name.

History, environment, politics make Haiti poor

History, environment, politics make Haiti poor
Jared Diamond, UCLA professor of geography and physiology and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, spoke with "Talk of the Nation" on NPR.

His year with Obama ... in rhyme

His year with Obama ... in rhyme
 Since eagerly casting his vote for Obama, he's lived through a year of political trauma. 

Alito was right on facts, but wrong on form

Alito was right on facts, but wrong on form
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was right in thinking that President Obama was wrong about a recent landmark Supreme Court decision striking down limits on corporate political speech. But Alito was also wrong in entering the political fray by mouthing, "It's not true," in response.

Court ruling gives all corporations rights that media companies have had all along

Court ruling gives all corporations rights that media companies have had all along
A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court means that other corporations and unions will enjoy much of the same First Amendment rights that media corporations have had all along. 

Verbatim -- banking reform, cranky patients, high cholesterol and more

Verbatim -- banking reform, cranky patients, high cholesterol and more
UCLA faculty are quoted every day in the national media on a wide range of topical subjects. Here is a recent sampling.