In the Headines

About the University :: March 2006

Science (March 31)

Broad Patent Faces Narrow Odds in Court Battle
This "enablement" clause that Lilly invokes has been used to defeat other broad patent claims. Three years ago, a New York judge denied the University of Rochester's patent claims over COX-2 inhibitors, a class of drugs that includes Pfizer's Celebrex (Science, 14 March 2003, p. 1638). The judge ruled the Rochester patent invalid because it did not show how to specifically inhibit COX-2. The same judge also concluded that the COX-2 patent did not meet the law's standard for "written description" of the invention, because the patent did not describe a COX-2 inhibitor.

Rochester Business Journal (March 30)

UR Boosts Tuition for 2006–07
The University of Rochester has increased tuition for undergraduates on the River Campus by 6.9 percent to $32,650 for the 2006–07 academic year. Incoming freshmen at the Eastman School of Music will pay $28,320 in tuition for the year, up 10 percent. Eastman sophomores, juniors, and seniors will see a 5 percent increase to $27,030.

Rochester Business Journal (March 28)

UR Nursing School Recognized
The University of Rochester School of Nursing has received the Empire State Gold certification, a recognition of innovation and growth. It is the only nursing school in the state to receive Gold certification, UR officials said.

WGRZ Channel 2 (Buffalo; March 27)

Running & Drinking
During Sunday's run, someone left a trail of white powder. The problem was, the trail of powder led through the University of Rochester's Hutchison Hall, home to several chemistry and science laboratories. (Also reported by WCAX-TV (Vermont), NWAnews (Northwest Arkansas), WHAM-TV ABC (Rochester), and Democrat and Chronicle.)

Democrat and Chronicle (March 26)

Re-enactment of Anthony Funeral Draws Hundreds
The funeral opened with then-University of Rochester President Rush Rhees—portrayed by current UR President Joel Seligman—praising Anthony's "untiring moral energy" despite his disputes with her over opening UR to female students. UR became a co-ed university because of Anthony's pressure, [Susan B. Anthony House director of development Ellen] Wheeler said.

Democrat and Chronicle (March 15)

In Albany, Two Argue Rival Views on Stem Cell Research
Mark Michaud, associate director for the Office of Public Relations and Communications at the Medical Center, spoke in Albany on Tuesday urging lawmakers to approve funding for research utilizing stem cells taken from unfertilized embryos. Michaud said this line of research shows promise for advancing cures to diseases and spinal cord injuries. "It's clear now that states are the key to the future of medical research," he added.

WTNH (Connecticut; March 10)

College's Benefactor Coming Up with Another Big Gift
Connecticut businessman and graduate of the University of Rochester who has given millions of dollars to his alma mater isn't done giving. U of R officials are announcing today that 1960 grad Robert Goergen is donating $10 million toward the college's $37 million biomedical engineering-optics building that's under construction. (Also reported by WSTM.com (Syracuse), WCAX-TV 3 News (Vermont), CBS 6 Albany, R News (Rochester), and Democrat and Chronicle.)

Democrat and Chronicle (March 9)

UR Focuses on Diversity
Faced with teaching ranks that are mostly white and largely male, the University of Rochester has put together a group to help boost its numbers of nonwhite and female professors. The goal is to boost the "historic under-representation in our faculties of minorities and, in some fields, of women" without compromising academic standards, President Joel Seligman told UR's Faculty Senate in a recent speech announcing the task force.

CNN Money (March 2)

10 Cool Colleges for Entrepreneurs
Fortune Small Business includes Rochester in its list of 10 university offering cutting-edge entreprenurial programs. Release yesterday, the list cites the University for embedding entrepreneurship course "in virtually every department on campus—including computer science, engineering, religion, and music. Engineering students are working with those in anthropology to design a nonpolluting bus for the city of Rochester." (Also reported by Rochester Business Journal, WHAM-TV ABC (Rochester), and Democrat and Chronicle.)