Community Briefs

Wednesday, January 22, 1997

Haines Hall evacuated after bomb scare

A late afternoon bomb scare forced the evacuation of the second
and third floors of Haines Hall yesterday.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s bomb squad arrived on the
scene at approximately 4:30 p.m. because of what witnesses called a
"suspicious package" which had been left on a professor’s desk in
the anthropology department.

Donna Orcutt, a fourth-year sociology student was sitting on the
first floor when she saw fellow students running by. "People
started running out and said, ‘What are you still doing in the
building?’" Orcutt said.

Moments after the bomb scare was reported, Haines Hall was taped
off by police and several classrooms were evacuated.

About 10 minutes after the bomb squad entered the building,,
they determined that the package was full of paper. Police allowed
students back in after the bomb squad deemed it safe, and classes
resumed.

Student Aid reorganizes

The board of directors of the California Student Aid
Commission’s new nonprofit corporate organizational arm has moved
to establish the corporation and advance the organization’s
business and technology improvement initiatives.

Known as EdFund, the corporation became effective January 1,
1997, and equips the Commission with the tools to regain its
leadership position in the increasingly competitive student loan
industry.

EdFund was funded $20 million from the state account that holds
reserve funds for the federal loan program. The funding means that
operations of the federal student loan programs in California can
be turned over to the newly formed corporation immediately.

The privatization of government operations has not been as
readily endorsed by the California Legislature as proponents would
like. The Commission’s proposal won favor because of the unique
public-private structure of the federal student loan programs.

One of the side-effects of the new competitive position of the
Commission is retaining student loan operations in California
rather than other states. The improved business will help the
agency return its dividends to California citizens through enhanced
college financial aid services.

Vice provost named for academic initiatives

Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, vice provost for academic planning and
personnel at the University of California at Davis, has been named
the first vice provost for academic initiatives for the UC
system.

Tomlinson-Keasey’s appointment was announced last Friday at the
January meeting of the UC Board of Regents in San Francisco.

"We are pleased to have Carol and her experience and energy in
this new position," said C. Judson King, UC provost and senior vice
president for academic affairs.

In the new position, Tomlinson-Keasey will lead the university
in the development of major system-wide academic initiatives.

Tomlinson-Keasey’s new responsibilities will include promoting
the academic use of instructional and information technology,
expanding the university extension program and coordinating the
planning for the university’s 10th campus.

"I am delighted to have this opportunity to continue serving the
University of California and am looking forward to working with the
campuses on the many challenging issues that we face," she
said.

The Regents approved Tomlinson-Keasey’s salary of $160,000. She
will assume her duties on April 1.

Tomlinson-Keasey has served as vice provost for academic
planning and personnel at Davis since 1995. Previously, she served
as vice provost for faculty relations from 1992 to 1994, and dean
of the College of Letters and Science from 1994 to 1995.

Compiled from Daily Bruin staff reports.