Community Briefs

Survey finds UC lab has positive image

A January 2000 survey by the Charlton Research Company found
that the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is seen as well-
managed, protective of its national secrets, safe and an important
economic resource to the local community.

The survey excluded people who worked for the lab, the
Department of Energy and the University of California.

“The Lab is seen as a good neighbor and the community
holds the Laboratory in high regard,” said Natasha Stein of
the research company.

Recently the UC’s operation of the DOE owned labs, which
includes the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory, has come under fire in Congress after it was
revealed that two hard drives containing nuclear weapons
disarmament information were misplaced.

Last year, the labs came under scrutiny after Los Alamos
scientist Wen Ho Lee was arrested for allegedly mishandling
sensitive nuclear information.

Study shows Medicaid poorly controls STDs

A UCLA study released last week concluded that current
managed-care policies lead to inadequate control of non-viral
sexually transmitted diseases among Medicaid patients, which
include a high proportion of at-risk individuals.

The study, done by the Center for Health Policy Research, was
the first to examine STD policies and practices among Medicaid
patients. Medicaid is a state and federal program providing health
care to approximately 35 million individuals and families.

“The managed care system often cites economics, legal
liabilities, physician autonomy, and even religion as reasons for
failing to require adequate STD clinical practices and treatment
guidelines ““ but low organizational priority seems to be the
biggest culprit,” said Professor E. Richard Brown, director
of the center.

For example, less than half of the managed care providers shared
patient information with the local health department to curb the
spread of STDs, the study said.

Medicaid subscribers are mostly low-income women and children,
including large proportions of individuals who are considered at a
higher risk for STDs.

Researchers examined policies and practices of managed-care
organizations in seven large cities whose populations have high
numbers of STD cases and large percentages of Medicaid
beneficiaries.

Time magazine honors architecture professor

Time magazine selected UCLA Professor Greg Lynn as one of seven
people changing the face of design in its new series,
“Innovators, Time 100: The Next Wave.” Lynn is featured
in the magazines July 17 issue.

The series is the culmination of 18 months of work looking into
tomorrow’s leaders in the fields of design, religion, sports,
politics, health, technology and finance.

“Greg Lynn is one of our school’s many distinguished
faculty in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design whose
creative vision is helping to shape the artists and designers of
tomorrow,” said Daniel Neuman, dean of the School of Arts and
Architecture. “We are gratified to see him receive such
prominent recognition for his work.”

Lynn, who owns the architectural firm Greg Lynn FORM, abandoned
many traditional architectural methods about eight years ago in
favor of computers.

He and 10 UCLA students in his Embryological Housing seminar are
representing the United States, along with Columbia University, at
the seventh International Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy,
one of the most prestigious forums for exhibiting architecture
internationally.

Compiled from Daily Bruin staff and wire reports.