Monday, July 20, 1998
Community Briefs
School of Dentistry dean selected
Administrators continue to play musical chairs as Dr. No-Hee Park was approved by the UC Board of Regents to be the next dean of UCLA's School of Dentistry.
The appointment took effect July 1, the same day his predecessor, Rory Hume, took over as executive vice chancellor. Park will serve the remainder of Hume's five-year appointment, which began November 1996.
"During his distinguished 28-year career, (Park) has earned a reputation as one of the world's finest oral-cancer scientists," Chancellor Albert Carnesale said in a statement.
Park was previously director of the Dental Research Institute, associate dean of research and professor of oral biology. He joined the UCLA faculty in 1984.
"My challenge will be to maintain the momentum for improvement in the School of Dentistry's pre-doctoral curriculum, physical facilities, capital campaign and research programs," Park said.
Research has been Park's focus since coming to UCLA and will continue to be his focus as dean. In his 14 years at the university, Park has attracted almost $10.6 million in research grants.
Wilson signs casino pact with Indian tribes
Governor Pete Wilson signed a pact with five Indian tribes last Monday to allow legal gaming in California.
This compact allows each of the 100 federally recognized tribes in California to conduct any type of gaming that the California Lottery conducts.
The terms of agreement included economic development zones to generate lost revenue, licensing of allocation rights from one tribe to another, a community voice in policy-making and employees' rights as covered under the State's workers' compensation laws.
"These compacts will allow the tribes to operate legal games in California while protecting employees and patrons of Indian casinos as well as the surrounding communities," Wilson said.
Employee parking fee program to be tested
The university is proposing a plan that would allow all eligible employees' parking fees be taken out before taxes, up to the IRS limit of $175 a month.
The money employees would save on lower taxes would depend on their federal tax bracket and whether the employee is subject to full or partial FICA coverage.
Reducing the current taxable income under the pre-tax programs would reduce the maximum an employee could contribute annually to their retirement funds.
The pre-tax deductions, which would start in September 1998, would not affect the salary used in calculating benefits under the university's retirement plan.
Group hopes trees will transform Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department, in association with the National Park Service, has completed the Exposition Greenway project, which planted 2,500 trees along Exposition Boulevard.
The project was commenced in hopes of "transforming underutilized corridors into shady, tree-lined greenways," according to Lillian Kawasaki, general manager of the environmental affairs department.
The project was launched in 1994. Maps of existing, planned and potential greenways have been completed, and the Environmental Affairs Department is working with the planning department and other agencies to make these maps readily accessible to the public.
Compiled from Daily Bruin staff reports.