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THE INDEPENDENT DAILY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2005
ONE HUNDREDTH YEAR, ISSUE 86
3 seniors named Trustee finalists Schools profit from MEET THE FINALISTS by
technology transfer
Duke tops Triangle list for research funding by
Dan
Englander
THE CHRONICLE
Juggling the desire for revenue and a
responsibility to work for the common good, Duke’s technology transfer opera-
tions are striking a balance. Tech transfer—a multi-million dollar business —refers to shifting new technology out of the laboratory and into the market where it can be sold. While it has important social implications like generating licensing revenue, creating jobs and affecting public health, the pull of potential revenue also poses a tough moral question for research universities, including four schools in the area. Wake Forest University’s technology transfer programs are by far the most profitable in the area. In part due to its new development of a vacuum that removes air from a wound before stitching occurs, the Winston-Salem school garnered $l9 million in licensing revenue in 2003—more money from project licensing than Duke, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University combined. The three schools each generated less than $5 million in the same period. In addition, Wake Forest also manages to generate higher revenue while spending less. While Wake Forest spent only $125 million, NCSU had $286 million to work with, UNC received $303 million and Duke, which received the most research funding than any other Triangle university in 2003, topped the list with $475 million, according to a survey conducted by the Association of University Technology Managers. The survey compiles information about inventions, licensing, patents and start-up company activity at not-for-profit institutions like universities and research hospitals. Duke, however, is not concerned about the financial success ofWake Forest’s tech transfer operations because some officials regard revenue generation as a useful indication of progress but not as the most important reason for their work. “You would like to think that you can convert the result of research into something useful,” said Robert Taber, vice chancellor for science and technology. “The SEE TECH ON PAGE 6
Julie
Stolberg THE CHRONICLE
After two hours of deliberation Tuesday night, the Undergraduate Young Trustee Nominating Committee chose three senior campus leaders to advance to the final round of the Young Trustee selection process. All three finalists—former Duke University Union President Jonathan Bigelow, Campus Council President Anthony Vitarelli and Duke Student Government Executive Vice President Andrew Wisnewski—are veterans of the Young Trustee selection process, having participated as members of the nominating committee in years past. The nominating committee chose the finalists based upon the essays and resumes the candidates submitted initially and 20-minute individual candidate interviews that were conducted Monday night. “All three of them have been campus leaders since their freshman year,” said sophomore Joel Kliksberg, chair of the nominating committee and DSG vice president of community interaction. ‘They have a lot of charisma and passion for the University, and they have a wide breath of knowledge about Duke’s plans for the future and its current organizational structure.” Emphasizing their love for the school, the finalists considered all aspects ofDuke as they set forth their potential priorities. “I decided to run because I realized that I had a plurality of experiences that suited the position well,” said Bigelow, whose first contact with the
Anthony Vitarelli
Jonathan Bigelow
Two-time Campus Council President Anthony Vitarelli emphasized the new strategic plan, Central Campus development and
internationalization as important issues for the Board of Trustees to tackle in the near future. A senior, he plans to stay in contact with current students.
.
Andrew Wisnewski
Former Union President Jonathan Bigelow, a senior, wants the Board of Trustees to examine the Medical Center, buildings and grounds planning and the undergraduate experience. He said his experience with the Union allowed him to know many campus groups.
University took place during his junior year of high school, when he was treated at Duke University Hospital. Bigelow said his time at the hospital helped him to understand the experiences of many other patients and to witness the conflict between research and treatment that academic physicians face. Bigelow has retained an interest in improving safety and quality of care at Duke Hospital and said it would be a paramount concern for him as he served on the Board of Trustees.
Duke Student Government Executive Vice President
Andrew Wisnewski chaired the Young Trustee Nominating Committee last year. In his bid for the position this year, he is stressing the importance of fostering interdisciplinarity in all areas of the University.
Vitarelli listed Central Campus planning as one of the most important current issues for the Board of Trustees. “The ongoing planning for Central Campus will have a dramatic impact not only on student life, but also on the academic experience and the way the University interfaces with Durham,” Vitarelli said. He added that while the selection process is “incredibly humbling,” he feels prepared to take on the Young Trustee SEE TRUSTEE ON PAGE 6
N.C. colleges try new security tools BY
IZA WOJCIECHOWSKA THE CHRONICLE
PETER
GEBHARD/THECHRONICLE
As other universities turn to technology to enhance safety, Duke has hired more security guards.
A recent flux of crimes at campuses across the state has prompted several universities to employ' new technological gadgets to upgrade their security systems. Duke officials are keeping an eye open for opportunities to improve safety, but the Duke University Police Department is not talking about changing current security measures. There is some tentative testing of a device that makes a laptop go into a “lockdown” and renders its hard drive useless if it is being used “suspiciously” or moved around too much, but officials have not taken any steps toward implementing the device. “We don’t have any concrete plans right now, but we are maintaining an awareness of what’s out there and how that applies to Duke,” said Leanora Minai, senior public relations specialist for DUPD. Other schools across the state are more SEE SECURITY ON PAGE 6