Spring 2005 11 Dispatches
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DISPATCHES California Scheming The governor proposes a plan to keep top faculty from going coastal. Deep in the legisla- tive minutiae of the JEFF MILLER California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act, there is a line that worries Wiscon- sin. It charges the state’s newly minted stem-cell research institute to “recruit the highest scientific 2,100 and medical talent in Students who received men’s the United States.” basketball season tickets free of To many around charge after a computer glitch UW-Madison’s biology excluded some of the 3,700 stu- labs, that sounds like dents who applied for tickets the launching of a from a lottery in October. The talent war that could students’ bonanza eventually make those cow ads Stem-cell researcher Su Chun Zhang PhD’91 (left) explains his lab’s work to Governor Jim Doyle (center) and Michael J. Fox (far right) during a February visit to the Wais- will cost the UW — and the look chummy by com- man Center. Fox’s foundation, which he began after being diagnosed with Parkin- company it contracts with to parison. son’s disease, has awarded $1.2 million to stem-cell research at UW-Madison, which provide ticketing services — “This proposition the actor praised as “the gold standard” for research on the disease. “This is where more than $300,000. is aimed at us,” says we’ve pinned a lot of our goals,” he said after touring the center. Michael Sussman, director of the UW scientists whose work is helping Many potential snags loom Biotechnology Center. “Every- to push the convergence of sci- for Doyle’s plan. Although he one recognizes that the ence and technology. Doyle has described building the insti- research we’re doing now will believes that easing the inter- tute as a public-private partner- lay the groundwork for the action among those disciplines ship, for example, several future of medicine, both eco- — which has helped fuel legislators remain skeptical nomically and scientifically. It’s progress in fields such as about how the state will afford in the state’s best interest to genomics and nanotechnology its share of the investment. have that done here. But other — will yield new discoveries that There is also likely to be debate places are catching up to us, spark the development of high- about whether the state should and we can’t afford to wait.” tech industries in Wisconsin. fund human embryonic stem- “I probably got pretty It was no mere coincidence, Coveting those same indus- cell research, which some con- lucky. I got an ace when I then, that Wisconsin Governor tries, states such as New Jersey sider to be unethical. Eight was down.” Jim Doyle ’67 waited just fif- and Illinois also have pledged states have banned or teen days after California vot- public money for stem-cell restricted using taxpayer — Brian Lomas x’06, one of ers endorsed a $3 billion foray research. But UW researchers money for such purposes. five UW intramural poker play- into stem-cell science to say a strength of Doyle’s plan is “If the people in the state ers who beat nine-time World counter with a proposal of his that it encompasses more than don’t want a star university, this Series of Poker champion Phil own. As part of an overall plan just the promising cells. is their opportunity to make that Hellmuth x’86 during a tour- that would pump $750 million “I’m actually fairly embar- known, because we’re at a cross- nament at the Red Gym in into biological research during rassed by the amount of press roads,” warns Sussman. At the November. Lomas won a copy the next decade, the governor that this one area of research same time, he’s already turned of Hellmuth’s book, Bad Beats wants to create a new research gets, because Wisconsin is a down one job offer from a Cali- and Lucky Draws, and a T-shirt institute at UW-Madison that leader in most areas of biomed- fornia university, and he has no in the no-money exhibition, would help attract and keep ical research,” says James plans to leave anytime soon. sponsored by the campus’s talented scientists. Thomson, the anatomy profes- “I’ve learned to respect the intramural sports division. Dubbed the Wisconsin sor who first isolated human people of the state,” he says. Institute for Discovery, the new embryonic stem cells. “I think “I think they want the best facility would consume two that the [governor’s] initiative research, and I think they want blocks of University Avenue goes a long way in maintaining it going on here, and not in and house not just biologists, our leadership position in an California.” but engineers and computer age of discovery.” — Michael Penn SPRING 2005 11 DISPATCHES A Kinder, Gentler Exam Week The new approach to finals stresses low stress. In the midst of final exams late don’t think they have time to that students are paying Q AND A last semester, a group of stu- take a break once in a while. attention. Tim Sell dents gathered in the Natato- University officials worry that “Everyone I know reads rium to experience something those stresses lead to unhealthy those tips,” she says. “People As business manager of the pretty rare for that time of choices, such as cutting back on are always looking for sugges- SWAP (Surplus with a Purpose) year: an hour of uninterrupted sleep, eating poorly, or drinking tions on how to get rid of some store, Tim Sell has the perfect calm. As they moved gracefully too much. So, in recent years, of their stress.” name for his job, which is find- through a series of yoga posi- they’ve developed new ways to But that’s true for more ing new uses for equipment tions, you could almost see the help students learn how to take than just university students. no longer needed by state or headaches and hassles of exams better care of themselves — Recent studies have shown that university offices. And when melt away, if only temporarily. he discovered that state laws from organized discussions and people who experience less Traditionally, exam weeks forbid selling such items on are synonymous eBay, he had the perfect alter- with stress. But native. He founded his own MICHAEL FORSTER ROTHBART universities have auction Web site, which in its come around to first year sold $280,000 of sur- the notion that plus goods. finals don’t Q: What was the most have to be an interesting item sold in all-out assault the online auction? on students’ A: The stories behind what we physical and sell are what make things mental well- interesting. For example, we being. Increas- have the chandelier from ingly, they’re the Pabst mansion, which is offering courses incredibly ornate [and] in yoga, medita- covered with crystals, selling tion, massage, for one hundred and fifty and other stress- dollars right now. busting tech- Q: How about at the physi- niques to help cal store — what will students relieve people wait in line for? the pressures of A: When the athletic depart- academia. Michele Price, a graduate student in entomology, takes a break from fall finals to par- ment switched their At UW- ticipate in a yoga class, one of the stress-busting options offered by the UW Division of endorsement deal from Recreational Sports. Madison, Uni- Reebok to Adidas, we had versity Health semi trucks loaded with Services now employs four classes to simple reminders stress are generally healthier Reebok athletic gear, both massage therapists, offers about healthy eating and sleep- and recover more quickly from new and used. The first day relaxation classes throughout ing habits. In his classes, Sepich illness or injury than others. the items were available, the semester, and guides a free teaches students techniques Many businesses are beginning there were two thousand meditation session on Monday they can do on their own time, to realize that helping workers people waiting in line. afternoons. UHS and the Divi- including muscle relaxation, alleviate stress is a good bot- Q: What did people want sion of Recreational Sports also guided imagery, and even the tom-line decision. As Sepich most? sponsor classes in yoga and importance of napping. notes, it’s cheaper to teach peo- A: Shoes. There were hun- other mind-body exercises, “Just taking time out for an ple how to cope with stress dreds of pairs of shoes, which often fill up during the hour a day really helps relieve than it is to deal with poten- sizes three and a half to academic year. stress,” says Melissa Trinley tially serious consequences of twenty. Q: What is the most money “The classes are so popular x’06. “Especially at the end of too much stress down the line. you have ever gotten because they really do help,” says the semester, during finals.” “It is important to teach peo- for an item? Rob Sepich, a UHS stress-man- Shortly before finals each ple now how to deal with stress- A: We sold an eye laser for agement counselor who leads a semester, the university sends ful situations as early as possible,” half a million dollars about course on relaxation techniques. e-mails to all students with Sepich says. “It allows students to two years ago. Sepich says students often advice on how to maintain a cope in a much more efficient neglect their health because healthy diet and relieve stress and healthy way in the future.” they feel overwhelmed and during exams, and Trinley says — Joanna Salmen x’06 12 ON WISCONSIN DISPATCHES Backward Thinking Documenting campus’s past will guide its future.