MIT and Amgen Dink 10-Year Pact
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MIT's The Weather Oldest and Largest Today: Increasing clouds, 54°F (12°C) Tonight: Mostly cloudy, 36°F (2°C) Newspaper Tomorrow: Sprinkles, 45°F (7°C) Details, Page 2 Volume 114, Number 17 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Friday, April I, 1994 I DInkrOLL L 10-YearCUWL Zj&&l.v/I" Pact MIT 'V "tf I f\ and'W AmgenT^ J~~~~~~mof I SnB^B JBVudy* Ecit i i Ev"tl lawslc t ligA~~~ Z i i i By Sarah Y. Keightley definite plus," Hynes said. "We'll EXECUTI VE EDI'TOR i see more arrangements likes this. ... On Tuesday, the Institute and Relationships with companies are Amgen, a biotechnology company, very healthy," he said. Because gov- t announced their agreement for a ernment funding is rising too slow- decade-long partnership. ly, industry funding helps cover the Amgen will fund research efforts increased expenses and enables at MIT - giving up to $3 million a more research projects to be carried year for 10 years -- in exchange for out, he said. some patent and technology licens- "This university-industry collab- ing rights on this research, accord- oration will advance the already ing to a press release. The company rapid pace of scientific discoveries will use the research results to in biology and other sciences," Vest develop and manufacture pharma- said. ceutical products. Scientists can make discoveries, Both sides are pleased with the but "we can't develop them to a collaborative arrangement. point" where the public can use ,.^sZ.. ,y . , W/..., , -- ........ ;"*.. :.;w. | "This agreement with Amgen them, Hynes said. This is where the · A represents an essential element in pharmaceutical companies can take HELEN LIN--HE TECHL the kind of future I see for MIT -- a the idea and develop it, he said. The new biology building nears completion. Construction began in the fall of 1991 and is expect- synergy of basic research efforts at The partnership between acade- ed to be completed later this year. universities and long-term commit- mia and industry is "beneficial to ~""'""~'^`-"~~"~~UIU""~"`~"~~~""I~"~ IMI*mY-UiYL-L -.rrrrr--- ·uu ,--rr· ,,,··r^r--wr*uirr·--I -··r·i-x-r--·ruuru*-urr--rr-mr--·-nw ments by industry," said President both [sides] and the public in that it Charles M. Vest in the press release. leads to increased transfer of tech- "We are enthusiastic about this nology to the public," Hynes said. to Survey Seniors promising collaboration, which Dean's Office could serve as a model for industry- Terms of the agreement By Jeremy Hylton first attempt to collect feedback want this to be very pragmatic." academia partnerships," said Gor- In the agreement, Amgen will CHAIRMAN from every member of a graduating The survey's results will be pro- don Binder, Amgen's chairman and donate up to $3 million a year for up The Undergraduate Academic class. "There are all kinds of ways vided to academic departments, chief executive officer, in the press to 10 years. MIT researchers who Affairs office will distribute a sur- that MIT gets input about the Institute committees, and adminis- release. are funded with this money can ini- vey to seniors next week asking process ... but there's never been a trative offices. Tech Talk will also tiate their own projects and can pub- them to comment on their experi- comprehensive survey," said Travis provide an Institute-wide summary Agreement is 'a definite plus' lish articles on their work, though ences at MIT, ranging from their R. Merritt, dean for undergraduate of the complete survey data. Director for the Center of Cancer Amgen has some patent and tech- impressions of student life to satis- academic affairs. McGavern and Merritt hope for Research Richard O. Hynes PhD '71 nology licensing rights to the faction with their majors. The survey asks dozens of very a strong response from students. said that this collaborative effort is results. "We're looking also for people specific questions, and the UAA "We hope everybody will do it, similar to others that have been "MIT and Amgen will jointly to finish off their experience by plans to use the answers to those because if we don't get a large sam- made between university scientists hold patents that are the result of leaving something behind - a mes- questions to consider specific ple the value of the results are and corporations. "Faculty talk to joint inventive efforts," said Provost sage that others can use to change, changes. "We'll do our very best to skewed," Merritt said. companies all the time," he said. Mark S. Wrighton. improve, build on, innovate," make sure that the places they've Still, this agreement is unique Moreover, Amgen scientists can explained Norma G. McGavern, commented about will use this Survey on Athena because it is department-wide, and come to MIT as visiting scientists. director of the Undergraduate information to fix, change, add to, In an effort to get more respons- the donation is quite large, Hynes To determine which projects will Research Opportunities Program. or not to change, according to com- said. The 10-page survey is MIT's ments they hear," Merritt said. "We Survey, Page 11 "I think it's a good thing - a Amgen, Page 10 Belly to Perform at Spring Weekend Concert Students By Sarah Y. Keightley awards for best act and best new Approve of and Eva Moy artist, according to co-coordinator STAFF REI'OR TERS Jonathan A. Allen '96. Incidentally, This year's Spring Concert on lead singer Tanya Donnelly was New UROP April 23 will feature Belly, with previously the bassist for the Cold Water Flat as the opening act. Boston-based band, Throwing A contract with the band has Muses, he added. Guide inmes already been made, according to Cold Water Flat is an alternative Lori A. Weldon '95. one of the Stu- rock group; "they're smaller, but By Ramy Arnaout and Eva Moy STA:FF REPORE7RS dent Center Committee Spring Con- they're good," Weidon said. cert coordinators. The SCC considered more popu- Many students are appreciative The Spring Concert is the high- lar groups such as Nine Inch Nails of the new'three-wcek acceptance light of the annual Spring Weekend, and Pearl Jam, but they either period - April 1-22 - for summer which includes several activities for became unavailable or were out of Undcrgrauuatc Rcscntrch Oppo]rtuni- students. SCC's budget, Allen said. Pearl ties Program proposals. Belly won this year's Grammy Jam, which would have cost With this change, "there is no $150,000, was about $100,000 out advantage to being first - that's of range, he said. what we're trying to eliminate," said Instead, SCC concentrated on UROP Director Nonna G. McGav- Spring bands they could afford - and em. The window of opportunity for would have reasonable ticket prices submitting applications before -ind- the MIT community - as well ing ran out last term was about 24 7 for Ahead! as ones which people would recog- hours, she said. east=-.. = . .- nize by name, Allen said. In addition, summer proposals At $10,000, Belly fell within the requesting the waiver of overhead usual price range for Spring Concert and employee benefits in June will bands and even included their own be accepted from April 1 to May 31. opening act. "The three-week period [for sub- For MIT students and the MIT Clockwise from top: Gail Greenwood, Tom Gorman, Tanya Donelly, mission] gives students more time community, tickets will be $10 in and Chris Gorman of Belly. to hunt for a UJROP that's original" advance and $12 at the door. For and these original projects "arc what other students, tickets will be $12 in SCC member Christopher S. Schny- petition, along with other events. will get funding," said Eric Fong advance and $14 at the door. er '96. Not many bands are touring '95. Allen said, "we would be really right now so it was tough to get a Students split on choice "Sometimes it takes a long time pleased with 2,000" attendees. Last band, he said. But because "Belly is Students who were interviewed to find a good UROP," said Michael year's concert, featuring They a good band, we're excited." last night were pretty evenly split B. Davidson '94. The time it takes Daylight savings time begins Might Be Giants, hosted a crowd of Other events which will take between those who have never searching delays a student from turning in a comprnnlete, finished nro- Sunday at 2 a.m. Don't forget about 2,300, he added. nlace during Spring Weekend heard of Belly and those who are to set your clocks one hour "I think a lot of people here like include the international fair, a excited that Belly is coming. posal, he said. ahead before you go to bed pop music and would come to see Roadkill Buffet performance, and "I've never heard of them," said "Overall, people who did good Saturday night. them," Weldon said. the Women's Independent Living "We're pretty psyched," said Group's Mr. Spring Weekend com- Belly, Page 11 i UROP, Page 10 April 1, 1994 D»»-- I1 TUlKTTd-TU Irage z i ms, iLk_-- - --· --- - WORLD- - & NATIONI Clinton Signs Education Tobacco Firm Charged with Reform Plan into Law I LOS ANGELES TIMES SAN DIEGO Suppressing Nicotine Study President Clinton signed into laxw the framework for his administra- PhilipI Morris had interceded to pre- By William J. Eaton amounts similar to those a smoker tion's nationwide education reform Thursday, telling hundreds of ele- ventI publication of the study. mentary students here that the country now will have "world-class stan- LOS ANGEl.ES TIAIES would obtain from a cigarette.