Inside: DramaTech gift . 2 THE Tech2Nite . 3 In Brief . 3 Campus Events . 4 WHISTLE FACULTY/STAFF N EWSPAPER Volume 29, Number 30 • September 20, 2004 T HE G EORGIA I NSTITUTE OF T ECHNOLOGY Searching for creative ways to Heat-controlled implants may offer face newest budget challenge new method for drug delivery David Terraso drug for more than one month at a Dan Treadaway Chameau pointed out that the Institute Communications time,” said Andrew Lyon, associate Institute Communications news is not entirely bad, especially and Public Affairs professor in the School of Chemistry and Public Affairs since Tech’s original FY 2005 budget and Biochemistry. picture was so strong. He also esearchers at Georgia Tech The results add to a decade’s ast spring, the Institute adminis- reminded the audience that state rev- have developed a material that worth of work in controlled and tar- tration was feeling guardedly enues have been steadily increasing may one day allow patients to geted drug delivery. Lyon’s use of optimistic about the fiscal 2005 for several months, a trend that is R L forgo daily injections and pills and films assembled from microparticles budget picture, which hadn’t looked expected to continue. instead receive prescriptions through allows more control over drug release very bright in at least three years. “I believe we can handle this micro-thin implantable films that than films previously made in mono- That all changed last month with two year’s budget shortfall with limited release medication according to lithic form. little words from the office of Gov. impact upon the students,” Chameau changes in temperature. The The insulin tests, Lyon said, serve Sonny Perdue: payroll shift. said. “I am much more concerned research, detailing results from test- as proof of a concept that this The past couple of years, the state about the issues related to the fund- ing insulin release in the lab, appears method of drug delivery is worth fur- has balanced its budget during peri- ing formula.” For more than 20 years, in the September 13 edition of the ther investigation. Currently, the films ods of sharply declining revenues in the state’s funding formula for journal, Biomacromolecules. release their cargo at 31 degrees part by shifting the final state payroll University System institutions has pro- “We loaded insulin in layers of Celsius, six degrees below human of the fiscal year in June to the new vided automatic budget increases to microgel films in the lab and released body temperature, but Lyon’s group is fiscal year in July. This past spring, accompany enrollment increases. bursts of insulin by applying heat to working on pushing the release point that was part of the budget plan for During the past few years of tight the films. They were extremely stable the end of FY 2005 and the begin- state budgets, funding from the for- and could continue to release the Implant continued, page 3 ning of FY 2006. In August, however, mula has not kept pace with Georgia Perdue announced that he had Tech’s growing enrollment, and for- changed his mind and decided not to mula-based funding has not been do a payroll shift from FY 2005 into accounted for in the FY 2005 budget. FY 2006, consequently leaving a “We don’t want Georgia Tech and $180 million hole in the state budget. the University of Georgia to drop out The University System’s share of that of the top 20 public universities, and hole is $68 million, and Georgia this could be a policy shift [in the Tech’s portion is more than $7 mil- funding formula] that draws us toward I, Robot lion. that,” said Clough. Addressing this sudden shortfall Despite these challenges, Clough was the topic of a presentation by cautioned against speculating about President Wayne Clough and Provost dire scenarios, as the discussions Jean-Lou Chameau at the Sept. 14 prompted by the Governor’s Office combined meeting of the Academic are coming at least six months before Senate, General Faculty and General the Legislature would adopt a fiscal Faculty Assembly, which was attend- 2006 budget. “Georgia Tech is a great ed by approximately 100 people. school with a tremendous base of Clough outlined several options for support and lots of momentum,” he dealing with the budget shortfall, said. “We need to find a path forward including a mid-year tuition increase, that makes sense financially for the capping enrollment levels (enrollment state, for Georgia Tech and for our levels are expected to rise significant- students. We want to have a reasoned ly over the next few years), continuing dialogue with the governor and his to search for more operational effi- staff.” ciencies, and eliminating support In other business, the Senate and staff positions. General Faculty approved a new Ph.D. “The Board of Regents will decide program in applied physiology, a mas- in October whether there will be a ter’s in computer science to be mid-year tuition increase,” Clough offered at GT-Lorraine and a master’s said. “If I had to make a prediction, I in industrial engineering to be offered would predict that there will be some via video. Faculty members also increase in tuition approved, but I can heard presentations on changes to The Graphics, Visualization and Usability (GVU) Center hosts the inaugural guarantee that it won’t be 27 per- the Institute’s Conflict of Interest stop on a nationwide university tour for ASIMO, a humanoid robot devel- cent.” The 27 percent figure refers to Policy and regulations on the use of oped by the Honda Motor Company. Several live demonstrations — free the level of tuition increase that animals in teaching and research. and open to the public — showcasing its dexterity and artificial intelligence would be necessary to cover the will be held in the Ferst Center for the Arts. budget shortfall if increased tuition For more information... Sept. 23 - 24 at 2:30 p.m. were the only means used to address Sept. 25 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. it. Other strategies will clearly have to GT Faculty Governance For more information, visit www.gvu.gatech.edu. be used in concert with a tuition www.facultysenate.gatech.edu increase, Clough explained. WWW.WHISTLE.GATECH.EDU 2 September 20, 2004 “QUOTE- Alumnus gift to DramaTech honors emeritus dean Maria M. Lameiras UNQUOTE” Alumni Association ramaTech has received an anonymous gift of $250,000 from an alumnus in honor of “We were the Olympic Village, D Dean of Students Emeritus James E. so [Georgia Tech] got a jump- Dull. start on what a lot of universi- The funds will be used to make ties are doing. On just about improvements to the DramaTech the- every major campus, most ater and to create an endowment for everybody is rebuilding or reno- DramaTech administered by the vating.” Georgia Tech Foundation, said Greg —Dan Morrison, associate Abbott, artistic director of director of residence life, on DramaTech. how universities are appeal- The theater where DramaTech per- ing to students by upgrading forms is named for Dull, and he is dorm life with more amenities the honorary chair of “Friends of and greater privacy. DramaTech,” an alumni group of for- (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) mer DramaTech participants. He and his wife, Gay, also support the group through scholarships. “We see the sale of the City DramaTech director Greg Abbott (left) and Dean of Students Emeritus Jim Dull. DramaTech receives a portion of Hall East complex for private its regular budget from the development as an opportunity Foundation, in addition to funds from for Atlanta to develop a proto- the Student Government Association “The students in DramaTech are in Dull and his wife, Gay, became type for urban neighborhood and the Ivan Allen College. the classes or are just students who aware of DramaTech when they revitalization.” Each year DramaTech produces love theater,” he said. “We have a lot arrived in 1957 and over the years —City and Regional Planning four main stage shows including one more students involved now than we have supported it both in spirit and Professors Nancey Green musical production, multiple smaller used to, and part of that has to do financially since seeing their first Leigh and Catherine Ross, in shows by the group’s improvisational with the number of different perform- DramaTech production, a an op-ed piece detailing a six- troupe Let’s Try This!, two shows by ances and activities the students can Shakespearean play performed in the point plan for creating “every- the musical theater group be involved in. We are also doing old Crenshaw Building. day communities” in under- VarietyTech, two sets of student- things better now, and part of that “We started going and we’ve performing areas of the city. directed one-act plays, and a murder- has to do with the fact that the Ivan almost never missed a production (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) mystery dinner theater production in Allen College helps create an environ- since,” Dull said. “Both Gay and conjunction with the Student Center ment that is supportive of the arts in myself were very active in drama and Programs Committee. general and DramaTech specifically.” musicals when we were in school our- Abbott said the number of stu- Dull said he was happy to have selves, and DramaTech has become dents involved has steadily increased another opportunity to support one of our passions.” over the years. DramaTech. As dean of students and as a “The fact that in the School of “The alumnus called me and said member of the administration, Dull Literature, Communication and a lot of nice things and told me he championed DramaTech and its Culture we are teaching classes in wanted to give $250,000 to spend on search for a permanent location, for Shakespeare and dramatic literature Tech and to reflect what my passion which the students thanked him by and that we have a theater in our was,” Dull said.