INSIDE African American Council Endowed Scholarship....... 3 Pitt researchers, Large Hadron Collider project... 5 PittNewspaper of the University of PittsburghChronicle Volume X • Number 34 • December 14, 2009 $7.2 Million Grant for Pitt to Develop Microbicides Against HIV/AIDS By Clare Collins The University of Pittsburgh Gradu- “The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains evaluate these microbicides in two formula- women in developing countries, giving them ate School of Public Health (GSPH) has uncontrolled in many regions in the world,” tions—a film delivery system inserted into the power to prevent sexually transmitted received a five-year, $7.2 million grant said principal investigator Phalguni Gupta, the vagina and used for up to seven days, diseases,” Gupta said. from the National Institute of Allergy and professor and assistant chair, Department and a ring deliv- At the fore- Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to develop of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, e r y s y s t e m front of research on microbicides against HIV transmission. The in GSPH. “In developing countries, HIV inser ted on a “The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains microbicides, the grant will allow Pitt to test two is most often spread through monthly or peri- University of Pitts- microbicide formulations—a unprotected heterosexual inter- odic basis. They uncontrolled in many regions in the burgh also leads the film and ring that release the course, creating a great need for also plan to test world. In developing countries, HIV National Institutes active ingredient over time. new ways to prevent transmis- the microbicides of Health-funded Microbicides are sub- sion beyond the condom, whose in the presence is most often spread through Microbicides Trial stances designed to prevent or use is often at the discretion of of other sexually Network (MTN). reduce the sexual transmission men.” transmitted dis- unprotected heterosexual inter- Headquartered at of HIV when applied topically The project at Pitt will eases and bacte- Magee-Womens to the vagina or rectum. Cur- involve cell culture and animal rial vaginosis, a course, creating a great need for Research Insti- rently, there are several microbi- studies of two microbicides, common vaginal tute in Pittsburgh, cides being tested, but none has RC101 and CSIC, that target infection. new ways to prevent transmission MTN is a global been proven effective. Testing of Phalguni Gupta different stages of virus growth. “If proven beyond the condom, whose use is clinical trials net- many products will likely be required before RC101 inhibits entry of the virus into a cell, effective, micro- work focused on finding one that is safe and effective against while CSIC works to inactivate an enzyme bicides could often at the discretion of men.” prevent i ng t he HIV, as well as easy to use and acceptable that the virus needs to grow after it has have particular sexual transmis- to both sexual partners. entered a cell. Study investigators will impact among —Phalguni Gupta sion of HIV. Concordia Club Sale to Pitt Set to Close This Month PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE PITTSBURGH PHOTOS COURTESY OF © By Sally Kalson The University of Pittsburgh agreed members of Pittsburgh’s Jewish society. in July to purchase the Concordia Club, In the face of declining membership Oakland, for $2.1 million. An auction and a shortage of cash, club members voted of the club’s furnishings, [July 16] to approve the member Foster Goldman, who negotiated china, silverware, and sale of their historic the sale, said members might decide to use and I’ve been using the club all my life. I other items was held Nov. It’s the end of an era building on O’Hara the proceeds to buy or rent another facil- hate to see it go, but given the situation, it’s 28, and the building’s sale for the Concordia Club, Street in Oakland. The ity. Alternatively, they might join in with the right decision.” is expected to be finalized University of Pittsburgh another club, or dissolve the organization At its peak, he said, the club had close in mid-December. Plans which for more than a will pay $2.1 million and distribute the proceeds among the to 300 equity members, plus associate and for the club’s building— for the structure that members. junior members. As of May, equity members and its membership— century was the place the club has occupied Meanwhile, the sale’s closing is ten- numbered only 147. remain uncertain at this since 1913. Its previous tatively scheduled for Dec. 14. Pitt has not Formed 135 years ago by German Jews, time. This is a reprint of a to be for prominent headquarters was on said what it will do with the building, which mostly members of the Rodef Shalom Con- July 21, 2009, Pittsburgh the North Side, where sits in the middle of its campus. (In 2005, gregation, the Concordia Club’s purpose Post-Gazette article. members of Pittsburgh’s the club was founded in Pitt bought the 81-year-old University Club was “to promote social and literary enter- It’s the end of an era Jewish society. 1874, the same era as the for $3.1 million and, after extensive renova- tainment among its members,” according for the Concordia Club, Duquesne Club. tions, turned it into a faculty club). to its charter. which for more than a The future of the “It’s a shame that it’s come to this,” century was the place to be for prominent organization is uncertain. Concordia board Goldman said. “My parents were members, Continued on page 2 2 • Pitt Chronicle • December 14, 2009 Concordia Club Sale to Pitt Set to Close This Month MORGAN KELLY/PC Concordia Club lounge Continued from page 1 The club quickly became a prestigious The building has been the setting of losing its cultural amenities—baseball, the sale of alcohol on Sundays didn’t apply gathering place for the movers and shakers countless parties, weddings, Passover symphony, and the historical society moved to private clubs. Also, there were very of the time. Judge Josiah Cohen was the seders, bar and bat mitzvot, birthday and elsewhere, and the Syria Mosque was razed. few good restaurants, “so if you didn’t primary founder and first president, and anniversary celebrations. Men met there “Women work, Pitt football games moved to belong to a club, you didn’t eat very well, the membership rolls for smokers, women for the North Side, doctors offices moved to sat- and you didn’t have a social life,” he said. over the years included bridge games and teas. ellite locations,” said longtime member Bar- Many of the business advantages to Pittsburgh Pirates The building has been the Many thousands of bara Mendlowitz, and competition for family private club membership no longer exist. owner Barney Drey- glasses have clinked time kept growing. “Children today have so “Your firm could pay your dues and fuss, industrialist Leon setting of countless parties, in its rooms, and many many activities, you can’t do everything.” deduct them. They can’t do that any- Falk Jr., and depart- thousands of cigars Goldman ticked off other fac- more. You could deduct 100 percent ment store magnate weddings, Passover seders, have been fired up. tors affecting private clubs in general. of your meals for entertaining busi- Edgar J. Kaufmann. Concordia members “Blue laws” that used to prohibit the public ness clients. Now it’s only 50 percent.” Eventually, the club bar and bat mitzvot, birth- attended its lectures, For all these reasons, he said, “Our began including east- plays, concerts, and membership is aging and younger ern European Jews, day and anniversary games, including bowl- people today have other agendas. and in more recent celebrations. Men met there ing in the alleys long They don’t seem to be interested.” years membership was since removed. There [The July 16] vote to sell the building open without regard to for smokers, women for were Purim parties wasn’t unanimous, he said, but it passed by gender, race, ethnic- for children, Hallow- a good margin. Most members saw the sale ity, or religion. Mem- bridge games and teas. een dances for young as the best option under the circumstances. bers held on to their adults, formal balls on Still, he said, “It was a sad night.” reform Jewish identity Many thousands of glasses Thanksgiving and New while also assimilat- Year’s Eve, even dances ing into American have clinked in its rooms, on Christmas Eve. society—the club’s and many thousands of The club staged peri- Golden Anniversary odic frolics featuring Song Book in 1924 cigars have been fired up. song parodies writ- PittChronicle contains the lyrics to ten and performed by Newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh “Annie Rooney,” “Oh! Concordia members attended members on the expan- PUBLISHER Robert Hill Susan na,” “Sweet its lectures, plays, concerts, sive, curtained stage in ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER John Harvith Adeline,” and “Jingle the ballroom. Women EXECUTIVE EDITOR Linda K. Schmitmeyer Bells.” The dining and games, including bowl- were not allowed as EDITOR Jane-Ellen Robinet room has long been full members until ART DIRECTOR Gary Cravener open on the Sabbath, ing in the alleys long since some time after 1972, STAFF WRITERS Sharon S. Blake the menu features a situation that Har- John Fedele such non-kosher fare removed. riet Franklin protested Morgan Kelly as shrimp and scal- in one of the follies’ Amanda Leff lops, and clam bakes remain popular events. songs: “I am Woman, hear me roar, in Anthony M. Moore When Concordia moved into its grand new numbers too big to ignore. But Concordia Patricia Lomando White building on O’Hara Street, it was one of city’s thinks that I don’t exist.