University Times

Fund set up for wounded Pitt student

An educational assistance fund has been established for Kevin Cecil, the junior engineering student who was severely wounded in a random shooting in front of Webster Hall in July.

To date, $25,000 in individual and foundation grants have been raised to help defray Cecil's medical bills and to allow him to complete his final year of engineering studies. Contributions can be sent to the Office of Institutional Advancement, 500 Craig Hall. Make checks payable to the University of Pittsburgh.

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7 health care providers join to form system

Seven of the region's health care providers have joined together to form Tri-State Health System. Members include the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Children's Hospital, Magee-Womens Hospital, Passavant Hospital, the South Hills Health System, St. Margaret Memorial Hospital and Washington Hospital.

The goal of Tri-State Health System is to improve the manner in which health care services are delivered. The new group will work with employers and health insurers to provide cost-effective health care both locally and nationally.

Among the group's nominated board of directors are John Paul and Seymour Grufferman of UPMC.

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Restoration of funds for AIDS center urged

Pitt has added its voice to those urging Congress to restore funds for the national AIDS Education and Training Center. On Aug. 4, the House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill that eliminated all monies for the program. The bill will be brought before the Senate this month.

Monto Ho, a faculty member in the Graduate School of Public Health, said the best way to disseminate information about AIDS is through the AIDS Education and Training Center and the network of centers under it, such as The Pennsylvania AIDS Education and Training Center (PA AIDS ETC).

Since its founding in 1988, the PA AIDS ETC has trained more than 30,000 health care and mental health professionals.

"The elimination of this program would seriously compromise our ability to help prevent the spread of the disease and to provide accurate and timely therapies to Pennsylvanians already infected with HIV," said Linda Frank, senior project director.

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Engineering hosts coal conference

The Center for Energy Research in Pitt's School of Engineering is hosting the 12th International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, "Coal–Energy and the Environment," this week, Sept. 11-15, at the Pittsburgh-Greentree Marriott. Over 250 papers are being presented on topics such as coal processing, hot gas cleanup, meeting emissions requirements and removing hazardous air pollutants.

The conference targets utilities managers and operators, engineers, construction firms and consultants, government officials, research institute personnel, academic researchers and students.

Pitt center adapts NASA technology for firefighters NASA's Langley Research Center and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire have signed an agreement that will make Pittsburgh a model for the use of innovative space tracking technology to help locate personnel and equipment in burning structures.

After three Pittsburgh firefighters died in a fire earlier this summer, Pitt's Mid-Atlantic Technology Applications Center, one of NASA's six regional technology transfer centers, responded by matching NASA's space technology with the city fire bureau's need to reduce risks and enhance the safety of fire fighting. The agreement is a result of that effort.

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Study assesses impact of military spending here

Military spending helps the city of Pittsburgh, but hurts the region as a whole. According to a recent Pitt study, western Pennsylvania taxpayers send about $2 to Washington for every $1 the region receives back in the form of defense contracts, veterans benefits and military payrolls.

The study also predicts that changing defense priorities will drain even more defense-related jobs from the region, with most of the losses coming in manufacturing. The study, "The Impact of Military Spending on Pittsburgh's Economy," was commissioned by Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy and conducted by Pitt's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. It focused on fiscal years 1991 through 1993.