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Upcoming play ‘Galileo in America’ explores collision of art, science and politics.
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A Multimedia Look at McCarthyism
Antoinette LaFarge combed through playwright Bertolt Brecht’s FBI files while writing “Galileo in America,” a theatrical work that explores the artist’s McCarthy-era ordeals in the U.S. after fleeing Nazi Germany. The drama premieres Feb. 23 at UCI’s Experimental Media Performance Lab. “The files were fascinating and compiled with a lot of detail and attention,” says LaFarge, professor of studio art and associate dean of graduate affairs in UCI’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts. “We tend to think of government bureaucrats as being unadventurous … but you could tell by their notes and summaries that they had read entire plays by Brecht.”
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Campus News & Announcements
Sweat, Tears Lead to Breakthrough
Greg Weiss wears a big, old-fashioned watch on his left wrist that no longer marks ordinary time. It belonged to his father, a tumor surgeon who died of cancer himself. In large measure, that loss is what keeps Weiss ticking. Weiss is part of an interdisciplinary team of chemists, physicists and biologists working in nanobiotechnology, coupling atomic-level electronics with cutting-edge disease research. His aim is simple: to find cancer and other killers as early as possible. Weiss and fellow researchers have made major strides toward that end, with findings published in the Jan. 20 issue of Science.
Acting Out Ageism
If all the world’s a stage, there’s no greater drama than the interaction between doctor and patient. To ensure that this plays out well, the UC Irvine Program in Geriatrics has instituted an innovative live theater performance that highlights the dos and don’ts of patient care for older adults. Dr. Lisa Gibbs, a geriatrician at UCI’s SeniorHealth Center, first learned about the production while collaborating with the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City to develop more humanities-based medical school programs, as part of a Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant effort.
Uncharted Territory
Neuroscientist Ivan Soltesz is recognized as one of the world’s leading epilepsy researchers, but when talking about the focus of his work, he sounds more like the young dreamer and poet he was growing up in Budapest. “The brain is the last great frontier,” says Soltesz, UC Irvine Chancellor’s Professor and chair of anatomy & neurobiology. “It’s the most complex organism in the universe – endlessly challenging and interesting to study.”
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Work/Life
UC to Ban Smoking on All Campuses by 2014
Chancellors at all University of California campuses across the state will soon form steering committees to implement the university’s new smoke-free policy by 2014. UC will ban both smoking and chewing tobacco on campuses, including parking lots and housing, as part of its commitment to cut tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. The sale and advertising of tobacco products also will be prohibited.
Open Enrollment Issues with Dependents Age 23-26
Due to a UC processing error, coverage information for adult children aged 23 or older was not transmitted to insurance companies with the Open Enrollment file. UC Benefits is working with local benefits offices to rectify this issue. However, UCI Benefits encourages employees with insurance coverage to sign in to At Your Service Online to view and confirm their current enrollments. Any discrepancy should be reported immediately to benefits@uci.edu.
Need Assistance with Life’s Challenges?
In addition to UCI’s Employee Assistance Program, United Behavioral Health provides counseling services, depression management, substance abuse recovery, eating disorders and medication management for UC employees enrolled in any UC health insurance plan, including Kaiser Permanente. There is no copayment for the first three in-network mental health visits with UBH. To access benefits and provider information, contact a UBH representative at 888.440.8225; all services must be authorized in advance. For additional information about behavioral health benefits, go to the UBH website and enter access code 11280. View the Evidence of Coverage online via a members designated health plan: Anthem Blue Cross PPO (2012, PDF), Anthem Blue Cross PLUS (2012, PDF), Anthem Blue Cross Lumenos PPO + HRA (2012, PDF), HMOs (PDF): Health Net, Kaiser Permanente – California, Western Health Advantage. Questions can be directed to Glenn Rodriguez, UCI’s health care facilitator, 949.824.9065 or benefits@uci.edu.
Retirement Resources Available
UCI employees must be at least 50 years old and have a minimum of five years of University of California Retirement Plan service credit to be eligible for retirement. The university has many tools and resources available to help guide employees through this decision-making milestone, such as: Retirement Plan Estimator, Retirement Handbook (PDF), Retiree Health Premiums Graduated Eligibility Chart, UCI Benefits Workshops, Important Considerations, and Can You Afford to Retire. And an enhanced Focus on Your Future website will launch Feb. 23. Individuals planning to retire soon should start the process about three months before they wish to retire, with a designated UCI Benefits Insurance and Retirement Consultant. Email questions to benefits@uci.edu.
UC Health Net Evidence of Coverage Now Available
UC Health Net members can now view, download and print their Evidence of Coverage on Health Net’s Web portal at www.healthnet.com. Members can go to the Health Net website and log in with their user name and password. The EOC contains very important information about benefits, how much members must pay for healthcare services, and other terms and conditions. Members can choose to obtain the EOC online or in hard copy. Members who prefer to have a hard copy from Health Net, now or any time in the future, should call the customer contact center at 800.539.4072. Direct any questions about UC health insurance plans to Glenn Rodriguez, UCI’s health care facilitator 949.824.9065 or benefits@uci.edu.
February Is ‘Know Your Numbers’ Month
Heart disease is one of the biggest health threats facing most Americans. Knowing your numbers and making some healthy changes in your lifestyle can help start reducing your risk. Visit the February Wellness & Safety Toolkit for information and resources. Employees also can download this month’s wellness (PDF) and safety (PDF) posters and hang them in the office or department to help promote wellness and safety.
UC Resources for a Healthier You
You’ve chowed down all the holiday sweets and second helpings your body can handle and then some. Now it’s time to get back in shape in the new year. You don’t have to do it alone. UC and your medical plan offer programs and tools – many of them free or at reduced cost – to help you eat right, get fit, quit smoking and adopt healthy habits that can improve your well-being.
Expecting Parents Workshop
UCI offers many resources to help expecting parents with work/life balance. Join Human Resources for the first workshop in the 2012 Parenting Series: “Expecting Parents” 9-11 a.m. Thursday, March 8, at the Human Resources Training Room at 111 Theory, Room 200. A Human Resources disability specialist will explain how to navigate the UCI disability leave process, how to file, get a personalized pregnancy disability timeline and more.
Recycling Schedules Online
The Facilities Management Custodial Services Team performs routine cleaning and deskside recycling services removal daily across campus. Listed by building, the current custodial cleaning and deskside recycling pick-up schedules are available online. Contact Aaron Uresti, 949.824.9241, for questions about these services.
Lighting the Way to ‘Conserve UCI’
Facilities Management continues its “Conserve UCI” efforts. One example is the lighting occupancy sensors installed throughout campus, which significantly reduce energy use when functioning properly. The sensors are designed to automatically turn lights on and off when motion is detected. A simple way to help conserve the campus’s energy is to report any malfunctioning lighting occupancy sensors to Facilities Management online or by phone: 949.824.5444.
Learn How to Manage Stress Better
We all know what it’s like to feel stressed. A certain amount of it can be a good thing. It can drive us to do better and improve our concentration, but stress also can be overwhelming in a negative way. UC is publishing a yearlong series to raise awareness about workplace stress and depression, and the many resources UC offers to help employees. Make sure you’re not experiencing an unhealthy amount of stress. This month, learn more about the signs and symptoms of stress overload and what to watch for.
Revisions to ‘Safety On Site’ (SOS) Program
Environmental Health & Safety has recently made revisions to the Safety On Site (SOS) program, the employee portion of UCI’s Injury & Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP). The new features make it easier for employees to integrate safety into their workplace. Visit the EH&S website to see steps to make work units safer.
Electrical Safety and GFCIs
If a lab bench has a sink or a work area is wet, electrical outlets at that location should be equipped with ground-fault circuit interrupters or GFCIs. A GFCI protects a person from electric shock by comparing the amount of current between the hot and neutral conductors. If the current in the neutral conductor becomes less than the current in the hot conductor, a ground fault condition exists. A fault current as low as 0.006 amperes can activate the GFCI and shut off power to the circuit within 1/40th of a second. If you have GFCIs in your area, test them monthly to make sure they are working properly. If you think you need a GFCI, contact the Facilities Management Service Desk at 949.824.5444 to obtain a work request.
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