From the Co-Chairs, Emerging Disease Planning Work Group, Richard Clover, MD, Dean, School of Public Health & Information Sciences, and Larry Owsley, Vice President of Business Affairs

During the summer, the 2009 H1N1 virus continued to spread globally and some local schools are already reporting cases of flu-like illnesses. It is only a matter of time before we see a growth in cases of 2009 H1N1 and the seasonal flu at UofL.

The 2009 H1N1 virus is of particular concern for us because people in their teens and early 20s are among the target groups for this virus. To stay informed as we move into the flu season, be sure to make frequent visits to our flu website. 

Vaccines for the seasonal flu are expected to be available at UofL by the end of September. UofL provides free seasonal flu vaccines to full time faculty and staff and all students (a nominal fee is charged for part-time faculty, staff, and retirees). The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against H1N1.

The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is still under development and federal officials say it should be available later this fall. More information about vaccines will be sent out in September.  

Our university is working to minimize the spread of seasonal flu, 2009 H1N1 and other infectious diseases. Hand sanitizing gels are in place in all high traffic areas and campus dining locations. Additionally, sanitizing hand gels are being sent to computer labs. Also, Campus Health Services is distributing thousands of bottles of personal hand sanitizer, along with a seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 prevention guide, to students. We continue to work closely with national, state and local health officials to provide the campus community with the most up-to-date information and guidelines.

But we need your help. Even our best efforts will fall short without the active participation of the campus community. Here are a few things we ask of everyone:

• Take time to be informed. Information on both the seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 virus is dynamic and evolving. We will send out information periodically; it takes only a few minutes to read an email or a news item on our website. It is especially important for students to routinely check their UofL (Groupwise) email.
• Do your part to control the spread of viruses. Practice frequent hand washing, cough into your sleeve, keep your work area clean, and practice self-isolation if you become ill.
• Students living in campus housing with flu symptoms who are within reasonable driving distance should return to their homes or stay with a nearby relative or friend to recuperate. It is recommended that students returning to their homes have someone drive them.

Please take a few minutes to read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on our flu website for basic information on what you can do to fight back against the seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1. We also recommend a visit to the CDC website.

Founded in 1993, the Louisville AIDS Walk is Kentucky's largest fundraiser for HIV/AIDS. Funds raised at this event ensure that those in need continue to receive the food, medical assistance, housing, counseling, legal assistance, and other support services provided by a diverse group of local non-profit organizations. Sunday, September 13, 1-5 pm is the 17th Annual Louisville AIDS Walk.  Join other students and professors in supporting this great community event. To register, please visit http://louisvilleaidswalk.kintera.org and join the Louisville Law team. For more information, please contact Sandra Moon.

At their meeting yesterday, the faculty adopted a new Policy on Audio-Video Recording of Events.  Student organizations and administrative departments sponsoring events that they wish to have recorded must follow the procedures outlined in the policy.

The Second Annual Conference on Innovation and Communication Law, hosted this year by the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, came to a successful close on Saturday, August 22. The two-day conference featured over 50 speakers from four different continents around the world and from local law firms, discussing the role intellectual property and communications law play in the dissemination of information. Professors Cross and Smith, the faculty sponsors for the conference, want to thank everyone involved for their hard work which helped make the conference such a success. They would particularly like to thank Becky Wenning and Vickie Tencer for their assistance in planning and coordinating everything from the logistics of bringing in the speakers to arranging the event at the Marriott; and Jim Becker and Joe Leitsch for ensuring that the technology worked smoothly. They would also like to thank the many students involved in the conference as well, including Mike Swansburg, Mari-Elise Gates and Brian Stempian. None of this would have been possible without everyone's hard work. Well done and thank you!

The University of Louisville's Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is ranked #18 in The National Jurist's "Best Value Law Schools".

In its September 2009 issue, the magazine identified 65 law schools that are both affordable and prepare students well to compete in today's job market. The criteria included tuition, employment statistics, and bar passage rates. 

 

 

The law school has started a Flood Relief Fund to provide assistance to some of our students who were adversely affected by the flood that occurred on Tuesday, August 4. 

If you'd like to contribute, please contact either Vickie Tencer, Bob Micou or Matt Williams. If you've been affected and would like to request assistance, please contact Vickie Tencer by email or by phone at 502.852.6092.

 

Related News:

• UofL Flood Updates
• Restore UofL 
• Photo Gallery
• University Libraries seeks digital photos, video of recent floods. Contact Virginia M. Smith in the library if you'd like to contribute.

 

More Resources:

This information appeared in the Courier-Journal and may be helpful. Numbers to call:

• For food, clothing or other services: 311 (metro government)
• For special request of the Red Cross: 589-4450
• To volunteer through the United Way: 292-6107
• For help from the United Way: 292-6115
• Metro United Way's Volunteer Engagement Center is recruiting standby volunteers, age 18 and older, to respond quickly to flood cleanup needs in the community.
• Anyone wishing to join the volunteer standby list should register at www.metrounitedway.org/volunteer or call 292-6107.
• People who require assistance who lack physical or financial capacity to handle flooding cleanup should call 292-6115 or register online. They will be contacted by representatives of the member organizations of Kentucky and Indiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.
• If you have suffered damage and would like to request aid from the university, or if you would like to volunteer your time and effort to help victims, send an email to Tammy Lawson.

More than 100 students from the Brandeis School of Law volunteered their time Aug. 14 as part of “Community Service Day,” a new, optional program offered as part of the school’s student orientation. Activities also are planned for Aug. 15.

Volunteer opportunities ranged from trash pick-up and dog walking to painting and yard work. The Student Bar Association-organized program included nine different agencies in the Louisville area.

The community service option seemed to be a welcome addition to the orientation program, said Kathleen Bean, professor and associate dean for Student Life at the law school.

“We had 109 of 142 students sign up in advance and a few added themselves after they got here,” she said.

Read the full story, Law school students embrace community service, and view more photos.

Operation Brightside Volunteers Clean Up Central Park
Volunteers Bag Donations for the Family Scholar House	Donated Cleaning Supplies
Ross Neuhauser, Ross Jordan, Jeremy Climer, Ryan Anderson, Jackie Clowers, Alex White, John Friend and Virginia M. Smith volunteered at Habitat for Humanity.

The law library returns to its regular schedule on Monday, August 17. During the fall semester, we will generally be open from 8 AM - 11 PM Monday thru Thursday, 8 AM - 6 PM on Fridays, 9AM - 6 PM on Saturdays, and 1 PM - 11 PM on Sundays.

Refer to the library hours for details and excpetions.

 

The Director of Academic Success is pleased to announce that the following 10 upper-division law students have been chosen to serve as Academic Fellows in the fall:

 

Brian Bennett

Holly Hudelson

Megan Keane

Tina Nance

Rexena Napier

Bradley Palmer

Aaron Price

Kristine Tarra Ragan

Maddie Schueler

Andrew Swafford

 

The Brandeis Academic Fellows will be responsible for facilitating weekly structured study group sessions in Contracts for all first-year students.  The 10 Academic Fellows were selected based on their solid academic records, interpersonal skills, maturity and genuine willingness to assist first-year law students learn effective law school study skills.   

 

Dear Law School community:

 

The Law School will be OPEN on Friday, August 7.  All faculty and staff should report according to the normal schedule.

 

Some basement areas, especially in the library, may remain inaccessible.  Please observe posted signs regarding access.

 

On behalf of the Law School, I thank the University of Louisville workers who have labored tirelessly to bring our campus back from Tuesday's storm.

 

Best wishes,

 

Jim Chen

Dean

• Flood Updates from the Provost
  
• Belknap Campus, School of Public Health closed Wednesday after flooding