U. Maryland student dies of mono complications
(U-WIRE) COLLEGE PARK, Md. – A University of Maryland student died from an extremely rare complication of mononucleosis last Sunday, the student’s family said Monday.

Benjamin Petty, a 20-year-old junior finance major, died at The Johns Hopkins Hospital early March 2 after being bedridden for almost two weeks from hemophagocytic syndrome, his father Phillip Petty, 51, said.

The mono weakened Petty’s body, allowing the syndrome to appear, and his immune system began to attack his blood cells, according to the Centers for Disease Control Web site. The disease often causes organ failure and is almost always fatal when related to mono.
-The Diamondback (U. Maryland)

Lawsuit accuses Columbia U. of unequal pay pattern
(U-WIRE) NEW YORK – In a complaint filed in federal court last December, Zenobia White-Farrell, Columbia University’s former acting director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, alleges she was denied a promotion because she is an African-American female.

The lawsuit, which alleges a “pattern and practice of discrimination against African Americans in terms of compensation, hiring and promotion,” seeks class relief for all African-Americans employed in Columbia’s higher administrative pay grades.

Columbia’s attorneys, Bettina Plevan and Edward Brill of Proskauer Rose, filed an answer to White-Farrell’s complaint on Tuesday. The answer denies White-Farrell’s allegations of discrimination.

The lawsuit requests monetary compensation for the plaintiff class. White-Farrell’s attorney, Dan Kaiser of Kaiser Saurbon & Mair, said attempts to estimate the amount they would request would be speculation.
-Columbia Daily Spectator (Columbia U.)

U. Penn awaits policy change to forbid gender identity discrimination
(U-WIRE) PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community is crossing its fingers that a new proposed policy will garner approval from the Board of Trustees.

Last week, the University Council recommended that the University add language to its non-discrimination policy, which would protect transgendered members of the Penn community.

The policy “will result in the protection of a group of people that aren’t currently covered in the University’s non-discrimination policy,” Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Center Director Robert Schoenberg said. “Having such policies raises people’s awareness.”

Penn is one of the first universities to consider adding such language. The change was prompted by a 2001 City Council ordinance, which amended the city’s Fair Practices Code to include prohibition of discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
-Daily Pennsylvanian (U. Pennsylvania)

Family considers lawsuit in Duke transplant death
(U-WIRE) DURHAM, N.C. – Nearly two weeks after Jesica Santillan’s death, internal and external investigations of Duke University Hospital continue to search for answers.

Santillan attracted international attention following a Feb. 7 transplant of a heart and lungs of incorrect blood type into the girl at the hospital. She died Feb. 22 following a second transplant.

Kurt Dixon, the Santillan family’s lawyer, told the press the family is contemplating a lawsuit against the hospital, but will likely wait as long as six to eight weeks until the publication of results from Santillan’s autopsy.

Hospital spokesperson Richard Puff said the hospital has not begun preparing a defense or formulating responses to core legal questions.
-The Chronicle (Duke U.)