MICHAEL ELOWITZ *99, a molecular biologist who is an assistant professor of biology and applied physics at Caltech, is one of 24 MacArthur Fellows announced Sept. 25. Elowitz was cited by the MacArthur Foundation for “laying the groundwork for the next stage in the genomics revolution — understanding how genes interact.” In his research, he designs and tests artificial genetic circuits. The fellowships, known as “genius” grants, recognize exceptional creativity; each fellow receives a five-year grant of $500,000, with no strings attached. Among the other recipients is Claire Kremen, an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who was an assistant professor of ecology and environmental biology at Princeton from 2001 to 2005.
It took $1 billion in net worth to make Forbes’ list of the 400 RICHEST AMERICANS this year, and The Daily Princetonian combed the list to find 10 Princeton alumni. Carl Icahn ’57, a financier and private equity investor, ranked 18th with an estimated net worth of $14.5 billion. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos ’86 ranked 35th with $8.7 billion, while Google CEO Eric Schmidt ’76 was 48th with $6.5 billion. Other Princetonians on the list, with their rank and estimated net worth: industrialist Henry Hillman ’41, 117, $3 billion; Peter Briger Jr. ’86 and Michael Novogratz ’87, co-presidents of Fortress Investment Group, 317, $1.5 billion; John Fisher ’83, president of Pisces Inc., also 317 and $1.5 billion; Fisher’s brothers, Robert ’76, chairman of Gap Inc., and William ’79, managing partner of Manzanita Capital, both ranked 361 with $1.4 billion; and Meg Whitman ’77, president and CEO of eBay, also 361, $1.4 billion.
The members of COLONIAL CLUB will perform community service work as part of a plea agreement in municipal court in which the club admitted serving alcohol to an underage female student during Houseparties in May. Borough police originally charged the club’s undergraduate president, but Llewellyn Ross ’58, chairman of the club’s graduate board, said the club felt strongly that it would not be fair for one individual to be singled out for punishment. He also said the club has been vigilant in its effort to prevent underage drinking. As a result of the plea agreement, club members will perform 500 hours of community service and the club has paid a “modest” fine, Ross said. “This is a good price to pay,” Colonial attorney Robert Wills told The Daily Princetonian. “It’s going to help the community and help the club build stronger ties with the community.”
The University has begun a search for a new chief medical officer and head of health services. DANIEL SILVERMAN, named to the position in August 2002, has resigned to become a senior director of Keeling & Associates, a New York-based higher education consulting firm. Janet Finnie ’84, who has been director of operations and associate director of University Health Services since 2000, has been named interim director.
Forcible sex offenses at Princeton have increased from three in 2004 to 17 in 2006, according to the University’s latest annual SECURITY REPORT. Cass Cliatt ’96, University spokeswoman, said officials don’t believe the figures point to a sharp increase in incidents on campus. Suraiya P. Baluch, director of the Sexual Harassment/Assault Advising, Resources, and Education (SHARE) office within University Health Services, said the numbers show that more victims are coming forward and seeking help. If the increase “does shock people,” she said, that would support SHARE’s programs to promote awareness on the campus and in the clubs. The annual report cited 22 drug-abuse violations, up from the previous two years, while liquor-law violations, at 20, dipped slightly. There were no reports of murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, or robbery in 2006.