Viewpoint

Health, the life sciences and 'U'

Each academic year renews the organic cycle of learning and teaching that energizes the University community and excites our intellect, emotions and sense of commitment to personal goals and our larger society. For those of you new to Ann Arbor, I'm particularly eager to extend a warm welcome, since I myself came here just a year ago, after 28 years in Seattle at the University of Washington. The University and Ann Arbor are a wonderful combination, with a diverse population, a broad range of great musical, dramatic and arts offerings, and attractive natural settings in the Matthei Gardens and the Arboretum. Learn about the history of the University, including the prominent names recognized on buildings and in learned and artistic works. Be curious about prominent alums and faculty: Arthur Miller, W.H. Auden, Robert Frost, Harold Shapiro, Albion Walter Hewlett, James Neel, Francis Collins, Keith Black, Mike Wallace, Charles Woodson and many others.

I will focus my remarks on the life sciences, which will attract many of you in your undergraduate, graduate and professional education. Advances in the life sciences are shaping our lives and our concepts of ourselves in philosophical, sociological, legal and ethical contexts.

Advances in the life sciences are reshaping our thinking and our research in medicine and related health fields, in agriculture, ecology, anthropology and psychology. Genetic algorithms and directed evolution are being applied in chemistry and in engineering and architectural designs. In turn, the life sciences depend upon developments in numerous other fields, from mathematics to information theory to engineering, physics, behavioral and social sciences.

This past spring, University President Lee Bollinger created the Commission on the Life Sciences, with 19 prominent faculty members from across the campus, the majority from outside the health sciences. Provost Nancy Cantor and I are confident that this group, with input from students, staff and faculty will propose a bold framework and ambitious recommendations for the life sciences.

We want to look beyond the present acceleration of knowledge and techniques in neurosciences, genetics, immunology and cancer biology over the present horizon to anticipate what might be exciting in the period five to 20 years from now.

All of you should think of ways to learn about the life sciences. Some of you will be aiming for majors in biological, psychological, chemical and health science-related areas. Others will be looking for diverse academic experiences as part of the distribution requirements. Some will be keen about the social and philosophical ramifications or the applications in engineering and complex systems.

Meanwhile, many of you are embarking on periods in your lives independent of parents and family. You have a special opportunity to form and sustain good personal habits that will give you a better chance of a healthy and enjoyable life. I've learned on coming to Michigan that the general population health risk profile is not favorable compared with the rest of the country - Michigan residents are more likely to be physical inactive, overweight, diabetic, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, use alcohol excessively and be dilatory in having their children or themselves immunized against preventable diseases.

Learn about healthy personal behaviors, and develop them for your own benefit; learn about unhealthy personal behaviors, and build your own resistances to them. Help your peers; avoid unattractive peer pressures.

Use the athletic facilities - take the stairs. Use the University Health Service to your advantage, including counseling about coping with very common feelings and problems that represent uncertainty, depression or anxiety, much of it well grounded!

You should know that the University has one of the premier medical care, research and education centers in the nation, and an excellent health management organization, MCare. There are opportunities for students to volunteer in our hospitals and health centers as well as in numerous community social agencies and initiatives in which our employees are commonly volunteering, too. And there is superb medical care available, should you need such services.

Many of our activities are collaborative with other schools and colleges throughout the University, especially in the health sciences.

Finally, give yourselves a lot of opportunities to lighten your mood, lighten your load, smile and laugh. As Norman Cousins and Art Buchwald say, "Humor is therapeutic." Have a good time; there are many venues here, from sports, drama, music, open lectures and residence halls to community activities. Meet lots of students from other backgrounds. Encounter and engage your teachers of all kinds. Make the most of your time at this great University. GO BLUE!

09-08-98