A black man is dead, and a white man pulled the trigger. The only real question is why. James Baldwin wrote “Blues for Mr. Charlie” in 1964, but the echoes of Ferguson today are impossible to ignore. The PAD production opens Friday, Feb. 20, and runs through March 1 in Edison Theatre.

Beavers don’t brush their teeth, and they don’t drink fluoridated water, but a new study reports beavers have protection against tooth decay built into the chemical structure of their teeth: iron. The research team, led by scientists from Northwestern University, included Jill D. Pasteris, PhD, professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences.

Rochelle Smith, director of diversity, summer programs and community outreach for the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (DBBS), has been appointed assistant provost of diversity initiatives at the university. She also will continue to serve in her role at DBBS.

David B. Gray, PhD, died Feb. 12 of an apparent heart attack. Gray became motivated to change what it means to be disabled after he was paralyzed in an accident in 1976. He joined the School of Medicine faculty in 1995 to conduct research and teach courses on social issues and disability.