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Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin dies April 23 at the age of 76. James V. Wertsch, Ph.D., the Marshall S. Snow Professor in Arts & Sciences and expert on Russia’s transition from the Soviet to post-Soviet era, says that Yeltsin will be remembered for his important role in Russian history.

Washington University in St. Louis, one of many universities receiving inquiries from the Office of Attorney General of the State of New York concerning student lending practices — as well as an inquiry from the Missouri Office of Attorney General — has agreed with both the Missouri and New York Attorneys General to adopt a code of conduct guiding the University’s relations with private lenders from whom the University’s students and their families seek college financing. The University fully and rapidly cooperated with both investigations, and, as the agreements reached April 23 reflect, it denies that any of its past practices have violated Missouri or New York laws. The agreements with the Missouri and New York Attorneys General do not involve payment of any fines by the University.

Members of the University community can learn tips for becoming safe bike riders from noon-2 p.m. April 28 in the South 40.

Sir Michael Atiyah, one of the most influential mathematicians of the 20th century, will be at Washington University on Friday, May 11, to deliver a talk on “Beauty and Truth in Mathematics.” The lecture, appropriate for a general audience, will be held at 5 p.m. in Crow Hall Room 201, and is free and open to the public.

Arts & Sciences freshman Claire Glasspiegel helps Baili Min, a graduate student in mathematics in Arts & Sciences, light a candle during the University’s gathering April 19 in the Brookings Quadrangle to show support for those impacted by the Virginia Tech tragedy.

Photo by Joe AngelesDavid Kloeckener, a Cherokee from St. Louis, and Chris Knoxsah of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Kansas, join the first grand entrance of the 17th annual Pow Wow at the Athletic Complex April 14. The Pow Wow, sponsored by the Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies, various University departments and groups from around St. Louis, was a festival of dancing, singing, drumming, arts, crafts and food.

Photo by Tim ParkerOccupational therapy students discuss staying active with older adults at the Jewish Community Center.

Roberto Civitelli, M.D., professor of medicine, has received a one-year, $50,000 Bridge Grant from The Endocrine Society. … Rajalaxmi Natarajan, Ph.D., research associate in genetics, has received a two-year, $40,000 grant from the Children’s Discovery Institute for research titled “Identifying Interactors of Sanpodo Essential for Notch-Mediated Asymmetric Divisions in Drosophila Nervous System.” … Todd Druley, M.D., clinical fellow, has received a two-year, $40,000 grant from the Children’s Discovery Institute for research titled “Genomic Analysis of p53 Hypermutability in High-Grade Pediatric Astrocytoma.”

Seventy-five presentations — more than double the number from last semester — make up the spring 2007 Undergraduate Research Symposium, billed as the “biggest and best yet,” April 28 in the Athletic Complex.

A pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at the School of Medicine has shown early success in correcting a congenital foot defect with minimal surgery.