Applicant deluge

In response to layoffs and a decrease in hiring following the Sept. 11 tragedies, college graduates are postponing their entrance into the job market and are looking at places like Penn to further their education. Jane Austin, assistant dean for admissions at the Law School, said her office is exploring various means to handle the deluge of applicants. “We’ve hired some additional part-time staff and are using different means of receiving applications, like the Internet,” she said. Compared to last year, the Law School has seen a 30 percent rise. The Graduate School of Education finds itself in a similar situation with more than 7,300 applications.

Big little smiles

Penn’s School of Dental Medicine has opened a new Pediatric Dentistry Clinic to provide improved dental care for the children of West Philadelphia as well as better training for graduate students in the Dental School. The clinic, located on the ground floor of the school’s Thomas W. Evans Building at 40th and Spruce streets, has 10 fully-equipped dental operatories, four of which are designed for special needs children and those requiring sedation. All operatories are wheelchair accessible and have their own computer ports, which can be used for digital radiography and paperless patient records. More information at 215-898-8979.

Our Oscar

Second-time winner Cary Phillips (GrE’91) got another Oscar nod for scientific and technical achievement March 2. Phillips helped develop Industrial Light & Magic’s Creature Dynamics System, which allows hair, clothing, skin and muscle simulation to be directed and integrated within a single character animation and rigging environment. Phillip’s film credits include “Mars Attacks!,” “Men in Black,” “Jurassic Park II: The Lost World” and “Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace.”