Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1950 [PAGE 502]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1949]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

493

of Trustees to the Medical Center Steam Company as a part of the site for the proposed power plant. The exact conditions under which this land should be conveyed are still a matter of further consideration to determine what procedure would be most advantageous to the University, whether to convey without consideration or to convey for a cash consideration commensurate with the current value of this property. If the latter is done, the amount of such consideration would apply toward the total capitalization of the plant. Mr. Newton C. F a r r has recommended a valuation of $1.00 a square foot, giving an estimated evaluation of $14,845 for the land to be conveyed. Because early action in the conveyance of the real estate may become necessary, no mention of consideration is made in the resolution, and the exact plan followed will be reported to the Board at a later time. All the foregoing resolutions (see Appendix, page 513) have been approved by the Legal Counsel and are recommended for adoption by the Comptroller. I concur.

These changes in contract and resolutions were discussed in detail. On motion of Dr. Meyer, the changes were approved and the resolutions were severally adopted as recommended.

COMPENSATION FOR DR. LLOYD SMITH (5) Under date of February 8, 1949, Dr. Lloyd Smith of Berkeley, California, filed a claim against the University of Illinois for compensation for medical expenses incurred, and to be incurred, in the treatment of cataracts on both eyes, alleged to have been caused by radiation from the Illinois cyclotron, on which he worked as a research assistant at the University of Illinois during the years 1943-1945. Dr. Smith was a graduate student in the Department of Physics and a research assistant in this department from June, 1942, until July 31, 1945. In August, 1945, Dr. Smith became a member of the staff at Ohio State University and continued in such position until June, 1946, at which time he received his Ph.D. degree from the Ohio State University. From August, 1946, to September, 1947, Dr. Smith was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Chicago. From September, 1947, to the present time, Dr. Smith has been a member of the staff of the radiation laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley. This claim was referred to the Committee on Accident Compensation, of which the Legal Counsel is Chairman, for investigation. The Committee has made a thorough inquiry, has consulted medical authorities, and has submitted a report. In the opinion of the Committee's chairman the evidence establishes the following: 1. That Dr. Lloyd Smith was exposed to neutron radiation from the cyclotron during the period of his employment as a research assistant in the Department of Physics from the winter of 1943, to July 31, 1945, the date on which Dr. Smith left the employment of the University. 2. That Dr. Lloyd Smith was not exposed to the hazards of neutron radiation or analogous radiation from the date of his leaving the University of Illinois down to the dates of the several letters from the Ohio State University, the University of Chicago, and the University of California, all in April and May, 1949. 3. That Dr. Lloyd Smith has developed cataracts on both of his eyes. 4. T h a t the cause of the cataracts on Dr. Smith's eyes was the exposure to neutron radiation during the period of his employment as a research assistant at the University of Illinois while working on the cyclotron. 5. That the cataracts on Dr. Smith's eyes constitute a disease which arose out of and in the course of his employment at the University of Illinois. 6. T h a t Dr. Smith's condition constitutes an occupational disease governed by the Occupational Diseases Act of Illinois of 1936. 7. That such occupational disease is compensable under the provisions of such Act. Conclusion seven is supported by a legal opinion which is a part of the Committee's report.