Contents for Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 1998

• President Gee approves the first proposals made by the Red Tape Reduction panel that will simplify hiring, travel policy and room reservations. Some changes will be implemented immediately.

• Acclaimed composer Steve Reich will lecture on campus; his music will be featured in two concerts.

• Boy's playground; scientist's passion: Jon Witman's simple childhood enjoyment of the ocean has deepened into a personal environmental ethic.

• Leaning over a pit of hungry alligators can be dangerous, but that was just part of the job for graduate student Silvia Gennari, who as a research assistant this past summer helped record alligator bellows.