A confidential settlement was reached in the U.S. District Court lawsuit filed by Adam Lack '98 against Sara Klein '99 and Brown for libel (Klein), reverse gender discrimination, and breach of contract (Brown); the suit stemmed from a May 1996 University disciplinary hearing involving charges of sexual misconduct against Lack (see "Taking the Stand," April 1997). ...Early Action applications to Brown are up 7 percent over last year....The University established the Tillinghast Professorship in International Studies, honoring Charles C. Tillinghast Jr. '32, longtime trustee, fellow, and chancellor emeritus. ...Standard & Poor's upgraded Brown's credit rating from AA to AA+....William "Brit" Kirwin, Ohio State's new president, described to an Ohio reporter his December visit with the voluble Gordon Gee, who was soon to become Brown's president: "To be honest with you," Kirwin said, "I had a difficult time asking a question of Gordon. I couldn't get a word in."