Nov. 19, 2007
Carolina in the News
Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
International Coverage
Everyone agrees, but nobody lifts a finger
Winnipeg Free Press (Canada)
Let's say there are 10 houses on your street and a giant pothole develops right in the middle of the block…"Everyone agreeing on something is not sufficient to cause action — that's the free rider problem," said Stephen Gent, a political scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Television, video may help ease schizophrenia
The Daily News & Analysis (India)
Scientists in US have developed a new non-drug therapy using video, television and computer, claiming that it may help ease schizophrenia, a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder…Created by David Penn and David Roberts at University of North Carolina and Dennis Combs at the University of Texas, the new method will teach important social skills through videos, reported online edition of ABC News (The American Broadcasting Company).
National Coverage
Nobel Prize Winners to Visit White House
The Associated Press
Seven years ago, it was Bush v. Gore. Now, Bush is hosting former Vice President Al Gore at the White House _ this time as a Nobel laureate…Mario Capecchi of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and Oliver Smithies from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, who were awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine.
The End of a Failed Technique — but Not of a Prison Sentence
The Washington Post
Lee Wayne Hunt readily admits that he once was a major marijuana dealer who so antagonized police that they used to call his fortified home "Fort Apache," mocking his Native American heritage…"We wouldn't know about it today if we were waiting to hear from anybody else," said Richard Rosen, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who has taken up Hunt's bid to win freedom.
Dying to Be Thin (Commentary)
ABC News
The documentary "Thin" by Lauren Greenfield, which debuted Tuesday on HBO, only shows an uncomfortable slice of treatment for eating disorders, and is not a true picture of anorexia nervosa, or of any eating disorder (Cynthia M. Bulik, Ph.D., is the director of the UNC Eating Disorders Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; a professor of eating disorders in the department of psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine; and a professor of nutrition at the UNC School of Public Health).
Rural family doctors: an endangered species?
The Associated Press
Patients with palpitating hearts, high blood pressure and bad kidneys traveled for miles though the Adirondack woodlands on a recent rainy morning to see Dr. John Rugge…Remote areas like the Adirondacks or Appalachia tend to operate on the knife's edge since there are so few practitioners to begin with; the loss or retirement of even a few doctors can create big problems, said Professor Thomas Ricketts of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Public Health.
Glaxo's Handling of Physician Criticized
The Wall Street Journal
Over a period of several years, drug maker GlaxoSmithKline PLC was so concerned about a prominent physician's negative views of its diabetes drug that it engaged in a concerted effort to intimidate him and stifle his opinion, a report by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee found…The Senate Finance Committee released the report Thursday, after researching Glaxo's relationship with John Buse, a diabetes expert and professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Regional Coverage
West Windsor reaches agreement on taxi regulations
The Princeton Packet (Princeton, N.J.)
A revised version of the township’s taxi ordinance introduced Tuesday was hailed by council members and taxi operators as a true compromise, following months of negotiations with representatives of the township’s taxi owners…”We went through a whole analysis from various national publications and transportation departments, including a study from the University of North Carolina study,” said Mr. Spadaccini.
State & Local Coverage
Students Speak About Chancellor Search
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
The UNC Chancellor Search Committee continues its work, and students are telling the committee they want one specific quality in their new leader: someone who understands the Carolina Way.
Go green, save money (Editorial)
The Herald Sun (Durham)
If the technology of the green revolution, with its waterless urinals and flourescent light bulbs, leaves you uninspired, look at it from another perspective — lower power bills…We expect our universities to be on the cutting edge of science and societal trends, and when it comes to green buildings, Duke — and UNC as well — are leading the way.
Black spending bringing in millions
The Star-News (Wilmington)
Dollars flowing from black communities in Wilmington and surrounding areas amount to millions in the state's economy, according to a University of North Carolina study released last week.
Related Link: http://wilmingtonjournal.blackpressusa.com/news/Article/Article.asp?
NewsID=83967&sID=4
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/nov07/aarelease
111307.html
'Terrible' Ted has toned down the volume
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Let's discuss: Where did Ted Turner run off to? …Turner has been less noisy in recent years, generally popping up in connection with his philanthropic endeavors. But he will be in Chapel Hill today for a public appearance billed as "A Conversation with Ted Turner," a designation that gives him enough latitude to talk himself right back into the news.
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/oct07/turnertalk103007.html
Opera, jazz go gospel
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
When opera singer Kathleen Battle and jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut perform spirituals and Christmas music together Nov. 26 at UNC's Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill, you can thank the black church.
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/nov07/
battlechestnut110807.html
UNC honors 'The Free Men'
The Chapel Hill News
Forty-five years of history fell away at UNC-Chapel Hill on Thursday night. Participants in Chapel Hill's tumultuous civil rights demonstrations of the early 1960s said that, in some ways, a lot of progress has been made. In others, there's still a long way to go.
Honorable Mentions
The Chapel Hill Herald
The UNC Board of Trustees has presented four alumni with the William Richardson Davie Award, the board's highest honor. The award, which recognizes extraordinary service to the university or society, went to state Rep. Joe Hackney of Chapel Hill; Mike Overlock of Greenwich, Conn.; Ken Thompson of Charlotte; and Patricia Timmons-Goodson of Fayetteville.
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/nov07/davieawards111507.html
Millennials are smart, civic-minded (Column)
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Elders inclined to wonder, "what's the younger generation coming to?" should take heart from a new study released last week…The program and efforts at NCCU and UNC clearly echo the CIRCLE report's finding that "today's students are eager to get out into their communities and put their acquired talents to work."
Dental school suit heads to trial
The Chapel Hill Herald
The age discrimination lawsuit filed by two fired dental technicians against UNC's School of Dentistry is heading to court next month after mediation attempts failed to produce a resolution.
Related Link: http://www.newsobserver.com/print/sunday/city_state/story/777519.html
Diet, cancer link proof grows
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
A new report makes it even clearer that what you eat can play an important role in your risk of developing cancer (Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a clinical assistant professor in the School of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill).
Study looks at 'living healthy'
The Daily Times (Wilson)
Researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Nursing are searching for students and parents from Vick and Winstead elementary schools interested in learning how to live healthier lives.
Time to decide (Letter to the Editor)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
It appears that the Town of Chapel Hill is responding very slowly to UNC-Chapel Hill's request of Sept. 10 for expedited review of its plan for an Innovation Center at Carolina North and is unintentionally risking the loss of the university's proposed partner for this urgently needed facility (Richard Wasicko, Chapel Hill).
Defining success (Letter to the Editor)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
As a professor emeritus, I heartily approve of college education and especially for those who are qualified. Hence, I was generally pleased with the stimulation efforts reported in The N&O item "Advisers give students that extra little nudge"Nov. 6. However, I judge the contribution by UNC-CH Chancellor James Moeser to be misleading, deceptive and dysfunctional (Sidney Cohn, Chapel Hill).
Issues & Trends
Give families a rest (Editorial)
The Charlotte Observer
If you're paying for college at one of North Carolina's state universities, you'll be interested in this: Soon, campus boards of trustees will decide whether to ask permission to hike the cost of college for 2008-09.
Related Link: http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/content/news/opinion/
stories/2007/11/19/collegeedit.html
State Universities Adopt Accountability Measures
The Chronicle of Higher Education
In one of the most sweeping responses yet to calls for accountability in higher education, a public-university association has adopted a template, called the College Portrait, that will allow institutions to share with outsiders online data about such matters as students' academic progress…The University of North Carolina system, the University of Wisconsin system, and some other state institutions have also agreed to start using the College Portrait.
Duke offers $596M hospital plan
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Duke University Health System has proposed the biggest expansion at its flagship hospital in a quarter century to keep pace with a growing and aging population…UNC Hospitals, for instance, is expanding its cancer center in Chapel Hill.