Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
National Coverage
Most Clinical Trials Done Abroad
The Wall Street Journal
Most testing for the U.S. drug industry's late-stage human trials is now done at sites outside the country, where results often can be obtained cheaper and faster, according to a study. …"Clearly there are major challenges both in terms of ethical oversight of the research and the scientific rigor," said Seth Glickman, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill who was first author of the study.
UNC HealthCare Release:
http://www.unchealthcare.org/site/newsroom/
news/2009/February/glickman
Regional Coverage
Violence link isn’t strong
The Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.)
After Seung-Hui Cho murdered 32 innocents at Virginia Tech and killed himself, analysis of events drew a straight line from Mr. Cho’s long history of mental illness to his orgy of violence on April 16, 2007. Now a large study of the connection of violence to mental illness challenges that analysis. The study is not limited to the Virginia Tech murders, but its conclusions are being brought to bear. “Mental illness can provide the knee-jerk explanation for the Virginia Tech shootings,” but alone is not a strong predictor of violence, said lead author Eric Elbogen, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
UNC News Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/health-and-medicine/unc-study-mental
-illness-by-itself-does-not-predict-future-violent-behavior.html
DUIN: Can we truly forgive? (Column)
The Washington Times
Remember the Oct. 2, 2006, Amish school shootings? The world was amazed by the Amish response of near-instant forgiveness after a madman shot 10 girls execution-style. …Bart D. Ehrman, the University of North Carolina professor who has created a cottage industry of books challenging Christianity, just released "God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question – Why We Suffer."
State and Local Coverage
UNC analysis: Jobs growth sliding before recession
The Associated Press
The state's economy may have seemed robust before this recession, but researchers told lawmakers Wednesday the pace of job creation peaked more than a decade ago and North Carolina was no better protected from the recession than most. Job growth in newer industries including banking, telecommunications and biotechnology stayed ahead of a population explosion in the past two decades even though the state's economic core in tobacco, textiles and furniture shifted overseas, said Brent Lane of the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Concerns about Immigration Enforcement
WUNC-FM
A new report says a federal immigration program with local law enforcement agencies has led to racial profiling and created a climate of fear in North Carolina. The study is from the state ACLU and the UNC School of Law. The program, called 287-G, allows local law enforcement agencies to begin the deportation process for illegal immigrants. Jessica Jones reports. (This report includes commentary from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor of law Deborah Weissman about racial profiling in the Latino community.)
N.C. immigration report alleges racial profiling
News 14 Carolina
A new report says local police are creating a climate of racial profiling and community insecurity in their enforcement of immigration laws. …The ACLU, along with a group of from UNC-Chapel Hill, say local police are racially profiling by targeting people who look like they could be here illegally. “We've seen U.S. citizens scheduled for removal,” UNC Law Professor Deborah Weissman said. “Lawful permanent residents scheduled for removal.”
Related Link:
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4560847/
Stimulus dollars may end up helping illegal workers
The Charlotte Observer
Thousands of N.C. jobs and millions in wages created from the federal economic stimulus package could wind up going to illegal immigrants. Congress stripped language from the $789billion package that would have required employers to verify the legal status of workers paid with stimulus money. …A 2006 study by the Kenan Institute at UNC Chapel Hill estimated that Hispanics poured more than $9 billion a year into the economy even after saving or sending home 20 percent of their income.
Grants to aid in preparing future nurses
The Chapel Hill Herald
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the UNC School of Nursing have been awarded grants totaling $4.25 million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to conduct an innovative and far-reaching project aimed at preparing future nurses to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems. The grants — $2.45 million for AACN and $1.8 million for the UNC School of Nursing — will support the third phase of the multi-year Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative.
Family seeks answers in child's death
The Shelby Star
…North Carolina general statutes restrict the free flow of confidential information. Laws state complete records of juvenile cases alleging abuse, neglect or dependency are filed away, withheld from public inspection. But when a child dies or nearly dies because of abuse, the law allows some leeway. "The statute (GS 7B-2902) requires that DSS consult with the DA (district attorney)," said Janet Mason, professor of public law and government at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Plenty of poverty (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
These are, as they say, interesting times. A $700 billion bank bailout — with more to come. A Detroit rescue that now seems like chicken feed. A separate $800 billion stimulus package. French-made, tax-subsidized corporate jets. Bonuses apparently designed to remind ordinary Americans what peasants we are. Newsweek's cover declares: "We're All Socialists Now." (Gene Nichol is a professor of law and director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill.)
UNC researchers raise questions about overseas drug trials
The Triangle Business Journal
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine say the federal government needs to do more to ensure the validity of drug trials conducted overseas, according to a study published Feb. 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Study authors Dr. Seth Glickman and Dr. Charles Cairns assert that the increasing number of drug trials conducted outside the United States raises serious concerns about the efficacy, ethics and economics of drug development.
Southeast TechInventures signs deal with UNC, seeks partners
The Triangle Business Journal
Southeast TechInventures, a company that helps inventors take their ideas out of the university and into the marketplace, is looking to expand its list of partners in the midst of the recession. The company says it’s signed a “master licensing agreement” with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that will make it easier for UNC inventors to license their technologies from the university.
Unraveling Watergate's Long Legacy
"The State of Things" WUNC-FM
Richard Nixon never admitted he was wrong about the Watergate affair until he submitted to an interview with British journalist David Frost. Writer James Reston Jr. helped prepare David Frost for his encounter with Nixon. On today’s program, James Reston Junior talks with Frank Stasio about taking on Nixon. (James Reston Jr. was a lecturer in creative writing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.)
Note: "The State of Things" is the statewide public affairs program airing live at noon weekdays and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays.
Universities roll out eco-friendly car program
News 14 Carolina
Students at some North Carolina universities are just a hop, “zip,” and a jump away from eco-friendly transportation. …Over the last five years, the University of North Carolina has increased its number of Zipcars, making it a popular option for students and faculty. "We've moved from two cars a short time ago up to six cars now here on campus,” said Randy Young, of UNC. “It's become a very popular program here at UNC."
Session set on Internet speech and the law
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin will give the keynote speech at a symposium Friday at the UNC School of Law in Chapel Hill. Symposium speakers will discuss Internet speech and the implications and protections offered by the First Amendment. In addition to Martin's speech, three panel discussions will focus on Internet service provider liability, network neutrality and cyber-bullying.
Going to the dentist is a walk in the park (Column)
The Mount Airy News
I know that some people fear going to the dentist, and while it’s not my favorite thing on earth, I really have come to enjoy going to seeing the student dentists at UNC-Chapel Hill Dental School. …So far, I have found everyone at the school to be exceedingly wonderful. I actually look forward to my visits.
Lowery to speak on Jim Crow era
The Herald-Sun (Durham)/The Chapel Hill Herald
A history lecture by Malinda Maynor Lowery, a post-doctoral fellow at UNC's Center for the Study of the American South, about American Indians in the Jim Crow era of segregation will be presented Feb. 26 at UNC.
UNC News Brief:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/campus-and-community/talk-on-
american-indians-jim-crow-rescheduled.html
'The Lastmaker' coming to UNC
The Herald-Sun (Durham)/The Chapel Hill Herald
The Chicago-based performance group Goat Island will present "The Lastmaker," a meditation on endings, Feb. 27-28 at UNC. …"The Lastmaker" will mark the culmination of a 10-day residency at UNC by Goat Island, which will include a three-day workshop and performance with UNC faculty and students.
UNC News Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/arts/short-high-energy-acts-tell-tale-of-goodbyes.html
History talk set at Barton
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Barton College will welcome historian Harry L. Watson, director of the Center for the Study of the American South at UNC Chapel Hill at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The program, titled "Majority Rule, Equal Rights, and Limited Government: The Complex Legacy of Andrew Jackson," will be held in The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center at 7 p.m.
Tar Heels pin Idol hopes on Wild Card
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
North Carolina has two contestants in the top-36 of this year's "American Idol," but neither one is in the finals — at least not yet. UNC-Chapel Hill graduate student Anoop Desai and Elizabeth City's Rick Braddy were both in the opening group of 12 contestants that performed this week, vying for three spots in the finals. Both fell short, although Desai came close.
Issues and Trends
William Friday is well after heart procedure
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
UNC President Emeritus William Friday is recovering from open heart surgery. Friday, 88, had his aortic valve replaced Tuesday at UNC Hospitals. He was in intensive care Wednesday and resting comfortably, said his assistant, Virginia Taylor. …The surgery was performed by Dr. Brett Sheridan, associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at UNC-CH's School of Medicine. Sheridan said in a statement that Friday had a hardened aortic valve, "a common condition among patients requiring cardiac surgery."
Related Links:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6665759
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/4562409/
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1100855.cfm
Economy hitting school athletic programs hard
WTVD-TV (ABC/Raleigh)
… The University of North Carolina, including the athletic department, has cut out overtime pay, has a freeze on hiring and is scaling back all administrative travel. Athletics may seem like a huge moneymaker, but UNC officials say the entire department only made about $200,000 last year. "The state is feeling it, the university is feeling it," UNC Sr. Assoc. Athletic Director Martina Ballen said.
Threat was to professor
The Daily Tar Heel
The man who placed Sunday’s bomb threat claimed to have a backpack full of explosives that he was going to detonate in the Pit, according to a recording of the call. …“Our investigation is ongoing,” said Randy Young, DPS spokesman. “It’s fairly self-explanatory. Anything else would be integral to our investigation.”