Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
International Coverage
Muslim Americans in Illinois Criticize Capitol Hill Hearing
Voice of America
…The hearing is being led by New York Congressman Peter King, who has said American Muslims were not doing enough to help law enforcement conduct terrorism investigations. A study by Duke University and the University of North Carolina indicates that Muslim-Americans have been the biggest source of tips leading to arrests in U.S. terrorism cases.
Post-Vivian Schiller, big stakes in NPR's next moves
The Christian Science Monitor
…"I see a lot of big stakes for NPR as an institution, but also for American journalism, in what's going on here," says Ferrel Guillory, a journalism professor at the University of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill. "None of us want to say that the country can't get along without any one organization like NPR…. But if we lose NPR, even if you don't listen regularly, our country and our public realm is diminished by not having that kind of strong journalistic presence on a daily basis, providing something that commercial networks don't do anymore."
National Coverage
Muslim leader in King's district issues warning
CBS News
…Pointing to a joint Duke University and University of North Carolina study released in January, Khan says the Muslim community has done a good job of policing itself for radical elements within the ranks. The study concludes that "Muslim-American communities strongly reject radical jihadi ideology, [and] are eager to contribute to the national counterterrorism effort." Of the 139 homegrown terrorists profiled in the study, the Muslim community was the single largest informant regarding terrorism.
Bill O'Reilly: The Media Wars Continue
Fox News
Writing in The New York Times on Wednesday, American University Professor Akbar Ahmed says that he has researched the attitudes of Muslim-Americans and has found a great amount of fear: "Adding to their sense of being unfairly singled out were commentators in the news media talking as if it were open season on Muslims. Bill O'Reilly compared the Koran to Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'…" Well, the professor's statement is misleading and totally out of context. On July 10, 2002, we criticized a University of North Carolina professor who wanted to require incoming freshman to read a book explaining the Koran.
HCA IPO bodes well for private equity firms
The Associated Press
…Private equity firms have been waiting for market conditions to improve in order to recoup their investments on companies taken private before credit markets essentially froze and put an end to the leveraged buyout boom. A 2009 study by business professors from the University of North Carolina estimated the deal value of company buyouts between 2004 and 2007 at $535 billion.
Related Link:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/42014528
Chicago takes unique approach to fight concussions
The Associated Press
…"The past year or two, the NFL and NCAA have taken it very seriously,'' said Kevin Guskiewicz of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a member of the NCAA's Concussion Committee and the NFL's Head, Neck, and Spine Committee. "They have begun to show how they're educating athletes at the professional level and at the NCAA level, and I think it's created awareness for coaches and parents and athletes at the youth level.''
Mold Yourself
Wall Street Journal
These days it seems an increasingly large proportion of daily conversations revolve around the job search. Indeed, the unremarkable weather comment has been replaced with asides about interviews, job prospects and other employment topics. While most conversations follow the same script, every once in a while I find myself with an insightful takeaway. (Emily Noonan, of Bloomingdale, Ill., is a senior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler School of Business, pursuing a degree in business administration and a second major in Asian studies.
State and Local Coverage
Seismologist shows the science behind an earthquake
News 14 Carolina
The 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan was the largest ever recorded in the country. “This is a very big earthquake and it's a major event for seismology and for Earth science, and of course, there are many people in Japan now who are suffering from the disaster. So this is going to be a major event for the year 2011,” UNC seismology professor Jonathan Lees said.
UNC forum looks at creativity
The Chapel Hill Herald
UNC will host the inaugural public forum of President Barack Obama's National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship on Tuesday. UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp is on the 24-member panel selected to develop policies that foster entrepreneurship and identify new ways to take great ideas from the lab to the marketplace to drive economic growth and create jobs.
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4352/68/
PlayMakers associate artistic director named
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
PlayMakers Repertory Company has named Jeffrey Meanza to serve as associate artistic director. He will work closely with producing artistic director Joseph Haj as the theater company expands its artistic programming and community outreach.
Ackland Museum to open store, likely in May
The Chapel Hill Herald
The Ackland Art Museum at UNC will open the Ackland Museum Store this spring. Renovation has begun in the store's future space, at 100 E. Franklin St. The museum expects to occupy the space by mid to late April and open it to business in early May.
Pipkin watercolors exhibiting now at Botanical Garden
The Chapel Hill Herald
"Walk with Nature," an exhibit of watercolors by Mary Margaret Pipkin, has opened at the DeBerry Gallery for Botanical Art & Illustration at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, located off of the U.S. 15-501/N.C. 54 bypass (Fordham Boulevard) at Old Mason Farm Road.
Early alcohol use enhances harmful consequences (Opinion Column)
The Chapel Hill Herald
While researchers may hold differing conclusions or opinions about some underage drinking issues, there is near unanimous consensus that delaying the onset of drinking is key to avoiding the known harmful consequences associated with teen alcohol use. …With binge drinking the norm among teen drinkers (90 percent of alcohol consumed by them occurs while bingeing), the UNC Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies reports this form of drinking is especially toxic, particularly in adolescents.
Issues and Trends
NC education budget options bring sharp responses
The Associated Press
Republican lawmakers who resolved to eliminate $1.3 billion in temporary taxes are now considering some sober options to reduce education spending in next year's state budget, such as cutting thousands of teachers and their assistants. …Tillman, a former public school administrator, said this week's discussion, while preliminary, will help colleagues decide what portion of the $760 million in cuts should originate from the public schools and the University of North Carolina and community college systems.