Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
National Coverage
Obama Drives His Jobs Message To N.C. Crowds
"Morning Edition" National Public Radio
…North Carolina is still challenging territory for a Democrat, even if Obama eked out a narrow victory here three years ago. Political scientist Thomas Carsey of the University of North Carolina says if the president can stay competitive in the region, he'll have that many more chances for holding on to the White House.
Institute of Medicine Elects 65 New Members
Inside Higher Ed
The Institute of Medicine, of the National Academy of Sciences, on Monday announced the election of 65 new members, and 5 foreign associates. Election to the institute is considered among the highest honors in health and biomedical research. (David R. Rubinow, M.D., Assad Meymandi Distinguished Professor and Chair, department of psychiatry, and professor of medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is one of the newly elected memebers.)
National University Rankings 2011
Washington Monthly Magazine
Below are the Washington Monthly's 2011 national universities rankings. We rate schools based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country). (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is ranked 12th.)
The 25 Fittest Colleges in America
Men's Fitness
…No. 7 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. If you’re into intramural and club sports, all the usual suspects are present here, as well as underwater hockey, waterskiing, wakeboarding and a club marathon team for running nuts. You could even take a stab at UNC intramurals’ very own student football combine. There are numerous holiday-themed runs, eight different walking and cycling routes around campus, more than 5,000 square feet of indoor climbing and a Challenge Course located just a few miles from campus.
Sexy fitness classes help distract from boring workout
"Today" MSNBC
…Barbara Osborne, an associate professor of exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, questions the societal value of sexy workouts because they put a positive twist on “behaviors that have traditionally harmed women.” “Because the classes are tied to sexual performance, it still perpetuates woman as sex object rather than woman as strong, competent, empowered,” she said.
9 Serious Conditions That Mimic Heartburn
Fox News
…Angina, or chest pain caused by lack of blood flow to the heart, can feel a lot like heartburn. "The major key is if you're getting heartburn when you're doing strenuous or moderate activity," says Dr. Ryan Madanick, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, in Chapel Hill.
Toxic Seaweed Poisons Coral Reefs on Contact
Wired
…“It’s certainly a novel finding,” says John Bruno, a marine ecologist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. But not all seaweeds are poisonous, he adds. Many scientists argue that algae — toxins or no — rarely kill off adult corals en masse. Instead, these opportunistic organisms may simply be capitalizing on the slow death of the invertebrates due to pollution, climate change, or other factors.
Regional Coverage
A new name and a running argument (Column)
The Miami Herald (Florida)
…First came a discussion between Dr. Theresa Nicklas of Baylor College of Medicine and Dr. Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina about the impact of sweetened beverages on obesity. …On the other side was Popkin, who has backed down on his 2004 claim that high fructose corn syrup has a special role in promoting obesity, but still links sweetened beverages with weight gain. His view is that since sweetened beverages do not create a feeling of fullness, they add extra and unneeded calories.
State and Local Coverage
Thorp: "We Can't Remain Carolina" If Budget Cuts Persist
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp delivered a sobering message in his annual address last week, with the impact of last year’s budget cuts now increasingly clear. …While budget talks were ongoing, numerous University officials said a cut of 15 percent or more would be “devastating.” And while those same officials insisted later that the cuts haven’t affected the quality of education, Chancellor Thorp says UNC is on the brink nevertheless.
UNC honors young alumnus
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
An educator who leads five successful charter schools in Atlanta has been honored by UNC Chapel Hill’s General Alumni Association. David Jernigan, executive director of KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) schools in Atlanta, received a Distinguished Young Alumni Award for bringing credit to the university through his achievements.
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4826/1/
UNC cardiologist receives honor
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Cam Patterson, division chief of cardiology at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine has been named the recipient of the 2012 North America Vascular Biology Association Judah Folkman Award in vascular biology. The award recognizes outstanding contributions from vascular biologists who are at mid-career (within 15 years of their first faculty appointment).
Belief and being (Editorial)
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
It doesn’t take a legal scholar to see the loopholes in the University of North Carolina’s non-discrimination policy. The policy outlines the rules for student organizations that seek official r
ecognition — “and the privileges that accompany official recognition” — at the university.
Gay student ousted from club wants UNC policy changed
WNCN-TV (NBC/Raleigh)
A college senior has been kicked out of a University of North Carolina club because he admitted he was gay. The university ruled the club did nothing wrong. And now that student says he plans to fight until the school changes its policies.
Field, court, classroom (Editorial)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Mighty deeds apparently are expected of Lawrence "Bubba" Cunningham, newly named to the post of athletic director at UNC-Chapel Hill. When a public university hires someone at a base salary of $525,000, he had better deliver the goods. So what are the goods? In Cunningham's case, it will be to run a financially stable and efficient athletics program, encompassing 28 sports (including both men's and women's teams).