June 10, 2002

Carolina in the News

Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people 
and programs cited recently in the international and  national media:

Current International Coverage

Haemophilia treatment hope
BBC News (U.K.)
Scientists have used a sophisticated type of gene therapy to treat mice with a form 
of haemophilia. The experimental procedure is called RNA trans-splicing...
...Researcher Dr Hengjun Chao of the University of North Carolina School of 
Medicine, said: "If the technology is proven effective in humans, it would provide 
a more permanent treatment for haemophilia A." 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_2030000/2030051.stm
(Note: This story originated from a UNC News Services release, 
http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/jun02/genether060602.htm). 

Current National Coverage

Welcome to the Future 
The Washington Post
As soon as Bessie Fischer glides into the beauty salon on her motorized scooter, 
ready for her regular Wednesday shampoo-and-set, it's clear that something's up...
...These are not, for the most part, vigorous golfers or aerobics students any longer. 
A University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill research team, methodically studying 
assisted-living facilities in four states (including Maryland), found a population with 
a high incidence of arthritis and rheumatism, coronary conditions, hypertension, 
vision and hearing problems. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7979-2002Jun6.html

State and Local Coverage

'Three times an alum'
Tony Waldrop has been busy these days setting up a research lab in Room 52 in 
the basement of UNC's Medical Sciences Research Building. It's familiar ground. 
Room 52 is where the university's vice chancellor for research and graduate studies 
spent his time 20 years ago while he pursued a doctorate. 
http://www.chapelhillnews.com/Issues/2002/06/09/news05.html

Program helps Kenyan youth 
Rye Barcott went to Nairobi two years ago as a UNC-Chapel Hill senior intent on 
studying religious and ethnic strife among the youths in one of the Kenyan capital's 
most impoverished and perilous districts.
http://newsobserver.com/news/triangle/story/1450840p-1482429c.html
(Note: This story resulted in part from a News Services tip last spring.)

Sunday Forum: Required Reading
Following are six letters to the editor published Sunday as a group in The News and 
Observer's "Q" section:

In tune with the South
As the time for a new class to head off to college quickly approaches, I would like 
to take a moment and reflect on this journey which is the start of some of the most 
shaping years of our lives. We have a proud tradition in America, on going to college 
not to simply form a career, but to also open our minds to ideas that seem to be 
foreign and mysterious. For this reason precisely, "Approaching the Qur'an" is a 
perfect and timely choice for the incoming class at UNC-Chapel Hill to read. 
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/1448853p-1480667c.html

Forcing religion
Regarding the May 24 article "UNC-CH makes book on Quran required reading":
There is no reasonable explanation for forcing freshmen to read a book which in 
essence is a preaching tool to capture people's interest in Islam. Despite what 
Chancellor James Moeser says, the university is forcing one religion...
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/1448849p-1480674c.html

Next summer's book?
UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser answers his critics and reassures his 
trustees about the choice of required reading for this year's incoming freshmen 
("Approaching the Qur'an"): "We're obviously not promoting one religion over another...
our role is to study and understand...one-fifth of the world is Islamic. We understand 
very little about their faith." 
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/1448852p-1480602c.html

Opening minds
The chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill says that he has received a number of calls from 
outraged citizens who object to the requirement that entering freshmen read excerpts 
from the Quran (news story, May 24). What are they afraid of? Do they believe that 
ignorance is bliss? Have they not been paying attention to the fact there are something 
over a billion Muslims and that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world. 
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/1448851p-1480604c.html

Promoting religion
So UNC-Chapel Hill is making "Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations" a 
required reading selection for incoming freshman this year. Can you imagine the uproar 
from the advocates of separation of church and state if the selection was "Approaching 
the Bible: The Early Revelations"? 
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/1448850p-1480660c.html

Toward understanding
What is the rationale for requiring students to read a book that gives an overview of 
the Muslim religion? It was alluded to in a brief quote from your article. Chancellor 
James Moeser said "We're obviously not promoting one religion. That is not our role. 
Our role is to study and understand...What more timely subject could there be than to 
open our students to this? One-fifth of the world is Islamic. We understand very little 
about this faith." 
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/1448854p-1480586c.html

Healthy tax hike (Opinion -Editorial Column)
Several proposals to raise North Carolina's excise tax on cigarettes will surface in the 
legislature. A 50-cent increase in the excise tax would have major implications for the 
state budget and for improving public health, particularly for children. Policy-makers 
should understand the scientifically sound basis for raising the tax, the magnitude of the 
health and economic benefits -- and effective arguments that counter tobacco-industry 
arguments against the increase. 
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/story/1450704p-1482353c.html
(Note: Adam Goldstein is an assistant professor of family medicine.)

Climate change isn't glacial (Opinion-Editorial Column)
At last our government has said something sensible about global warming. The U.S. 
Climate Action Report for 2002 admits that the Earth's climate is changing and we have 
to plan for the consequences. Whether this statement will have any real effect on national 
policy is doubtful, but even if it does we probably will not plan for as much change as 
we are likely to get.
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/story/1448801p-1480588c.html
(Note: John J. W. Rogers is retired as a Kenan professor of geology. News Services 
assisted Rogers in placing this column.)

Use adversity as a springboard (Speech)
From a commencement address at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Public Health by 
Robert J. Greczyn, president and CEO of Blue Cross. Will Rogers once said something 
that has stuck with me because it's true in so many aspects of life. He said: "Even if you 
are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Being successful in any 
organization is about staying ahead. It might mean staying ahead of your competition. It 
might mean staying ahead of the issues. Whatever you are trying to stay ahead of, it will 
run you over if you don't keep moving -- and moving in the right direction.
http://newsobserver.com/news/q/story/1448806p-1480617c.html

Chapel Hill program is a national model 
The Bush administration has recognized an alcohol and tobacco prevention program 
created in Chapel Hill as a model that other communities nationwide should adopt to steer 
children away from drinking and smoking. Family Matters, the result of research at UNC, 
uses a family approach to help children avoid substance abuse...
...Over the span of several years, Bauman worked with Vangie Foshee and other faculty 
members in the UNC Department of Health Behavior and Health Education to create a 
program that could function independently of schools and involve parents more. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-235449.html

Enlightenment's cost (Letter to the Editor)
I found one item on your May 27 On Campus page to be most interesting. It related to 
the fact that both UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University have, in the interests of 
economy and image, decided to cancel their usual new-faculty orientation tours
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/1448860p-1480567c.html

Issues and Trends Affecting Carolina

SAT Expected to Add Essay Section 
An expected overhaul of the SAT college entrance exam looks likely to include a handwritten 
essay, creating a new challenge for college-bound students, a big logistic chore for test 
administrators and more emphasis on writing in high school. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/nationworld/national/30-235386.html

Shortfall expected to recur 
Without a big increase in revenue or permanent cuts in spending, the money problems that 
North Carolina has endured the past two years are likely to persist much of the decade, 
according to state projections. Projected shortfalls of $1 billion to $2 billion through 2006-07 
are contained in a draft five-year budget model, obtained by The News & Observer, that 
was prepared for top House budget writers as they make decisions on next year's budget.
http://newsobserver.com/news/nc/story/1448944p-1480643c.html

State pays tab for governor's rides 
If Gov. Mike Easley's hair gets a little mussed on his weekend commute to Southport, it's 
not because the top's down on the convertible. It's because he has to walk under the rotors 
of a state helicopter
http://newsobserver.com/news/story/1445680p-1477534c.html

DOT committee OKs naming bridge for Taylor
The U.S. 15-501 bridge over Morgan Creek could soon be named after singer-songwriter 
James Taylor. Thursday, the state Department of Transportation's road-naming committee 
voted to ask the full DOT board to approve naming the bridge after Taylor. The board will 
make a final decision during its meeting July 11. 
http://www.chapelhillnews.com/Issues/2002/06/09/news10.html

Winmore raises jurisdictional dispute
Members of the Orange County Board of Commissioners say they'll seek clarification from 
Carrboro about possible plans to annex property for the proposed Winmore development 
off Homestead Road. 
http://www.chapelhillnews.com/Issues/2002/06/09/news04.html

UNC again shows no sensitivity to neighbors (Letter to the Editor)
In the article "Council, UNC attempt to bridge gap" (CHN June 5), I was dismayed to 
witness again the university and hospital's insensitivity towards its neighbors. Referring to UNC's 
desire to convert the half-mile of South Columbia Street into a four-lane, median-divided 
boulevard, a conversion strongly and justifiably opposed by nearly all residents of the area, 
UNC Hospitals Eric B. Munson reportedly stated, "A lot of employees live in Pittsboro and 
Siler City, which is why we want them to be able to come to work with no encumbrances." 
http://www.chapelhillnews.com/Issues/2002/06/09/opinion04.htm
(Note: Chapel Hill News publishes all letters to the editor on the same web page. To view this 
letter, please scroll down to the bottom of the web page.)

Note: If you have any questions about Carolina in the News, 
please call Cathleen Keyser or Mike McFarland at News Services, 
(919) 962-2091 or news@unc.edu or mike_mcfarland@unc.edu