June 14, 2002

Carolina in the News

Current National Coverage

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

Well Being: Alzheimer's future 
Peoria Journal Star (Illinois)
Even with major treatment breakthroughs, the number of people living with Alzheimer's 
disease will at least double by 2050, according to researchers at the University of North 
Carolina. Treatment that could slow progression of the disease, if available by 2010, 
would mean more than 10 million elderly with Alzheimer's by 2050, most with mild cases. 
http://www.pjstar.com/news/lifestyles/g78788a.html
(Note: This story originated from a recent UNC release: 
www.unc.edu/news/archives/may02/alzproj052902.htm)

Expecting post-9/11 baby boom? It's a rumor 
The Oregonian (Portland)
By the end of the month, we'll know whether last fall's barbaric acts of international 
terrorism inspired people around the country to begin making babies....
..."It doesn't make any sense to me at all," says J. Richard Udry, a demographer at the 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 
http://www.oregonlive.com/living/oregonian/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/living/1023796613215201.xml

Campaign to show perils of sleepy driving
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)
Thomas Callaghy had been driving for only 20 minutes when he began to feel sleepy. But 
he pressed on...
..."Drowsiness is so pervasive in our society, most people have come to accept it," said 
Jane Stutts, an investigator for the University of North Carolina Highway Safety 
Research Center.
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/3467490.htm

Issues and Trends Affecting Carolina

Is Early Decision a Promise to Be Kept? (Letter to the Editor)
The New York Times
Following are two letters to the editor were published today as a group in The New York 
Times:
Re "Harvard Considers Whether to Enroll Students Who Pledged to Go Elsewhere" (news 
article, June 8): Early decision is more than just an option that can be checked on a college 
application. Students and their families should regard applying under a binding program as a 
statement of commitment representing thoughtful consideration....

Reading of Harvard University's possible reinterpretation of early- decision practices (news 
article, June 8) had me fast-forwarding to the effect on students and families for which 
expediency already tempts (if not trumps) the honor code of college admissions....
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/14/opinion/L14ADMI.html
(Note: The New York Times requires free registration to view articles.)

Bill targets UNC plans 
A state representative from Asheville introduced a bill Thursday that would require N.C. State 
University to get legislative approval before building an executive hotel and conference center 
on the Centennial Campus. Rep. Martin Nesbitt Jr.'s bill would extend the same oversight to 
similar projects other University of North Carolina system schools want to build. UNC-Chapel 
Hill and Western Carolina University are looking to develop technology campuses where private 
businesses are allowed to set up shop and partner with university researchers.
http://newsobserver.com/news/triangle/story/1461194p-1491883c.html

Senate OKs tax, fee measure 
The state Senate gave final approval to a package of fee increases and tax swaps Thursday 
that would pump an additional $364 million into state coffers. The legislation includes no 
statewide tax increases, but would allow local governments to impose a half-penny increase in 
the sales tax beginning July 1. In exchange, the state would take back $333 million in local 
reimbursements.
http://newsobserver.com/news/nc/story/1461076p-1491905c.html

Leaf, Floyd funds tapped 
Gov. Mike Easley has ordered $150 million transferred from a Hurricane Floyd relief fund and 
$50 million from the state's Tobacco Trust Fund to make sure enough cash is available to pay 
the government's bills in the final two weeks of the fiscal year.
http://newsobserver.com/news/story/1460998p-1491919c.html

Black lawmakers contest FSU name change
Fayetteville Observer
Cumberland County’s black lawmakers oppose the idea of changing the name of Fayetteville 
State University. A bill filed Wednesday by state Rep. Bill Hurley of Fayetteville, who is white, 
called for a $5,000 study of whether the historically black university should change its name to 
the University of North Carolina at Fayetteville. White lawmakers Mia Morris of Fayetteville 
and Alex Warner of Hope Mills co-signed the bill.
http://www.fayettevillenc.com/obj_stories/2002/jun/n14fsu.shtml

Medical boot camp (Editorial)
It would be difficult, even in tough economic times, to find many highly educated people 
willing to take a 100-hour-a-week job. Yet for thousands of medical residents in the nation's 
teaching hospitals, 36-hour shifts with 12-hour breaks are routine...
...The organization that accredits teaching hospitals like UNC and Duke recently announced 
that beginning in 2003, the workload of medical residents would be limited to 80 hours a 
week with at least 10 hours rest between shifts. They will also not be allowed to work more 
than 24 hours straight.
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/story/1460960p-1491986c.html

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