June 30, 2003

Carolina in the News

Current National Coverage

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

Medicare Cures Prove Easy To Prescribe, Tricky to Predict
The Wall Street Journal
When Lyndon Johnson signed the law creating Medicare in 1965, the health-
insurance program for the elderly was seen by those who favored it and those 
who fought it as the first step toward national health insurance for all. It wasn't. 
... "It's 'Field of Dreams' public policy," quips Jonathan Oberlander, a 
University of North Carolina political scientist ... 
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB105692277753253400,00.html?mod=todays%5Fus%5Fpageone%5Fhs
(Note: The Wall Street Journal requires a subscription to access articles.)

As hurricanes loom, a rush for potions
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Reaching for a pungent potion of solvent, wood sealer and perfume, Olga 
Santiago Ocana advises how to ward off bad spirits during hurricane season - 
and forecasters warn that this year's season could be busier than ever. ... In 
Cuba, hurricanes have helped produce "a sense of instability and unpredict-
ability of life, a philosophy of life, a high tolerance for enduring catastrophes," 
said Louis A. Perez, a Cuban historian at the University of North Carolina 
in Chapel Hill.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/nation/6192716.htm

A Capitol debate with fizz
The Sacramento Bee (Calif.)
Citing an increasing number of academic studies that point to sodas and other
high-sugar drinks as a major factor in young Americans' bulging waistlines, a 
local senator is convinced it's time to take them out of California's schools. ... 
The drink association officials and Burita point to a University of North 
Carolina study which found that while calorie intake was up just 1 percent in 
U.S. adolescents from 1980 to 2000, physical activity declined 13 percent.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/6944766p-7894049c.html

State and Local Coverage

O'Connor to the rescue once again (Opinion-Editorial Column)
News and Observer
The landmark ruling in the University of Michigan law school case was written 
by Sandra Day O'Connor. I haven't always been a fan of Justice O'Connor's 
jurisprudence. 
http://newsobserver.com/editorials/story/2656274p-2463239c.html
(Note: Gene R. Nichol is dean and the Burton Craige professor of law at 
School of Law. This column also appeared in The Charlotte Observer.)

Ruling resonates in Wake, Charlotte 
News and Observer
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has decided that racial diversity is still a 
"compelling state interest" in college admissions, public school leaders are 
wondering if they might once again consider race when making student 
assignments. ... Jack Boger, a professor at the UNC-Chapel Hill Law 
School, agreed with Griffin's view of the current high court's opinion, but he 
said it's possible the courts could also treat higher education and public 
schools differently when it comes to racial diversity.
http://newsobserver.com/news/story/2656340p-2463314c.html

Patience pays off for Springsteen faithful seeking concert tickets 
The Herald-Sun
Within seconds after someone yelled "start," Natasha Teasley and Hugh Byrne 
had paid for and received eight tickets each for the Bruce Springsteen concert. 
... They had spent two nights camped out on the grass at the Smith Center, 
and they wanted to go home and take showers. The pair arrived Thursday about 
midnight to grab the first two spots in line to buy tickets at the center. The 
concert is scheduled for Sept. 14 at UNC's Kenan Stadium. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-366670.html
(Note: A related story appeared on News 14 Carolina (Time Warner, Raleigh), 
http://rdu.news14.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=31817)

UNC prof tries hand as children's author 
The Herald-Sun
UNC journalism professor Chuck Stone appears to be a type of professorial 
"goodwill ambassador," shaking hands, waving, getting pats on the back and 
taking time out to commend a college newspaper staffer on a recent editorial, 
all while trying to hurry to his Carroll Hall office.
http://www.herald-sun.com/features/54-365896.html

Issues and Trends Affecting Carolina

A Decision That Universities Can Relate To
The New York Times
Last week's Supreme Court decisions in two cases involving admissions at the 
University of Michigan did not have the usual trumpet-blare characteristics of a 
judicial landmark.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/29/weekinreview/29LEMA.html
(Note: The New York Times requires free user registration to access articles.)

Dollars Are Driving A.C.C. Dispute
The New York Times
The conflict between the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conferences has been 
more difficult to follow than a game of three-card monte, and has often been just 
as unseemly. Who is in and who is out? Who is going where? 
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/28/sports/28BOWL.html
(Note: The New York Times requires free user registration to access articles. )

UM likely to choose ACC today
The Miami Herald
Two prominent conferences, throngs of fans and the University of Miami's 
coaches and athletes will finally learn today where the Hurricanes' athletic program 
goes from here.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/6201440.htm

Conference call (Editorial)
News and Observer
Oh, it's not over, as they say in the sports world. The foolish, formerly secretive, 
expansion of the Atlantic Coast Conference now includes one school the
conference didn't originally want (Virginia Tech), excludes two it did want (Boston 
College and Syracuse), and awaits nervously the "yes" or "no" of the University 
of Miami, Football U. ... In the end, two university leaders who participated in 
this fiasco and managed to emerge displaying some gumption were President 
Nan Keohane of Duke and James Moeser, chancellor of the University of 
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 
http://newsobserver.com/editorials/story/2656265p-2463308c.html

Hey, it's for the players (Editorial)
The Herald-Sun
At the time, it seemed like a good idea: Expand the cozy, nine-school Atlantic 
Coast Conference to 12 by plucking three new members out of the Big East 
Conference. ... Duke and UNC Chapel Hill have taken the high road in this 
affray, preferring that the ACC remain a nine-school conference. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/opinion/hsedits/56-366374.html

Move to ACC could make financial sense for Miami 
The Herald-Sun
With a budget that's barely a sliver of what football and basketball programs at 
the University of Miami work with, men's track coach Mike Ward has to carefully
choose which meets his team enters. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/sports/18-366677.html

ACC jumble lamented 
News and Observer
UNC System President Molly Broad considered her job description and thought it 
was clear she shouldn't be involved in a decision on expanding the Atlantic Coast 
Conference. That, she thought, was reserved for the heads of each ACC university, 
including the two she oversees, N.C. State and UNC-Chapel Hill.
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/story/2656401p-2463382c.html

Budget given tentative approval 
News and Observer
Lawmakers tentatively approved a $14.8 billion budget late Sunday, and then 
sought to give Gov. Mike Easley a way to avoid casting a historic veto that could 
lead to a partial government shutdown. 
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/nc/story/2658630p-2465291c.html

The fix we're in (Editorial)
News and Observer
Republicans in the state House would like to think of themselves as stern 
guardians of the public purse, the heroes who forced the Senate to give up on 
boosts in alcohol and tobacco taxes that would have helped fund education and 
human services programs, as well as investments in economic development. 
http://newsobserver.com/editorials/story/2653356p-2460623c.html

UNC system may get tougher smoking ban 
The Herald-Sun
Legislation would prevent smoking in a number of facilities across the UNC 
system is expected to be signed into law soon. But even if enacted, the bill will 
likely change little at UNC Chapel Hill, where a campus regulation enacted a 
decade ago banned smoking in most Carolina buildings. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-366854.html

Committee to negotiate town/UNC differences
The Chapel Hill News
A newly formed committee of university and town officials will try to resolve 
differences over UNC's request to include two new parking lots and a chiller plant 
as part of campus expansion.
http://www.triangle.com/triangle.com/communities/chapelhill/story/2652594p-2459898c.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