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March 11, 2005
Carolina in the News
Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina
people and programs cited recently in the media:National News Note
The Pope Foundation's proposal on western studies will be the focus of a story on The Fox Report with Shepard Smith tentatively scheduled to air today (March 11) between 7 and 8 p.m. The story will include an interview with Frank Dominguez, a professor in the romance languages department.
National Coverage
Birth control burden seems to be shifting
The Baltimore Sun
The birth control pill was no longer an option for Jim Segermark's wife, and undergoing a vasectomy himself seemed nothing short of barbaric..."There's been a total lack of interest in it for a long time," said Michael G. O'Rand, a reproductive biologist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Physical fitness lags at LAUSD
Los Angeles Daily News
Few students in Los Angeles Unified get adequate physical education instruction, and more than half of high school freshmen didn't even take a state-mandated fitness test, says the first-ever audit of the district's P.E. program.....A recent University of North Carolina study indicates that the lack of exercise is to blame for the 10 percent jump in obesity among teens from 1980 to 2000.
The Selling of the Curriculum?
Inside Higher Education
Members of the Pope family, retail magnates in North Carolina, have never been shy about sharing their opinions about higher education....So when faculty members at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill heard that the Pope family was talking to administrators about a multi-year grant to support study of Western civilization, many were upset.
State & Local Coverage
Soap cleans up in study
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Mother knew best, and now science is backing her up: Washing hands in old fashioned soap and water works best to eliminate germs....That's the word from UNC-Chapel Hill researchers, who compared soap and water to alcohol-based antibacterial rubs and hand wipes commonly found in hospitals.
UNC news release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/mar05/rutala031005.htmlStudy: Warm water as good as soap scrub
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
A research study published Thursday by infection control specialists at UNC Hospitals indicates that rubbing your hands together for at least 10 seconds under plain ol' warm tap water cleans them just as effectively, in occasional washing, as the expensive specialty soaps and cleansers sold to hospitals and medical clinics.
Sink convicted, gets suspended term
The Winston-Salem Journal
Fred Sink, a three-term Davidson County commissioner and a former sheriff, was found guilty yesterday of one felony count of aiding and abetting obtaining property by false pretenses, again throwing the future of a high-ranking county official into doubt....County Attorney Robert Hedrick was out of town for personal reasons yesterday but Clerk of Court Brian Shipwash said yesterday afternoon that officials were consulting with the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about whether Sink could still serve as commissioner.
Choosing bigotry? (Letter to the Editor)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
It is sad to find that some groups such as the Christian fraternity Alpha Iota Omega seek to oppose the UNC-Chapel Hill policy on tolerance. As we see alleged hate crimes against students even in our friendly town, there is simply no reason for official sanction of intolerance.
Related link:
http://www.newsobserver.com/print/friday/opinion/story/2202720p-8583513c.htmlIssues & Trends
Taking the New SAT Essay
"Morning Edition" National Public Radio
Steve Inskeep tries to master the essay portion of the test with Bernard Phelan, a high school English teacher who grades the SATs.
Note: Dr. Jerry Lucido was interviewed by Good Morning America Weekend anchor Kate Snow about the changes in the SAT. A portion of that interview aired this morning (March 11); more is slated to air Saturday morning. Dr. Lucido was also interviewed this week by National Public Radio on the same topic but the air date has not been determined.Merger report notes inequities
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
With a long-awaited study of the two school systems in Orange County released Thursday night, one of the area's most electric political issues may inch closer to a resolution....The $25,000 taxpayer-funded study was led by Madeleine Grumet of UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Education and a five-person team of university professors and graduate students.
Spring break is no trip to beach
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
On spring break, even the do-gooders head south....The group has been too busy to explore the Triangle, though several wanted to at least drive past the campuses of some of their future rivals in the Atlantic Coast Conference: N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University.
Selling old post office is an option
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
It's a hot spot for protesters and a hangout for punky hipsters, a utilitarian government building doubling as the unofficial town square....The post office building is known for its elaborate Depression-era mural depicting the laying of the cornerstone of UNC-Chapel Hill's first building, and the ripped-jeans-clad "post office kids" often seen skateboarding and socializing out front.
UNC accountability reports praised
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
A new national commission on higher education called Thursday for a "fresh approach to accountability," with a focus on the "critical transition from high school to college."....In its report titled "Accountability for Better Results," the 13-member National Commission on Accountability in Education listed the statewide performance reports by the UNC system Board of Governors as a "notable" example of accountability. Those reports include data on the system's four-year public institutions, as well as community and private colleges.
Resolution seeks to clear the air at ECU
The Daily Reflector, Greenville
Smoking may be banned in certain areas of ECU's campus if a committee formed by the chancellor deems it feasible....UNC Wilmington, Appalachian State University, UNC Pembroke and UNC-Chapel Hill already have nonsmoking policies, Morrison said.
Related link: http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-031005-jral-smoking_ban.1253e2dbe.html
Produced by News Services, Carolina in the News is an e-mail sampling of current news media coverage about Carolina people and programs, as well as issues and trends that affect the university. Stories usually will be online and available free for a limited time - often one to two weeks. Expiration dates before stories move to archives vary by media outlet. Some outlets require free user registration or a subscription.
Carolina in the News is also posted daily to the News Services Web page, http://www.unc.edu/newsserv/clipsindex.htm.
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