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Oct. 3, 2006
Carolina in the News
Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
International Coverage
Germans Celebrate Unity Day With Mixed Emotions
Deutsche Welle (Germany)
"Lack of enthusiasm for Oct. 3 is understandable," said historian and expert on modern Germany Konrad Jarausch, who teaches at the University of North Carolina and also serves as co-director of the Center for Research on Contemporary History in Potsdam. "Germans have been disappointed in celebrating occasions like the Kaiser's or Hitler's birthday and therefore have no tradition of a national holiday that transcends different regimes," Jarausch said.
National Coverage
James Taylor Honored by Hometown College
The Associated Press (National)
James Taylor, who penned "Carolina in My Mind" while homesick for North Carolina, has been honored by his hometown university. Taylor, 58, performed the song with the North Carolina Symphony on Sunday when both were given 2006 Carolina Performing Arts Lifetime Achievement Awards by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/sep06/lifetime091406.htmGet A Degree On Your Company's Dime
Forbes Magazine
Eighty percent of all medium and large firms offer programs that reimburse you to further your training or even get a degree, says Peter Cappelli, director of the Center for Human Resources at the University of Pennsylvania..."The short-term pain of studying yields long-term rewards," [Felice Gray-Kemp] says. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers similar options.
What Entrepreneurs Need to Know
Business Week
"Every artist is an entrepreneur." So argues Dr. Elliot McGucken, a part-time professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in an online video introduction to his course, Art Entrepreneurship & Technology 101, which has the professor lecturing from the shore of a small lake. Among his suggestions for artists who want to be more entrepreneurial: launch a blog (see BusinessWeek.com, 5/18/06, "The ABCs of Beginning Your Blog"), prepare a one-minute presentation on "your mission," write a 20-page business plan, and be prepared to work for a long time "for free."
Study: TV, good grades don't mix
NBC
University of North Carolina media researcher Dr. Jane Brown notes that too many children are left in front of the screen - unsupervised, "Talk about it as parents today need to be thinking about their children's media diet. It's just like we're trying to get them to eat healthier food."
Related Link: http://www.nbc5.com/health/9985634/detail.htmlRegional Coverage
Vaccine for cancer studied in N.C.
McClatchy Newspapers
In all of cancer research, few targets are as tantalizing as a vaccine to mobilize a patient's own immune system as a weapon against cancers. Better still, the right vaccine could prevent cancer from ever occurring. Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill, meanwhile, are using a similar virus-based approach to test vaccines in mice, and expect to eventually test them in humans.
Make water out of air? Utah goes with the flow
The Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Jonathan Wright, one of the creators of AquaMagic, fills a cup with water from "cloud-in-a-box" machine in Washington, D.C., Saturday. Instead, Jonathan Wright, of Ogden, just made the water from air. The simplest method is boiling water to remove microbes, or treating it with chemicals like chlorine, said Dr. Mark Sobsey, a professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health's Drinking Water Research Center. But boiling is a problem in some poor areas. "You've got to have fuel and to be able to pay for it," Sobsey noted.
Vouchers a testy subject
Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
A jazz brunch that focused on the divisive topic of school vouchers brought a beleaguered district's staunchest allies and critics together in complete disharmony on Saturday. Vouchers, which use public funds for private-school tuition, drain resources from districts without giving parents true school choice, said Walter Farrell, associate director of a policy institute at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Interim dean looks to move veterinary medicine forward
The Missourian (Columbia, Mo.)
Joe Kornegay resigned in August to accept a position at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Gene Therapy Center and the School of Medicine Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine with a secondary appointment in the Department of Neurology. “It’s an opportunity for me to both go home — North Carolina is my home state — and to focus on research on muscular dystrophy,” Kornegay said.
Related Link: http://www.columbiatribune.com/2006/Sep/20060930News009.aspSimms' case highlights NFL doctors' dilemma
The Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, Fla.)
In a landmark study at the University of North Carolina, researchers found that nearly 60 percent of retired NFL players had suffered at least one concussion during their careers. The survey also concluded that retired NFL players have a 37 percent higher risk of Alzheimer's disease than other men of the same age.
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/oct05/guskie101005.htmState and Local Coverage
UNC gets $1M grant to improve Army simulators
The Chapel Hill Herald
UNC received a $1 million research grant from the U.S. Army on Monday to improve training simulators for urban warfare. The funding will pay for the development of problem-solving mathematical equations called algorithms and software that will make Army simulators more realistic. The changes to the simulators also would mean the program could be run off of one computer compared with the network of computers it currently takes, making it possible for soldiers to carry in backpacks in the field, said the project's chief researcher Dinesh Manocha.
Wolfe memorial to be dedicated
The Chapel Hill Herald
A Thomas Wolfe memorial will be dedicated today on UNC's campus, honoring Carolina's most celebrated literary alumnus on what would have been his 106th birthday. The memorial, moved last spring to a new location, is an 850-pound bas-relief bronze sculpture of an angel, which references Wolfe's most famous work, "Look Homeward, Angel."
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/sep06/wolfemem092706.htmJudicial Elections
"The State of Things," WUNC-FM (Chapel Hill)
The twelve candidates campaigning in the statewide races for North Carolina's court system have a challenging task: gaining support from voters while creating a nonpartisan platform and assuring the public that they will remain objective about the cases that come before them. Host Frank Stasio explores the politics of judicial elections with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill law professor Bill Marshall and retired North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr.
Note: The State of Things" is the statewide public affairs program airing live at noon weekdays and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 6 a.m. on Saturdays.
Osteen may fill father's shoes
The News and Record (Greensboro)
The nomination of William Osteen Jr. to the federal judiciary marks the second time in the past year that an area judge's son has been picked to replace him on the bench...Such moves are not unheard of but are unusual, said Elizabeth Gibson, a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill's law school.
UNC Race Relations Week set to begin
The Chapel Hill Herald
UNC's Race Relations Week kicks off today and a common theme in the wide array of events is that race plays a sometimes hidden role in almost every part of life. Highlights include looks at how UNC remembers black history and how race affects environmental policy. There will be screenings of "Miss Congeniality" and "Do the Right Thing," followed by race-based analyses by UNC professors.
Renowned Civil Rights Documentary Returns
ABC 11 TV (Raleigh)
"North Carolina Central, N.C. State in Raleigh and UNC-Chapel Hill, and we've had a number of churches that have been in contact with us," said UNC-TV's Diane Lewis. "We believe when it's broadcast tonight, we'll hear from a lot more."
7Our homes are affordable, our schools full
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
James Johnson, a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School, said more expensive housing in Chapel Hill and Orange County limit growth there and that Durham is hurt by the reputation of its schools.
Families with kids are struggling
The Charlotte Observer
Inadequate income contributes to families' inability to obtain health insurance and needed health care. The latest estimates from the Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC Chapel Hill indicate that in 2004, Cabarrus had 21,507 uninsured residents. In Cabarrus, 11 percent of children age 17 and younger and 19 percent of adults ages 18 to 64 have no health insurance. Nutshell book talks give essence without the work.
Liquidia loses CEO to Johnson & Johnson
The Triangle Business Journal
Less than four months after being named chief executive officer at Liquidia Technologies, Todd Pope is leaving the Morrisville technology startup. Liquidia said Friday that Pope has tendered his resignation to pursue a role at Johnson & Johnson as worldwide president of Cordis Cardiovascular...Liquidia Technologies was formed from technology developed by Joseph DeSimone at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. Liquidia's Fluorocur technology allows for the mass production of precise, uniform nanoparticles.
Scientist left legacy of hard work, caring
The Chapel Hill News
After being diagnosed with cancer in September 2005, Roger died Nov. 6 at age 53. Neighbors knew he was a scientist, but few could fathom the depth of his brilliance; the science department at UNC has yet to recover. To honor him, the Roger E. Miller Memorial Symposium will be held Saturday at The Friday Center, where colleagues and former students in physical chemistry from around the world will engage in scientific discussion.
Honorable Mentions
The Chapel Hill Herald
Richard M. Goldberg, associate director of clinical research at UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been named physician-in-chief of the N.C. Cancer Hospital. In the new role, Goldberg will lead the continued development of an integrated, comprehensive system for cancer care, translational research, multidisciplinary patient care and educational opportunities.
Note: This article is not available online.Robinson has mixed feelings
The Reidsville Review
If selected for the position, Robinson would be receiving a raise. According to a report by the UNC School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Robinson's 2006 salary is $114,716 plus $4,800 for travel expenses. The report shows the Orange County manager position salary to be $148,633 with an assigned car.
An ally against Alzheimer’s
The Cary News
A breakthrough cancer drug. Gene therapy. A new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. “That’s why I went into science,” said Dr. Chris Gregory, a Cary resident who works for Voyager Pharmaceutical Corporation, a small drug company in Research Triangle Park. He’s no stranger to a laboratory, though. For 10 years he was on the UNC-Chapel Hill faculty in the pathology department, doing prostate cancer research.
UNC Surgeons Correct Toddler's Deformed Jaw
WRAL-TV (Raleigh)
"This, in turn, has caused her tongue to fall to the back of her throat," said Dr. Timothy Turvy, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at University of North Carolina Hospitals. When McKenzie was born, otolaryngology surgeon Dr. Austin Rose opened a hole in the infant's throat in front of her neck so she could breathe. A feeding tube also was used since she could not swallow.
A World Apart: Morehead Scholar's job in a Rwanda maternity hospital was an eye-opener
The Winston-Salem Journal
Caroline Schneider wanted a summer experience that would challenge her and take her outside her comfort zone. Ten weeks in Rwanda fit the bill. Schneider, 19, is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was the valedictorian for Mount Tabor High School's class of 2005.
Cafe crowd soaks up nanotech knowledge
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Michael Falvo rose from his chair on a rainy Thursday night at the Broad Street Cafe, and a palpable eagerness spread through the crowd...The physicist at UNC-Chapel Hill was not about to burst into song, dance or his latest comedy routine. For the next 15 minutes he would give a lesson in nanoscience and nanotechnology that even the simplest of minds could grasp.
A reason to alert the media
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
It wasn't long before releases were being cranked out by businesses, nonprofit groups and government agencies, said Dulcie Straughan, a professor of public relations at UNC-Chapel Hill. The appeal: News releases are an efficient way for groups to get the word out to news-hungry outlets.
Choices children face
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
I was waiting to pick up my younger daughter from a basketball camp she attended at UNC-Chapel Hill this past summer. Then I saw the hot, tired male lacrosse players, their sticks resting on their adolescent shoulders. I was alarmed. I knew my reaction was irrational, but the boys also were attending a UNC camp, assigned to an adjoining dorm.
Sex is her subject
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Then after she is finished reading from "Hooking Up: A Girl's All-Out Guide to Sex & Sexuality," Amber takes questions from the 20 or so people assembled on a recent afternoon in the student union at UNC-Chapel Hill. The candor of her book, which mixes sexual memoir, medical information and relationship advice, leads one young woman to raise her hand and offer this...
Visitor broke his neck in fall
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The teenager who fell from a fraternity fire escape early Saturday morning broke his neck but was in fair condition Monday afternoon, according to UNC Hospitals and the teen's sister.
Issues and Trends
Bowles floats tuition hike cap
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
UNC campuses wouldn't be allowed to raise tuition and fees more than 6.5 percent a year for the next four years, under a plan proposed Monday by UNC President Erskine Bowles… UNC-CH Chancellor James Moeser said he liked the plan because Bowles has promised to push the legislature aggressively for faculty salary increases. “Tuition should be a fallback only if the state doesn't meet its responsibility," Moeser said.
Plan would cap UNC tuition hikes
The Charlotte Observer
Tuition increases for the University of North Carolina's 16 campuses would be capped at 6.5 percent for each of the next four years under a plan released Monday by system President Erskine Bowles. The cap represents the university's average tuition increases over the past 34 years and is slightly higher than the 5 percent national index for inflation for higher education, according to the plan. Members of the university system's board of governors will review the plan.
Bowles eyes 6.5% annual caps on tuition over next four years
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
UNC President Erskine Bowles is recommending annual tuition and fee increases be capped at 6.5 percent per year for in-state undergraduate students at the 16 UNC campuses for the next four years. The cap would be even lower in years after the General Assembly gives an above-average amount of money to campuses, under the proposal that Bowles unveiled on Monday.
Bowles proposes tuition cap
The Winston-Salem Journal
North Carolina residents have gotten used to an annual fight about the cost of attending the state's public universities. But if Erskine Bowles, the president of the University of North Carolina system, has his way, parents and students will have a better idea of what to expect on their college bills, at least for a little while.
UK near its goal to raise $1 billion
The Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.)
The Chronicle of Higher Education reported in March that 22 universities in the United States are in the midst of raising $1 billion or more. As of Jan. 31, those universities included: Purdue University, with $1.3 billion raised toward a goal of $1.5 billion by 2007; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with $1.6 billion raised toward a goal of $2 billion by 2007; and the University of Virginia, with $814.7 million raised toward a goal of $3 billion by 2011.
State headed toward $1 billion shortfall
Triangle Business Journal
North Carolina lawmakers who found cash to burn this year will come back to Raleigh in 2007 in a more familiar position - having to plug holes due to another billion-dollar shortfall. Early non-official estimates put a looming budget gap at $1.1 billion. That's "in the ballpark," says General Assembly fiscal researcher Lynn Muchmore.
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/news/clips/index.shtml.
Please share any questions, comments or suggestions at news@unc.edu.