September 24, 2002

Carolina in the News

Current International Coverage

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

Overlooked magnesium may be key to pain relief
CTV (Canadian Television Network)
Some Canadian doctors are calling for human studies of an overlooked yet simple potential treatment 
for conditions such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, heart disease and high blood... "It's not taught in 
medical schools," says Dr. Mildred Seelig, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina. 
She has been studying magnesium for years and is writing a book, due out next year, urging doctors 
and patients not to overlook this essential mineral. 
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20020923/favaro_magnesium020923/CTVNewsAt11/story/

Current National Coverage

Devout teens stray less, research finds
Philadelphia Inquirer
Teens and trouble: The two seem to go hand in hand. A new study suggests, however, that deeply 
religious teens tend to defy that stereotype. In a report released this week, researchers at the 
University of North Carolina found that teens who regularly participate in religious activities are far less 
likely than their counterparts to engage in drug and alcohol abuse, violence, theft and other risky 
behaviors.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/4119082.htm
(Note: This coverage was the result of a UNC news release
http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/sep02/smithcr091702.htm)

On the Contrary: Losing Our Religion (Commentary)
The American Prospect
It's a summer of stupid lawsuits. Food "addicts" are suing McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and 
KFC, claiming that the fast-food industry creates cravings for unhealthy food and fails to provide 
consumers with nutritional information... So it's amusing -- in fact, it's downright delightful -- to 
report that what may be the summer's stupidest, whiniest lawsuit was initiated by a group of religious 
conservatives. The Virginia-based Family Policy Network (FPN) sued the University of North 
Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) for asking incoming freshmen to read selections from the Koran 
and accompanying commentaries by religion professor Michael Sells. 
http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/17/kaminer-w.html

New Medicare cuts threaten jobs (Letter to the Editor)
Sarasota (Fla.) Herald Tribune
The article "Report claims nursing homes reduced services," which appeared in the Herald-Tribune >
Sept. 15, doesn't emphasize enough the potential danger to patients that will result from 10 percent 
Medicare cuts scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1 -- now just days away... The University of North 
Carolina School of Public Health and the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine have 
specifically found a direct correlation between staffing levels and the quality of care provided to 
patients. 
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=SH&Date=20020924&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=209240558&Ref=AR&Profile=1029&SectionCat=OPINION02

Uncracked Ancient Codes (Book Review)
American Scientist
As longtime literary editor of the Times Higher Education Supplement in London, Andrew Robinson 
is well able to interpret the arcana of scientific discoveries for the general public. In Lost Languages, 
he explains the principles of three famous decipherments and applies the insights gained to an 
understanding of several undeciphered scripts...
http://www.americanscientist.org/bookshelf/Leads02/02-09Tlostlang.html
(Note: The author of this review, William C. West, is a professor of classics at UNC.)

Frances H. Howard, 88, Dies; Socialite and Policy Advocate 
The Washington Post 
Frances Humphrey Howard, a prominent public policy advocate and Washington socialite who 
was the younger sister and confidante of Democratic leader Hubert H. Humphrey Jr., died of 
congestive heart failure Sept. 23 at Sibley Memorial Hospital. She was 88... She taught 
community development for the night school program at the University of Maryland and 
international community development at the University of North Carolina.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57911-2002Sep23.html

State and Local Coverage

N.C. ready to do its part in smallpox defense grid
Charlotte Observer
People who got smallpox vaccinations before 1972 may still be immune from the deadly disease. But, 
then again, they may not. "We don't know for sure," said Dr. Bill Roper, public health school dean at 
UNC Chapel Hill.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/4138376.htm

A study of teaching methods
Charlotte Observer
The American Renaissance Charter School in downtown Statesville has joined a prestigious group of
institutions in a nationwide series of studies of teaching methods. The school is among 19 organizations,
including UNC Chapel Hill, California's Stanford University, and Florida State University, participating 
in National Board for Professional Teaching Standards studies. These studies were chosen from 109 
proposals submitted by national research firms, individual teachers and schools.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/counties/iredell/4126606.htm

Risky exercise for kids
Charlotte Observer
Several hundred thousand children across the country will participate next week in International Walk to 
School Day, but don't expect an overwhelming local turnout... "One option is to forbid them from 
walking. Another option is to do things to make it safer," says Charlie Zeeger, director of the Pedestrian 
and Bicycle Information Center at UNC Chapel Hill's Highway Safety Research Center.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/4126290.htm

Grant expands range of high-school studies
Winston-Salem Journal
For the first time, students at Elkin High School who want to take an Advanced Placement psychology 
course don't have to wait to see whether there are enough students to fill the class before it's scheduled... 
The online course is being taught through Learn N.C., a program offered through the education 
department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to help teachers statewide.
http://www.journalnow.com/wsj/MGBEP98SF6D.html

Union to weigh sewer authority
Charlotte Observer
Union County commissioners will consider at their Oct. 7 meeting a fundamental shift in the way the 
county's water and sewer systems are handled... Removing politics from water and sewer line 
decisions is one of the main reasons governments talk about creating such authorities, said Milton 
Heath, assistant director of the Institute of Government at UNC Chapel Hill. 
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/counties/union/4126670.htm

Issues and Trends Affecting Carolina

The Harvard Bully Pulpit (Editorial)
The Wall Street Journal
Harvard University President Lawrence Summers did something last week almost unheard of in the 
world of university heads. He said what was on his mind on an issue bound to inflame passions and 
he said it with clarity, precision and force. In a speech at Harvard's Memorial Church, Mr. Summers 
addressed the growth of anti-Semitism on American campuses, taking special note of the current effort 
of some faculty and students to get universities to end their investments in Israel. The push for 
divestment has been organized at some 40 campuses, including Harvard, M.I.T., Princeton and other 
illustrious institutions of higher education.
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1032828664491776873,00.html?mod=opinion%5Fmain%5Freview%5Fand%5Foutlooks
(Note: The Wall Street Journal requires a subscription to access articles)

10 days offer flexibility 
News and Observer
With no pay raises for the first time in 10 years and no state-paid retirement contribution for the first 
time ever, it should come as no surprise that some state employees are suspicious of a budget 
provision that grants them 10 days of paid vacation in lieu of more money. 
http://newsobserver.com/news/nc/story/1759840p-1770191c.html

Alumni information: For sale by schools 
News and Observer 
Like many N.C. State University graduates, Christopher E. Hunt is proud of his alma mater. He 
watches or listens to nearly every Wolfpack basketball and football game. His dresser is stuffed with 
a half-dozen ragged red-and-white T-shirts that he bought years ago but keeps as souvenirs of his 
college years... This year, the Triangle's four largest universities -- N.C. State, the University of 
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University and N.C. Central University --expect to rake in 
roughly $2 million through marketing agreements with a range of companies, including credit-card 
giants such as MBNA, insurance providers and jewelry stores.
http://newsobserver.com/business/story/1755094p-1765774c.html

Plan diverts tobacco money
Winston-Salem Journal
Leaders in the N.C. Senate intend to offer a proposal today to use at least $20 million a year from the 
state's tobacco settlement to pay for a $130 million cancer-research center, a $35 million biotechnology-
training center and a $10 million network of regional biotechnology-training centers... But health 
advocates have begun to question whether money to pay for the facilities - and particularly a new 
cancer center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -should come from dollars intended 
for the Health and Wellness Trust Fund.
http://www.journalnow.com/wsj/MGBNWJJ7H6D.html

UNCG faculty to donate money to staff 
Greensboro News and Record
We're all in this budget crunch together, guys, and the UNCG faculty is out to prove just that. The 
N.C. budget approved by the legislature Friday does not provide pay raises for state employees, so 
the university's faculty members are digging into their own pockets. They hope to raise $250,000 as 
a gift to the university's almost 1,000 staff members.
http://www.news-record.com/news/education/faculty22.htm

Chapel Hill council backs 3-lane road 
The Herald-Sun
Setting the stage for a final round of talks with state highway engineers, the Chapel Hill Town Council 
lined up Monday night behind a compromise plan to convert Weaver Dairy Road into a three-lane 
street. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-269986.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