uncnews.unc.edu

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

International Coverage

Stretching exercises may protect against preeclampsia
The Tehran Times (Iran)
Contrary to previous research, a new study says that stretching may be more effective than walking or rigorous exercise at reducing the risk of preeclampsia in certain women. The findings, by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, apply only to women who were not physically active before becoming pregnant and who have experienced preeclampsia before.
UNC News Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/health-and-medicine/stretching-exercises-may-reduce-
risk-of-preeclampsia-during-pregnancy.html

National Coverage

U. of North Carolina Lets Professors Ease Their Way Into Retirement
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Lawrence L. Kupper, a biostatistics professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been a faculty member there since 1970. But after nearly 40 years of teaching and research in the School of Public Health, Mr. Kupper sees retirement in his future — June 2010, to be exact. Last July he entered "phased retirement": a university program that lets him work half time with benefits, in return for giving up tenure.

Confidence begins at home, execs say
Financial Week
Many of the nation's financial executives aren't buying the gloom and doom outlook for the economy, at least where their own organizations are concerned. ...And while 57% of them said they were pessimistic or very pessimistic about the prospects for the nation's economy this year, roughly equal to their views of last quarter, 45% said they were optimistic or very optimistic about their own company's prospects, according to the survey, conducted for the AICPA by the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School.

My America 2008 — Medicare: Blessing or Bureaucracy?
"Tavis Smiley Show" Public Radio International
Dr. Jonathan Oberlander, professor of Social Medicine and Health Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was part of a discussion with two other panelists for an ongoing series, My America 2008. This was the series’ 6th installment which focused on the medicare system. Dr Oberlander appeared in Hour Two.
Note: This interview was taped in the Carolina News Studio.

Volunteering GIS and Google Earth Content for Humanitarian Relief in Myanmar (Blog)
Google Earth Blog
Scott Madry, a professor at the University of North Carolina, best known in the Google Earth (GE) world for his moniker as the Armchair Archeologist, actually has skills in many disciplines. ...Recently he was contacted to help with projects in Myanmar to help humanitarian relief efforts understand the situation in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.

New Book Asks: Where's God While We Suffer? (Book Review)
The Huffington Post (New York, N.Y.)
Books by three atheists created a firestorm last year. ...That's the fate, so far at least, of Bart A. Ehrman, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina. Author of more than 20 books, Professor Ehrman is an expert on early Christianity and the life of Jesus.

Regional Coverage

The elements of Obama's successful campaign
Cox News Service
It was fleeting — just 30 seconds — in Barack Obama's long campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. But it heralded the turning point in his vanquishing the "inevitable" Hillary Clinton. ..."We are as a nation a polarized society, but emotionally, we the 'e pluribus' yearn for the 'unum,'" said Ferrel Guillory of the Center for the Study of the American South at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Health Disparities conference draws crowd
The Business Press (Fort Worth, Texas)
Sessions at the Texas Conference on Health Disparities sparked some serious — and occasionally heated — discussions about topics that are just as sensitive in other areas as in the health care industry. ...Jay Kaufman, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, gave the first presentation, followed by Michael Miller, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota.

Radiation consortium targeted
The Detroit Free Press (Michigan)
The Economic Alliance for Michigan has solicited opinions from three national cancer radiation experts who support a Michigan proposal to restrict the construction of a costly, high-tech, proton-beam radiation center to six hospital systems working in a consortium. ...The other two cancer experts supporting the consortium approach are Dr. Robert Lee, oncology professor at the Duke University School of Medicine and Dr. Joel Tepper, oncology professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

'80s musical differences fade out (Column)
The Journal-Gazette (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
When I first heard that Billy Idol was opening for Def Leppard this summer, I thought it was a case of commerce making strange bedfellows. ...“I do think the characteristics that distinguish music genres and particular artists become less apparent as time passes,” says Mark Katz, an assistant professor in the music department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

State and Local Coverage

Cystic fibrosis treatment could prolong lives
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
After years of research and regulatory setbacks, Inspire Pharmaceuticals finally has what looks like a winner: a cystic fibrosis drug that could change the course of the disease. ...But Dr. Michael Knowles, a director of the cystic fibrosis center at UNC-Chapel Hill, said the drug "could be a paradigm shift in the way cystic fibrosis is treated."

A sound beach policy, threatened once again (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
I have been reassured that the coastal islands and marshes will be there to enjoy in the future, thanks to the state's foresighted Coastal Management Act (CAMA). This 1974 law set up a regulatory program based on the science of the natural processes that shape the coast -- winds, waves, tides and erosion. (David R. Godschalk is professor emeritus of city and regional planning at UNC-Chapel Hill.)

Bordering on the ridiculous (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The Chapel Hill Herald
In this election year, illegal immigration looms large as a political issue across the board. If you don't believe me, just listen to the presidential pretenders, I mean contenders, or to Tom Tancredo or Lou Dobbs. (Peter A. Coclanis is Associate Provost for International Affairs and Albert R. Newsome Professor of History at UNC Chapel Hill.0

Open up chancellor selection (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Holden Thorp's selection as chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill provides more evidence of why searches for the top jobs at UNC campuses should be open. Thorp, 43, is a Fayetteville native who did his undergraduate work at Chapel Hill and returned there to teach in 1993. He has been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for the past year.

Teen cell phone ban appears to have fallen on deaf ears
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
A new traffic safety study suggests that North Carolina teenagers have not paid much attention to a state law that bans cell phone use by drivers under 18. ..."It looks like there wasn't really any change in cell phone use after this restriction took effect," said Robert D. Foss, a senior research scientist with the Highway Safety Research Center at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Related Link:
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/state/6-957371.cfm

Job market works against teens
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
...The director of career placement services at UNC-Chapel Hill encourages students to apply for summer internships months before they begin, even if they have to move out of town and pay living expenses. That's especially true in the current economy. "There are companies that are delaying entry-level hiring in a downturn and hiring more interns because they can be terminated at the end of the summer," said the director, Marcia Harris.

More students learning Chinese in school
The Independent-Tribune (Kannapolis)
A.L. Brown High School will offer Mandarin Chinese classes in the fall through a distance learning partnership with the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham. ...These courses are being developed by LEARN NC, a program of UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Education, and will be offered through the North Carolina Virtual Public School.

Immigrants skeptical of program
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
With three more North Carolina sheriff's departments set to begin enforcing immigration law, Hispanics, advocates and academics came together Friday to express deep reservations about the practice. ...Hannah Gill, assistant director of the Institute for the Study of the Americas at UNC-Chapel Hill, said she has spent a year researching the program.

Carey named to scholar society
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Lisa Carey, associate professor of medicine in the UNC School of Medicine and medical director of the UNC Breast Center, has been inducted into the Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars. Carey, one of 15 new inductees, was honored at a recent ceremony at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She was recognized for her work with UNC colleagues to identify and tailor treatment for molecular subtypes of breast cancer.
UNC News Brief:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/health-and-medicine/dr.-lisa-carey-inducted-
into-johns-hopkins-society-of-scholars.html

Lauterer picked to represent NNA
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The National Newspaper Association has named UNC professor Jock Lauterer its point person on community journalism for the trade association's nationwide membership primarily of non-daily newspapers. Lauterer is a lecturer in community journalism and news writing at the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he directs the Carolina Community Media Project, the school's outreach program to 192 small North Carolina newspapers.
UNC News Brief:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/campus-and-community/unc-professor-to-lead-
community-journalism-efforts.html

David Noel gives back
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
...And we'd be selling ourselves short, according to former Southern High School standout David Noel. "It's only like that if you think less of yourself," said Noel, who was with the Milwaukee Bucks this past season and played in Spain. This Durham son was one of the main men at UNC, in the starting lineup for the Tar Heels.

Passing through
The Chapel Hill News
...But even Scott Adams' endurance is no match for that of the people for whom he runs. ...The 18-day "Run North Carolina" fundraiser started in the mountain town of Murphy for Adams, who works as information technology director of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science.
Related Link:
http://www.wchl1360.com/details.html?id=7045

UNC Public Safety Issues Pedestrian Warning
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
Pedestrian safety at the intersection of Manning Drive and South Colombia Street is the subject of a warning recently issued by UNC's Department of Public Safety. Randy Young with UNC Public Safety said a new fence was erected on the northeast corner at the intersection of Manning and South Columbia that makes it harder for motorists and pedestrians to see the flow of traffic.

Franklin organizes Human Trafficking Awareness Week
The Citizen-Times (Asheville)
The Town of Franklin passed a resolution declaring the week of June 9 to be Human Trafficking Awareness week. Other events are also planned. ...The Zonta Club of Franklin, The 30th Judicial District Sexual Assault Alliance, Mountain Area Health Education Center, REACH of Macon County, the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing, and Hunton & Williams, LLP, are sponsoring the seminar.

UNC journalism students honored
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
UNC journalism students Jennifer Carpenter, Mark Olexik, Adam Rhew and Walter Storholt earned national honors in the Society of Professional Journalists 2007 Mark of Excellence Awards.
UNC News Brief:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/students/unc-journalism-students-honored-by-
society-of-professional-journalists.html

Tax time is the right time to ask hard questions (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The Chapel Hill News
It would be unconscionable to raise property taxes this year and a lot of elected officials probably feel the same way. ...An article in the March 3 Daily Tar Heel dealt with a study asking a similar question: "Should UNC-CH admit 1,000's more students?" Preliminary results showed that "the more students admitted, the lower their overall standards." Steve Farmer, director of undergraduate admissions, said, "If the quality of the (UNC-CH) experience starts to decline, we reach a spiral where we can't attract the top kids."
Related Link:
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/opinion/columnists/guests_ch/110-957160.cfm

Issues and Trends

Legislature doesn't want to make sweeping changes
The Associated Press
Eight summers ago, the Democratic-led General Assembly faced the start of a budget crisis and a critical election as they entered the "short" session in Raleigh. ...In 2006, they passed a historic overhaul of lobbying and ethics rules. In 2000, the two chambers and Hunt got behind a $3.1 billion debt package for University of North Carolina and community college system buildings - still a record amount.

Hiring isn't in full gear yet at Research Campus
The Salisbury Post
As the N.C. Research Campus prepares to open this summer, more people hope to land a job at the biotech complex. ...N.C. State, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC-Charlotte have permanent directors in Kannapolis.

First-year teacher ready for next
The Chapel Hill Herald
A swarm of fourth-graders trails behind Casie Cannady everywhere she goes. ...As a student at UNC, Cannady was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and majored in elementary education. Last year, as a senior, Cannady student-taught at Cameron Park. She said that those hours in the classroom offered invaluable experience and that she would have been lost without the honest feedback from her mentors at the school and UNC

Cost of cruisin' curbs teens' freedom
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
...In interviews, students at Clayton and Cary high schools and UNC-Chapel Hill talked about how they cope with new constraints on core freedoms that are wrapped up in their cars and the little money they control from allowances and part-time jobs.