uncnews.unc.edu

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

International Coverage

Take mental illness out of the Arizona debate
The Globe and Mail (Canada)
The shootings in Tucson once again have stirred debate over whether mental illness is linked to violence. ...“People with serious mental illness, without other big risk factors, are no more violent than most other people,” lead author of the U.S. study, Dr. Eric Elbogen of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, says. “Mental illness is not a strong predictor of violence by itself.”

National Coverage

Metal Tongue Piercings Linked to Raised Infection Risks
HealthDay News
If you're considering tongue piercing as a form of self-expression, know that new research suggests that whether the stud used is metal or plastic makes a difference when it comes to chances of infection. ...Yet, this accumulation of bacteria may not be the biggest worry, said Dr. Valerie Murrah, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "As an oral pathologist, I'm concerned with infections of the tongue," she said, noting the importance of sterile piercing techniques.

One in 12 Fans Leaves Major Sports Events Drunk: Study
HealthDay News
..."The study reminds us that heavy drinking at sporting events occurs and that this likely contributes to DWI accidents and injuries or even deaths," said Dr. James C. Garbutt, medical director of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. "Efforts to reduce this serious problem -- such as education, traffic stops around a stadium and not serving alcohol in the final portion of a game -- are of value."

State and Local Coverage

Researchers Closer To Creating Synthetic Blood
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
A group of UNC researchers is closer to realizing the capabilities of synthetic blood due to the findings of a recent study. UNC Professor of Chemistry Joe DeSimone says researchers have unlocked one of the secrets to creating a synthetic blend that could one day replace natural blood in certain situations.
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4200/74/

'Building Blitz' puts up houses in a hurry
The Chapel Hill News
...More than 280 UNC students, faculty and staff spent last weekend nailing up walls, lifting trusses and putting together the pieces for two houses for lower-income UNC employees and their families. The UNC Habitat group gives each volunteer one nail painted Carolina blue to use while assembling the exterior frame. As it's used among the dozens of others, the blue nail reinforces the message of unity behind each house.

Roses & raspberries (Editorial)
The Chapel Hill News
Roses to Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and the UNC student group that partners with it, for tackling a project even more ambitious than the ones Habitat customarily takes on. The UNC group and local Habitat chapter are in the midst of an initiative called Build a Block, a push to build 10 homes in 10 months.

UNC Fights To Keep Tuition On Campus
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
UNC officials are continuing talks with the General Assembly in an effort to rein in what could be a 10-15 percent budget cut next year, but there’s a secondary issue that may be equally important to the University’s immediate future. That’s the question of whether or not the General Assembly will reserve tuition money solely for University-related expenses. UNC officials fought hard last year to keep tuition money on campus, and while they were ultimately successful, some are concerned that this year might be a different story.

More work to do
The Chapel Hill News
...UNC Students for a Democratic Society used the holiday to call attention to the recent budget cuts and tuition hikes at the university. With another tuition increase planned for next year, many more students will be at a disadvantage, said Rachel Holtzman, a freshman from Durham. "In a time when it's already hard to access education, it's making it harder and creating more discrepancies," she said. "Most people don't realize that Martin Luther King Jr. was doing a lot of work against the war and reallocating that money to education."

Sip some warmth, but be mindful (Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Icy cold days may prompt you to reach for hot drinks - quick and easy hand warmers and cold weather comfort. Nothing wrong with that, but remember that what you drink can have a big impact on your overall diet. As you sip, consider the quality and calorie content of whatever is in your cup. (Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a registered dietitian and a clinical assistant professor in the department of health policy and administration in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.)

Heritage and belief (Letter to the Editor)
The Chapel Hill News
Here we go again! Every few years we have to listen to someone who is "offended" by the Confederate soldier statue (Silent Sam) on the UNC campus. Gerald Horne, an "activist," infers that the monument should be pulled down just as the statue of Saddam Hussein was in 2003 (Letters, CHN Jan. 5).

Issues and Trends

NCSU to cut degree programs
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
N.C. State University leaders announced a major reorganization Tuesday that will eliminate some degree programs and merge departments and possibly entire schools. Chancellor Randy Woodson said NCSU faces a cut of up to $80 million from its annual state budget allocation beginning with the next fiscal year. That loss is almost certainly permanent, and so large that the only way to prevent damage to the university's mission is to rethink its entire structure rather than simply telling every department to cut, Woodson said.
Related Link:
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/8961355/

Change needed in UNC system, but leaders must consider long-term impact (Editorial)
The Star News (Wilmington)
Barely missing a beat, the University of North Carolina’s brand-new system president says he has every intention of continuing former UNC President Erskine Bowles’ austerity example. But while Bowles focused mainly on trying to reduce costs at the administrative level, with little direct affect on students, President Tom Ross is turning his attention to academics – something that could mean drastic changes for students and branch campuses, including UNCW.

Brubaker will lead Appropriations panel (Under the Dome)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Former House Speaker Harold Brubaker will be the new chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Brubaker, an Asheboro real estate appraiser and cattle breeder served as speaker from 1995 to 1998, when the Republicans were last in control of the House. He has served in the House since 1977. Speaker-designate Thom Tillis of Cornelius also announced the appointment of Reps. Jeff Barnhart of Concord, Mitch Gillespie of Marion, and Linda Johnson of Kannapolis as appropriations chairmen responsible for overall budget planning.

Remembering Georgia Carroll Kyser
The Chapel Hill Herald
Once a Hollywood star and model known for her incredible beauty, Georgia Carroll Kyser is being remembered in Chapel Hill for her devotion to her family, the historic preservation of Chapel Hill and being a passionate supporter of the arts. Mrs. Kyser died Friday at the age of 91 in Chapel Hill. The family has planned a memorial service for Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. at Gerrard Hall on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed by a reception next door at Memorial Hall.