uncnews.unc.edu

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

International Coverage

Animals use magnetic sense to navigate: Scientists
Times of India
... Kenneth Lohmann, a biology professor at the University of North Carolina who studies animals' magnetic sense, said the findings have ramifications beyond the realm of rainbow trout. "If the authors are correct that the magnetite they have found is involved in detecting magnetic fields (which seems likely), then... this might have important implications for how other animals perceive magnetic fields," Lohmann said.

A pill for men? No, they just need a jab in the bottom
Daily Mail (United Kingdom)
... Researchers at the University of North Carolina have shown this works on rats and monkeys. ‘Further studies are required to determine how long the contraceptive effect lasts and if it is safe to use multiple times,’ says Dr James Tsuruta, from the university.

National Coverage

Migration explained? Likely source of animals' magnetic sense identified
Fox News
Researchers have isolated what are essentially tiny compass needles in the noses of rainbow trout that may explain these and many other animals' incredible ability to navigate across vast distances. ... Kenneth Lohmann, a distinguished professor of biology at the University of North Carolina who studies animals' magnetic sense, said the new results have ramifications beyond the realm of rainbow trout.

Retooling Teach For America (Opinion-Editorial)
The Los Angeles Times
... According to a recent news release, TFA is now the top employer of graduating seniors from schools such as Yale, UC Berkeley, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Howard University.

Suspect UNC courses had no classroom time
UPI
Many courses offered under a former department chairman at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill had no classroom or class time, officials said. The university found that in 38 courses Julius Nyang'oro, the former chairman of the African and Afro-American Studies department, had been responsible for over five summers, a substantial portion of the students in the courses were athletes, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported.

State and Local Coverage

UNC: Warming seawater reason for decline in coral growth
The Triangle Business Journal
Marine scientists at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill have concluded that the Caribbean forereef corals may have slowed down its growth because of the warming seawater. The study was published in the latest issue of Nature Climate Change journal.
UNC Release: http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/5427/74/

Property market still running below tax values
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
...UNC School of Government professor Chris McLaughlin and local real estate agent Steve Nicewarner both said the key factor in declines seen here and in other counties, aside from the recession, was the timing of a community’s most recent tax assessment.

Chapel Hill website connects students with odd jobs
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
...The company charges a flat rate of $25 an hour, and students are paid $14 an hour, plus tip. About 250 “Sweepers” from UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State University and four other universities worked in the Triangle in 2011, up from 75 Sweepers when the firm launched in 2010. This year, Sweeps will expand into Charlotte, Wilmington and the Triad.

NCAA lawyers seek to dismiss lawsuit by former UNC football player McAdoo
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Lawyers representing the NCAA have filed a brief supporting the dismissal of the lawsuit that former North Carolina football player Michael McAdoo filed after the NCAA ruled him permanently ineligible amid the university’s multi-faceted NCAA investigation.
Related Links: http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/19245991/article-NCAA-attempts-to-have-McAdoo-case-dismissed
http://www.chapelboro.com/UNC-NCAA-Wants-McAdoo-Appeal-Dismissed/13671229

Here is the breakdown of athletes, former athletes and nonathletes in the UNC academic fraud case
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
As our Sunday story reported, we now have the data from UNC-Chapel Hill regarding how many former athletes were among the students enrolled in the 54 suspect classes in the academic fraud case. The former athletes bring the total percentage of athlete enrollments in the classes to 64 percent, or nearly two of every three seats.
Related Link: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/07/09/3372466/fraud-disclosures-cast-pall-on.html

Jailed UNC prof awaits ruling
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
A salary dispute between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a physics professor imprisoned in Argentina remains unresolved. In a hearing Monday morning, Judge Carl Fox of the Orange County Superior Court granted the university’s request to move the hearing to Aug. 13. UNC has not yet responded to the complaint filed by attorney Barry Nakell, who represents the professor, Paul Frampton.

Issues and Trends

Professors and Online Learning (Opinion)
Inside Higher Ed
Inside Higher Ed’s survey about faculty views of online education is on point. Since I had participated by filling out the survey, I was curious about its findings. My interest surged after reading the related article by Steve Kolowich -- who noted that for professors “the rise of online education excites them more than it frightens them.” According to the survey’s composite data, I fit the profile of Academic Everyman. So, to flesh out the statistical bones, here are some observations by an archetypal Old Prof who wonders as he wanders through the new terrain of distance learning.