uncnews.unc.edu

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

National Coverage

Twitter rewrites the script for political conventions
USA Today
...If the Twitter mix is more negative than positive for one of the conventions or candidates, the only strategy for the parties and campaigns is to tweet more, says Daniel Kreiss, a University of North Carolina political scientist who has written a book about the development of social media and campaigns. "You stay on message. You have a set of things to say and you have a set of information that you put out there," Kreiss says. "The only other option is not to have any social media at all."

Middle Ages Man (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The Wall Street Journal
Where did he come up with such a nutty idea? Leave it to this column to answer the rhetorical question everyone is asking. ..."Leading experts on reproductive health . . . dismissed this logic," the Times reports. David Grimes, an OB/GYN prof at the University of North Carolina, tells the paper: "To suggest that there's some biological reason why women couldn't get pregnant during a rape is absurd."

Where Do Politicians Get Medical Misinformation?
Discovery News
Earlier this week Congressman Todd Akin stated that a woman's body has ways of preventing impregnation following a "legitimate rape." ...Dr. David Grimes, a clinical professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina, said, that 'to suggest that there's some biological reason why women couldn’t get pregnant during a rape is absurd.'"

Regional Coverage

Is 'Forcible' Better than 'Legitimate'?
The Jackson Free Press (Mississippi)
Unless you've been hiding from everything electronic this week, you've heard about Rep. Todd Akin, a six-term Republican from Missouri, making comments about rape last weekend. ..."To suggest that there's some biological reason why women couldn't get pregnant during a rape is absurd," Dr. David Grimes, a clinical professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina told the Times.

State and Local Coverage

UNC enrolls 3,928 in freshman class
WNCN-TV (NBC/Raleigh)
The University of North Carolina announced statistics Wednesday on the freshman class, with 3,928 students beginning class out of a record 29,507 applicants. UNC said the students come from 97 North Carolina counties, 43 states and 29 countries.

How we at UNC are fixing academic problems (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The Charlotte Observer
When we learned about possible irregularities in some African and Afro-American Studies department courses at UNC-Chapel Hill, we investigated. We asked hard questions, and we found answers that are painful for a university built on a commitment to academic excellence. (Holden Thorp is chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill.)
Related Links:
http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/19893156/article-Steps-taken-to-
restore-confidence-in-UNC?instance=search_results
http://www.wral.com/asset/news/local/2012/08/22/11456254/
Thorp_Column_Restoring_confidence.pdf

The banjo tells its complicated interracial tale
The Independent Weekly
...This weekend, The Southern Folklife Collection at UNC celebrates the banjo with a day of performances and talks entitled "The Banjo: Southern Roots, American Branches." It begins with a symposium and exhibition on the instrument's African origins, playing styles and cultural significance and culminates with performances at Memorial Hall.

UNC To Give Students A Second Chance At Free Goodies And Information
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
UNC students won’t go without free swag after this year’s FallFest was cancelled due to inclement weather earlier this week. Organizations will set up Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., handing out information as well as free goodies. The Carolina Union is also arranging space to be set up this week and next week for organizations to present their information to students.

PlayMakers offers more open-captioned performances
The News of Orange County
Open captioning returns for selected shows in the 2012-2013 season of PlayMakers Repertory Company, the professional theater in residence in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “It’s like closed captioning on your TV—but in the theater,” Hannah Grannemann, PlayMakers managing director, said.

We’ll earn it (Letter to the Editor)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
For the first time in four years, the N.C. General Assembly has a allocated a pay raise for university faculty and staff. As the newly appointed chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UNC Chapel Hill, and a steward of the funds entrusted to us, I want to thank the people of North Carolina for their commitment to higher education. We will endeavor to be worthy of your trust. (J. Christopher Clemens, Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill)

Butch Davis' work-related cell phone records will be made public, judge rules
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Lawyers representing former UNC football coach Butch Davis and a consortium of media companies seeking his cellphone records have reached an agreement that will make his university-related calls public.
Related Link:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/sports&id=8783024

Public Meeting Tonight On UNC Animal Research Facility
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
Tonight, state regulators from the NC Division of Water Quality will hold a public meeting to discuss UNC’s bid to expand its wastewater system at its Animal Research Facility on Orange Chapel Clover Garden Road in southwestern Orange County.

Issues and Trends

Some students not able to return to college
The Winston-Salem Journal
Higher tuition costs and changes to financial-aid programs have resulted in a big jump in registration cancellations, according to officials at some area colleges. UNC Greensboro canceled the registrations of about 1,300 students nearly two weeks ago because they had not paid their tuition bills.

UNSCA's Fighting Pickle is the big cheese
The Winston-Salem Journal
In what is being touted as a very big dill, the Fighting Pickle, the beloved yet underworked mascot of the UNC School of the Arts, has been named the cheesiest college mascot by Chester Cheetah of Cheetos fame. ...Rameses the Ram from UNC Chapel Hill was No. 15.
Related Link:
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/morning_call/2012/08/is-unc-mascot-ramses-cheesy.html