Viewpoint: No matter what advertising David Horowitz buys, Palestinians will never sell their identity
Maybe my grandmother was lying to me when she told me that she was driven from her home in Palestine.
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Maybe my grandmother was lying to me when she told me that she was driven from her home in Palestine.
As part of the broader effort to stimulate the nation’s struggling economy, 13 UNC projects have received nearly $11.8 million from the National Institutes of Health’s Challenge Grants to tackle scientific and health-related challenges. The two-year grants, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be used to provide salaries for research faculty and expand the resources of projects aimed at bridging knowledge gaps and benefiting society.One project, which will receive nearly $873,000 over two years, is focused on discovering small molecules that can be used to explore the biology of chromatin — the protein that makes up chromosomes. The project could hold broad implications, including discovering new therapies for cancer and metabolic diseases.Stephen Frye, the principal investigator for one of the 13 selected projects, said the grant has allowed him to retain staff and cover research costs in the face of budget cuts.“We really would not be able to continue our research without this funding,” he said. “It is definitely going to accelerate our process.” The Health, Opportunity, Partnerships and Empowerment Accounts project, led by nutrition professor Marci Campbell, received $954,000 and aims to provide support groups for women dealing with weight loss, financial problems and poverty.“The Challenge Grant will help us build resources because, before now, we haven’t had any actual resources,” she said.Campbell said the grant will help women create savings accounts within the program. The women will receive matching funds through their accounts to put toward furthering their education, purchasing a home or creating a business.“You can talk the talk, and it is good to have a budget, but without the ability to get a loan or get help with savings, it is hard for women to make a difference,” she said.The 13 projects at UNC were among nearly 250 selected nationally from a competitive pool of more than 20,000 applicants.“That’s a one percent success rate,” Frye said. “We feel very fortunate to have received one of the grants, and we’re certainly going to make the most of it.”Unlike most stimulus funding grants, which create new projects and programs, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Andy Johns said the Challenge Grants provide financial assistance for established projects in need of further funding for expansion. Johns said the grants are largely a testament to the quality of UNC’s research, which has been steadily growing over the years.“When you’re competing with so many universities, we thought we would be lucky to receive five, or even fewer than that,” he said. Johns said he hopes the 13 projects will outlast their two-year grants.“We hope they will produce significant results in themselves but that they also serve as launching pads for Carolina to continue these projects beyond the funding and to expand our portfolio of research,” he said.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Despite a rainy week that could have dampened recruitment efforts, UNC Dance Marathon recruiters met their goal of signing up 1,600 dancers last week.And on Friday, the group had one more spot to fill — a band to perform.Three groups battled it out to benefit N.C. Children’s Hospital as flashing lights and rhythmic beats drew enthusiastic dancers to Players for Dance Marathon.The annual Battle of the Bands not only helped Dance Marathon’s fundraising efforts for the hospital, but also allowed dancers to choose one of the bands that will perform at the 24-hour dance event on Feb. 19 and 20.“It’s a cool way for people to give input on what they are going to be seeing and hearing at the marathon,” said Kate Gillam, publicity chairwoman for Dance Marathon.Three local bands — Vintage Fresh, Carolina Blues and Thelonious Funk — competed for the approval of the dancers.With the highest total score of the night, Carolina Blues walked away as the winner, reserving a spot to perform at Dance Marathon in front of an expected crowd of 1,600 dancers.“Dance Marathon is great, and it is for a great cause. The opportunity came to us, so we went for it,” said Carolina Blues band member Ryan Watts.Crowd members rated each band on a scale of one to 10, and were given the opportunity to submit their scores on a $1 bill for their vote to count twice or a $5 bill for their vote to count 5 times.The band Tripp kicked off the competition, but had already secured a spot to play in February, thanks to their frequent wins in the past.All proceeds from the event’s cover charge and the money included with the votes will go toward the final fundraising total in February.“It was a big success and I was excited that the bands brought in people who were not involved with Dance Marathon, which was a positive,” said Mary Laurence McMillan, the entertainment chairwoman for Dance Marathon.Crowd members said they were excited for the opportunity to decide who performs at Dance Marathon.“We are going to be dancing for 24 hours, so it might as well be to a band I like,” said freshman Heather Sims, who signed up to dance this week.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Four freshmen, two at UNC and two at Duke, will be invited this spring to join the Robertson Scholars Program for the remainder of their undergraduate experience.Now in its 10th year, the program will open its entry to current UNC and Duke freshmen to create new avenues into the program, which directors see as a leadership development tool at both schools.The move is unusual because most merit scholarship programs similar to the Robertson are designed as recruitment tools.“Because we see ourselves as a leadership development program instead of a recruitment program, we want to open our opportunities to current undergraduates,” said Tony Brown, president of the Robertson Scholars Program.The program seeks to increase collaboration between the two universities by offering full tuition, living stipends, laptop computers and access to numerous resources for a select group of students. This year, 29 new students enrolled as scholars.Scholars spend most of their time on one campus, but live on the other campus during the second semester of their sophomore year. They are also required to take a certain number of hours on each campus. The new freshman scholars will be funded by the same $24 million gift that started the program. They will be recognized as full scholars.“We realize that there are phenomenal students at UNC and Duke who can benefit the program, and one of the main focuses for the applications will be on their adaptation to campus life and engagement during their first semester of college,” said Margi Strickland the program’s assistant director of external relations.Freshman Robertson Scholar Caitlin Nettleton, who currently takes classes at UNC, said her class is excited to welcome and integrate the new students. “We were kind of surprised at first because that hadn’t been an element before,” she said. “I have definitely seen a lot of people at Carolina who can rise to the challenge and would be a great addition to our community.”Strickland said all freshmen are invited to apply and are welcome to attend interest meetings between Nov. 9 and Nov. 19.“It is great that they are giving us the chance to apply and are looking at our experiences at UNC, because we definitely have more opportunity here,” said freshman Erin Walker, who said she is interested in applying.Brown said the new change is open to revisions in the future as they learn from the experience and get feedback.“It is very likely that the first-years will become a normal addition to the high school cohort, and that we may even increase the number of first-year scholars we invite, but we will have to see things work out this year,” Brown said.“We do not know if we will get 100 applications, or 500, and we don’t know if it is going to work better, but we are eager to do it, learn from it, shape it, and make it even better,” he said. Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
In an effort to promote change and voter participation within their community, the Black Student Movement on Wednesday took steps toward spreading political awareness.With the Nov. 3 elections approaching, the political action committee of BSM, presented a “Vote & Vote Smart” program to encourage political participation among a community that they said typically has low voter participation.The group presented the event in conjunction with the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the group United with the Northside Community Now.Political action committee co-chair Ellen Louis said she hopes the local black community will feel empowered to vote.“Our message that we want to get across is that it is important to have a stake in community affairs, and that we can potentially promote change in our underrepresented areas like the Northside community,” she said.Delores Bailey, executive director of EmPOWERment, an agency that promotes empowerment within the black community in Orange County, said students should vote in the election to further the goals of the black community.“You do not realize how close we are to an extinction of the black community in Chapel Hill and Carrboro,” she said. “Voting is truly where our power is.”Presenters at the event discussed the different candidates’ political leanings and stances on community issues to help voters become more informed.But the political action committee did not endorse candidates, opting to allow voters to make their own choices.“I definitely feel more encouraged to vote because I feel more informed,” said junior BSM member Courtney Spain. “I had always seen different signs around campus, and now I feel more empowered to actually vote and do my own research.”The program featured a number of community speakers to highlight the often undervalued importance of local elections.“All politics are local and you will not know that until it affects you, and you do not want it to affect you,” said speaker Kevin Hicks, founding member of Parents and Children Together, an organization aimed to advocate for the children of Chapel Hill.“You want to affect it.” Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
UNC might not be able to prevent hurricanes or major storms, but it is developing a plan to respond more effectively to disasters.A draft of the UNC Hazard Mitigation Plan, which evaluates the campus’ vulnerability to natural hazards and proposes recommendations for addressing them, states that high winds could present a great threat to outdated campus buildings.James Porto, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, presented the plan — which focuses on speeding the recovery phases following hazardous events and protecting the University community — to administrators Friday.Porto said the plan’s main focus is response to natural hazards, including tornados, droughts, thunderstorms, hurricanes and flooding. Based on historical patterns, the plan lists tropical storms, winter storms and thunderstorms as the most common risks facing UNC. The planning team highlighted these threats because campus is highly forested and composed of many multistory buildings.“The practice of locating equipment on flat roof structures, the older construction of some buildings, the extensive use of signage throughout campus — all suggested that conducting a detailed assessment of the most significant structures against a high wind event was the most effective use of available resources,” the plan states.While campus structures are designed to withstand natural hazards, many were built under less stringent construction codes, which makes them more vulnerable to severe weather.The plan includes recommendations to prevent significant damage, such as inspections of roofs, electrical systems and drainage.Tornadoes, mudslides, dam failure, earthquakes and droughts are described as less likely. Meteor impact, tsunamis and volcanic activity were not considered likely enough to warrant a write-up.UNC created the plan after it received $339,088 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2006. Ron Campbell, the coordinator of emergency management, said the plan will help the University prepare for severe weather.“It comes down to the bottom line of prevention and safety,” he said. “Overall it is going to save dollars and lives.”While the report focuses on disasters, Porto said UNC is still a safe place, especially relative to other areas.“We have a good campus, and overall I think we are in one of the safest places in the state,” he said. Other University officials at the public review applauded the plan. “I think it’s a great job. We’ve been thinking about it and it is now formulating, putting a methodology behind the process,” said Mary Beth Koza, director of the Department of Environment, Health and Safety.Porto said he hopes the Hazard Mitigation Plan will ensure campus buildings and infrastructure are regularly inspected and updated.“This plan is by no means supposed to be a dead-end stop,” he said.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Any lecture titled “Sex Lies & Online Video: From Howell Hall to Hulu,” is bound to capture audience interest. And on Wednesday, Hulu CEO Jason Kilar did just that.A die-hard UNC fan and proud alumnus, Kilar returned to Gerrard Hall to discuss not only the impact of modern media on customer satisfaction, but also his own adventures at UNC. Kilar, invited by UNC’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication to deliver the Roy H. Park Distinguished lecture, broke his talk up into three parts: his adventure, media and “your adventure.”As an executive at Amazon during the company’s early years, Kiler worked to expand the business online as the Internet grew in popularity.In 2007, after working at Amazon for 10 years, Kiler was named CEO of Hulu, an online video service offering clips of popular television shows and movies.Explaining his own adventure at UNC, Kiler said he took advantage of every aspect of what the University had to offer, from academics to athletics.“Try to soak up everything,” he said. “Feast on the experience that is Carolina and make sure that you get the whole package.”A determined student, Kiler said he persistently followed his passions, getting his hands on anything that dealt with media.Kiler also took time to understand the history of media and its current condition.He explained that more video footage has been uploaded on YouTube in the last two months than new content aired by the major television networks since 1948.“His talk really crystallized for me the idea that traditional media is already dying, if not already dead,” said junior Alletta Cooper.Kiler also said the emergence of online media has helped Hulu focus on consumer satisfaction. “It is all about the customer. The Internet is simply a tool to deliver a much better customer experience,” he said.Freshman Jessica Roux said she was impressed by the company’s attention to consumer interest.“The talk was really informative, and I never recognized how much Hulu focused on a consumer and advertisement aspect.”Kiler said he hopes one day consumers will be able to choose what advertisement they would like to see on the computer screen.“Media is going to be in real time,” he said.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
One eccentric emcee, one masked judge and more than 300 audience members filled Memorial Hall with applause Friday for the “Seniors Got Talent” show.
The doors for a new age in cancer care have opened.The N.C. Cancer Hospital held an open house for the public Saturday, opening its spacious, brightly lit halls for medical professionals, community members and cancer survivors.Visitors stressed how the building’s design and the program’s new resources will revolutionize the way cancer is treated in North Carolina and on the East Coast.The hospital — which officials hail as a symbol of the quality of care offered — is the clinical home of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Care Center, an interdisciplinary group that studies how to best treat cancer.With the completion of construction earlier this year, the hospital is now returning to full operation.The cancer hospital was dedicated on Sept. 15, but the open house gave visitors an opportunity to tour the facility.As visitors explored the hospital’s many facets, including a photography exhibit titled “The New Face of Cancer Care,” they said the hospital had surpassed expectations.Mary Sigmon, who arrived in a shirt with the word “survivor” in all caps, said the hospital featured a new, healthier atmosphere. “I remember when I was in the old hospital for 12 days in isolation. All I could see out of the window was buildings. It was dark and depressing,” Sigmon said.“Now, with all the windows and light, it is so spacious.”As a melanoma cancer survivor, Sigmon said she is required to return every six months for check-ups. With new space and the opportunity to broaden resources, staff members said the hospital will provide better long-term care for patients like Sigmon. Liz Sherwood, coordinator for UNC cancer survivorship programs, explained that in the past, patients were generally diagnosed, treated and then immediately discharged.She said one of the hospital’s goals is to better monitor the health of patients who have already been treated. “With the new focus on survivorship surveillance, we’re interested in finding the new normal for long-term survivors,” she said. “We want to stress advocacy for folks as they finish treatment so they know what they can do to have a better life.”Opportunities provided under Carolina Well, the UNC-Lineberger cancer survivorship program, also include support programs, broadened clinics and consults for cancer survivors. “The room and ability to expand resources is tremendous,” said Ellen de Graffenreid, director of communications and marketing. “This will only serve to catalyze more interest in what we have to offer.” And these efforts are not going unnoticed by local residents.“I had been coming to the old center for two years with my husband, meeting new staff and faculty,” said Chapel Hill resident Jewel Hoogstoel.“This hospital will be a great resource to have — a great resource for the East Coast.”Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.