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The Broncos’ Voice, November 1993.
Biomedical Research Seminar Series: Home Boy
Dr. Kenneth Olden
by Kathleen Barron
On October 26, Biomedical Research
Program Seminar Series presented Dr.
Kenneth Olden to a standing-room-only
audience. His discussion was entitled: ‘The
Potential Importance of Swainsonine in
Therapy For Cancers and Immunology.”
Dr. Juliette Bell, Program Director for the
Biomedical Research Seminar, was in
strumental in bringing Dr. Olden to Fay
etteville State. Mr. Jim Scurry had previ
ously contacted Mr. Olden through The
Youth Motivational Task Force, but be
cause of schedule conflicts, he was unable
to come.
Dr. Olden, Director of the National
InstituteofEnvironmental Health Sciences
(NIEHS), is the first African-American to
become director of one of the National
Institutes of Health. He is a cell biologist
and biochemist by training and has been
active in research into the properties of cell
surface molecules and their possible roles
in cancer for more than a decade. Before
coming to NIEHS, he was director of the
Howard University Cancer Center and
professor and chairman of the Department
of Oncology at Howard University Medi
cal School. Dr. Olden’s recent research
i nterest, the anti-cancer drug Swainsonine,
was approved June 3,1991 to be placed on
the National Cancer Insitute's list of drugs
for “high priority development” for pos
sible clinical trials in humans. The drug is
proposed as a colony stimulating factor in
the treatment of cancer.
Born in poverty in Parrottsville, Ten
nessee on a farm in the segregated South,
Dr. Olden went on to earn his bachelor’s
degreee in biology from Knoxville Col
lege, his master's degree at the University
of Michigan, and his doctoral degree from
Temple University.
Dr. Olden has served on the editorial
boards of cancer and cell biology journals,
is a member of a number of professional
societies, and was named by President
Bush to the National Cancer Advisory
Board in January 1991. With his
knowledgable way of explaining technical
information for anyone to understand, he
is widely sought to be the invited speaker
at scientific symposia and seminars. He is
a reviewer for programs in his field and has
authored and co-authored more than 102
publications. He published two of the
“One Hundred Most Cited” papers in 1978-
79, and one on the subject of cancer cell
biology is now deemed a “Citation Clas
sic.”
At a luncheon sponsored in his honor
by the Office of Academic Affairs, Dr.
Olden explained a little of his philosophy
about his work. When being considered
for the job, he said, “If you hire me, I will
make it relative to the American people.”
His philosophy is that to serve the people,
he cannot sit in his offices in Bethesda,
Maryland and the Research Triangle Park.
He goes out to communities, colleges, fac
tories, and waste sites as a representative of
the National Environmental Research
Agency.
He said when he was asked if there
were characteristics that made him differ
ent from others, he felt it was his “stick-to-
itiveness” and a willingness to sacrifice.
He feels that those who have gotten ahead
should go back and help others. He takes
time to respond to students. His philoso
phy is to find out what the needs are and
what you can do. Pat Williams, a fall 1992
graduate and current research assistant in
the Biomed department at FSU, has first
hand experience after spending the sum
mer in an internship program working
with Dr. Olden.
Dr. Olden believes that we need to
implement programs to get kids turned on
and motivated. “We can generate kids who
are competitive..“You’ve got to involve
family, aunt, uncle, church, and public
schools.” What started out as an article in
a scientific journal expanded to the pro
gram calledK-12 Initiative. This program
is a trial one designed to make an impact on
education, particularly of “poorferm kids”.
Most current programs are for college-
level intervention. The problem is that
many students “wash out in college be
cause they do not have math skills”.
Another program is Environmental
Equity, which looks into health issues
where people live and work. People living
in an environment where industry is most
polluted are prone to have more diseases.
Lead poisoning is 35-40% higher in inner
cities. $28 million has been set aside to
spend over a five- year period on programs
to educate people about environmental
problems. “We are open to any innovative
ideas that solve health problems.”
When asked about passing more laws.
Dr. Olden said, “We have enough laws.
We do not have the committment to follow
guidelines.”
Makes Good:
The Rising Star of Jimmie
Green
By Roger A. Harris
It’s not often that you get to witness
the transformation of a close friend from
novice to star. The endless obstacles that
life puts in the way to test the spirit and
teach his soul the hard work, pain, and
tears that really don’t matter much at all
when he’s finally reached his goal. Those
feelings hit me fiill circle as I witnessed the
poetic, graceftil strength of James K. Green,
Ill’s performance as a member of Chuck
Davis’ African-American Dance En
semble.
As a young, impressionable boy of
eleven years, I looked up to and respected
Jimmy, my next door neighbor. He always
had an encouraging, kind wordand friendly
advice for a rather odd brother who liked to
write. He would sometimes read my writ
ings and correct them, telling me how to
make them better. He was an adopted
brother to my family, and we loved him.
In Fayetteville, Jimmy was one of the
best dancers in the area, as well as an
outstanding basketball player. When he
told everyone he wanted to be a dancer, the
taunting and jeers that followed were un
ceasingly cruel. He never really let on
about the pain and anguish those taunts
caused him, but I could see it in his eye—
feel it in my heart as well. He would get
really serious when he told me “never give
Continued on next page
So you wanna' be famous? If you
are committed to preventing
alcohol problems on campus,
read on...
The U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Preven
tion (CSAP) announces the 2nd National
College Prevention Materials Competition
for college students and student organiza
tions. Winners will receive cash prizes, and
winning entries will be published nationwide. The
materials must be designed to prevent alcohol problems
among college students. Categories include: video
production, radio public service announcement, print
public service announcement, "special issue" newspaper,
poster, prevention booklet or handbook, and specialty
item.
Entries will be judged for effectiveness, appropriateness.
design and layout, and scientific accuracy. Entries must
be received by February 1, 1994 and must include
an official entry/release form. To obtain an
entry kit. contact your school's alcohol
and drug coordinator, or call 1-800-
729-6686, extension 5992.
FSU Student Accepted to
Fellows Program
from news release
In a news release from the Office of
Public Relations, it was reported that
Zacques Gray, ajunioratFayetteville State
University, has been accepted as afellow in
the National Association of Student Per
sonnel Administrators' Minority Under
graduate Fellows Program. Mrs. Olivia
Chavis, an Associate Vice Chancellor for
Student Affairs at FSU, will serve as his
mentor.
Zacques, a native of Rocky Mount, is
majoring in social science education. Mr.
Gray said “I am very excited and honored
to be accepted as a fellow. This program
will benefit me later in life because this is
something that I want to do.”
The program is a two-year profes
sional experience that is offered to high
achieving minority undergraduates. The
mission of the program is to increase the
number of minorities involved in student
affairs and higlier education. It was de
signed to provide participants with knowl
edge, insight, and understanding of the
opportunities available.
As a fellow, Zacques will gain experi
ence under his mentor's guidance by work
ing on campus committees to implement
programs and culturally enriching events
sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs.
Zacques is currently holding the Of
fice of Program Director for the Student
Government Association. He felt he was
chosen because of his academic success
and his work as an orientation leader and
as a resident assistant.
“I would encourage other students to
participate in the MUFP if they are seri
ously considering working in student af
fairs as a career. They will receive many
benefits by becoming a fellow.”