2 Tuesday, November 23,1993 3 Groups Raise $60,000 For Habitat for Humanity BYMARISSA JONES STAFF WRITER Three Chapel Hill organizations have created an unusual partnership to provide at least one area family with a home—Chi Omega Sorority, Sigma Nu Fraternity and Chapel of the Cross are working together to raise money for the Orange County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Torn Buell, a co-chairman of the Habi tat Partnership’s Steering Committee from Chapel of the Cross, said the partnership was unique among Habitat projects. There are 900 college chapters of Habitat for Humanity in the United States, butUNC’s is the only one composed of a sorority, a fraternity and a church, he said. Hadley Peer, a junior from Charlotte and co-chairwoman of Chi Omega’s Habi tat committee, said the groups had raised an estimated $60,000 to finance the house. “We weren’t expecting to raise this much - it was a nice surprise,” she said. The ground-breaking ceremony for the partnership’s house was held Sunday, and work on the house will begin in January. Peer said the Mary Whiting Ewing Foundation, which helps fund area groups and projects, gave an unexpected donation of $25,000 to the partnership. The contribution helped the three groups surpass their fund-raising goal, she said. Another $25,000 was raised at an auc tion Oct. 31 at the University Mall, and it was attended by area residents and members of Chapel of the Cross. About 300 businesses and individuals donated items including a basketball signed by UNC players, tickets to Europe and various vacations. Peer said. The auction was subsidizedby the Coca- Cola Company and included a performance FLYING FROM PAGE 1 flight, I will have to fly U.S. Air I will have to make four connections.” Cole said she was angry at the situation the flight attendants caused. “It’s very in considerate of the union to pull a strike when they know it’s a holiday season, ” she said. Kevin O’Brien, a junior political sci ence and history major, had booked a ticket with American to Buffalo, N.Y., but changed airlines Monday before the strike was settled. “I just went to the travel agency today and got another ticket for U.S. Air,” he Only Turkeys Oet Caught f>rt On Cask. Donate Plasma and earn up to S2B (regular) or *33 (buddy plan) donor a week. EC BIOLOGICALS 1 091/2 E. Franklin St. 942-0251 a "fox.JSp : > r Vji wf j 4k..jail Jfcl. • rm 1' 1 1111 Ml ED ES I 10am-Bpm • cw '’ HH 1 1 -rt H t. C'w.u.l, Closed thanksgiving ’*= QJ Pm.fwr.l 0 0 F.r.tlr.iH, if .J> by the Carolina Heartland doggers, she said. The partnership raised the rest of the money by usheringatDeanE. Smith Center concerts, selling telephone books with the phone numbers of sorority and fraternity members and sponsoring “Hip-hop for Humanity,” a concert held last spring featuring the band De La Soul. Peer said members of Sigma Nu came up with the idea of building a Habitat house last fall and proposed the project to Chi Omega. Every member of the sorority voted to join the partnership, she said. Buell said Chapel of the Cross was invited to participate in the project soon after Chi Omega agreed to join Sigma Nu and officially joined the project in April. Part of the church's mission is to work with UNC students, and members were enthusiastic about the partnership, he said. “We accepted their invitation with a great deal of delight," he said. “We’re always looking for ways to work with stu dents to help the community.” Members of the church have worked on other Habitat projects, but have never built a house with students, he said. Edward Marshall, a junior from Charlotte and a member of Sigma Nu, said having raised the money made the project more exciting. “We were ready and willing to commit a huge amount of time, and now we know that we ’re actually going to build a house, ” he said. “Everybody is very enthusiastic to say the least.” Peer and Buell said the partnership might use money remaining from building this house to continue the project next year. “I think it will become an annual thing, but we’re not sure yet,” Peer said. Buell said the church hoped to use some said. Other students, like O’Brien, already have changed their reservations and plan to fly other airlines. “I have a flight (Monday) at 2 p.m.,” said Kate Sullivan, a freshmanhealthpolicy administration major. “I didn’t know for a while whether I was going home at all.” Carol Hill, a chemistry doctoral student who was planning to fly with American, is unsure of what will happen to her travel plans. “I’m still going to go if I can, but I won’t find out until Tuesday or Wednes day,” she said. Hill is from Cleveland, and if she cannot fly, she will have to drive 101/2 hours to get home. UNIVERSITY . \vv SPECIAL TO THE DTH /DAVID ALFORD Junior Hadley Peer and senior Will Current (right) stand with Pablo and Emelia Ibarra and their 10-month-old baby at the site of their new home in Carrboro. of the extra money raised to involve other student groups in similar projects. He said, “There is certainly a hope that we could get other campus organizations “The whole point of me going home is not Thanksgiving but my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary, ” she said. “It would be nice to fly and not have to worry about driving home.” Along with students, some athletes are having problems getting to their destina tions on time for tournaments. “We’re in the process now of trying to reschedule travel arrangements for the cheerleaders,” said Jeff Elliott, University associate athletic director. “A travel agency is trying to reschedule for us.” Elliott said he did not foresee a problem with rescheduling the cheerleaders’ trip to the National Invitational Tournament in New York City. A HHpHBHpHHHH k Now Open 'Til Midnight GlenwoodSquare J 1218 Raleigh Road -555” Chapel Hill 968-3777 Looking for an exciting career and exceptional employment opportunities? Look at our innovative 12-month Master of Accounting Program MAC Program Information Sessions Tuesday, November 30 & Wednesday, December 1 3:30 - 4:00 Old Carroll 100 All Majors Welcome (no prerequisites) Class of‘93 ~ 100% placement! WSO KENAN-FLAGLER BUSINESSSCHOOL involved as well. We feel it’s been so re warding for Sigma Nu and Chi Omega we’re looking for interest from other cam pus organizations in building a house.” Campus Calendar TUESDAY sp.m. PassedOut(A Juggling Club) will meet in Carmichael Ballroom. 7 p.m. The Center for Slavic and East European Studies will present the film “Uncle Vanya,” a Brit ish film starring Michael Redgrave and Laurence Olivier based on the play by Anton Chekhov, in 303 Dey Hall. Admission is free. 7:30 p.m. B-GLAD will meet in 211 Gardner Hall. 8 p.m. The Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs will present their fall concert in Hill Hall Auditorium. Admission is free. ITEMS OF INTEREST Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will sponsor a coat drive. All donations shouldbe placed in the box in the Sonja H. Stone Black Cultural Center in the Student Union. Research on Diabetes Sparks Hope for Cure BY JENNY SCHMIDT STAFF WRITER In the Nov. 4 edition of the journal Nature, new discoveries were announced regarding the treatment of diabetes. Researchers from Stanford University and UCLA were able to pinpoint the first pro tein that develops antibodies in the devel opment of diabetes in mice. The research indicates that if the mice are made to be tolerant to this insulin producing cell, diabetes can be prevented. These findings apply to Type I diabetes where insulin, the hormone that regulates glucose in the body, is absent from the pancreas because it is attacked by the body’s immune system. Dr. Margaret Vimmerstedt, a physician at Student Health Services who manages care for students with diabetes, said the purpose of the experiment was to study the details of the immune system’s response to the disease, using a strain of mice that spontaneously develops diabetes. “Researchers wanted to find out the first steps or key players in the reactions that lead to diabetes and block the steps,” Vimmerstedt said. “It is very important to learn how the immune system works.” She said the research pointed specifi cally to a protein in the body that could be targeted to prevent diabetes. “It is not clear how it will work in humans, however.” David Ontjes, a professor of medicine and endocrinologist at UNC, said the im mune processes in mice were very similar to those in humans. “But there would be several steps in applying these findings to humans over a period of at least 10 years.” Diabetes is a disease that affects about 2 percent of the population of the United States. Added to undiagnosed cases, the actual figure might be as high as 6 percent. Type I diabetes has an abrupt onset, usually when a person is under 20. People with Type I diabetes are completely depen dent on insulin injections. Type II diabetes affects the most people. Insulin might be present in the pancreas of people with Type 11, but because of genetic defects, there is an abnormal response to the insulin. Insulin is important for regulating glu cose, which acts as fuel for the body’s cells. Control of the blood glucose level is the most important factor in diabetes care. “One of the hardest things about the dis ease is that there is no vacation from it,” Vimmerstedt said. LSAT February 12 GRE February 5 GMAT January 15 MCAT April 23 GET RESULTS! ENROLLING NOW FOR UPCOMING TESTS! CALL 929-PREP EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC 306 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hil Villases apartments 6teade& • 1,2,3 bedroom apartments available - including townhouses and lofts • gorgeous clubhouse, 2 swimming pools, lighted tennis courts, basketball courts, universal weight room, jogging nature trail, volleyball court •on J busline • 4 separate laundry facilities • pets allowed • summer storage available HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30, Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5 ST 929-1141 |jg* JBMIOOO Smith Level Rd. ]^®®P , Carrboro, NC 27510 afyp Daily alar BM Peter McCracken, a graduate student from Seattle who has had diabetes for the past 10 years, also believes that planning ahead in order to control his blood glucose level is difficult. “The worst thing about the disease is that it kills spontaneity.” Dee Watson, an employee at the UNC One Card office who has had diabetes for 22 years, explained, “Whereas a person without diabetes might get up and say, ‘l’ll grab a bite to eat here or there, ’ or not even worry about it, I have to plan ahead or I will run out of energy.” Other problems that people with the disease must face are its future implica tions. “Generally I try not to think about the long-term effects,” McCracken said. “I do sometimes, like if I’m eating something I’m not supposed to. It is scary, always worrying about if something will show up. It’s always there.” Long-term effects of diabetes are caused by increased damage of blood vessels over time. People with diabetes stand increased chance of heart attack, neurological dam age and loss of circulation. Cathy Lowe, a spokeswoman for the American Diabetes Association, said the study was a major breakthrough. “All research is important because it leads us closer and closer to a cure,” she said. “It provides a better understanding of the disease, even if treatment may not turn out to be the actual cure.” Vimmerstedt said everyone, not just people with diabetes, should be concerned with treatments. Because the long-term effects of diabetes are very expensive, a good policy for preventing the disease ac tually would save money, she said. As for advice to those who have been diagnosed with diabetes, a support group can be helpful to many, she said. She is one of the leaders of a group for students with the disease. When she diag noses a patient, she recommendsseeing a counselor. “It is important to let patients go through the normal reactions of grief and loss. “Learning the tasks of daily care and things that they can do to help feel optimis tic are also provided by support groups.” McCracken said that those with diabe tes should educate themselves. “A lot of people I know say they wouldn't trade the disease for all the friends that have been made because of it and the leadership quali ties it has brought out.” Diabetes is unique in that the majority of the responsibilities of controlling the disease fall upon the patient. “I am im pressed with the strength and courage of I have seen put to bear the responsibility.” Vimmerstedt said. “Diabetes is a frustrat ing and challenging disease.” nURAIU I BUY NOW J On January Ist, 1994 Eurall rates 30 up! Buyyour pass In December & you'll still be able to start using it before July 1,1994! Eurail Youth Piu, 2nd a.1993 1994 Flexipass from $220 $255 15 Days N/A $398 1 Month SSOB $578 2 Months $698 $768 Youth under 86 years Eurall Pass, Ist a. 1993 1994 Flexipass from $298 $340 15 Days $460 $498 1 Month $728 $798 5 Months $998 $1,098 Call NOW for more information! 137 E. Franklin St., #lO6 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 919-949-2334

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view