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Satlg ®ar Hwl Researchers Must Stick To Rules Robert Bums wrote in a 1785 poem that the best-laid schemes of mice and men often go awry. And, as UNC Hospitals proved this week, Bums was right. The best-laid plans often do fall short, especially when they only exist on paper. UNC officials seem concerned about the alleged inhumane treatment of research animals that an undercover investigator from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals revealed last week. And with good reason. Not enforcing humanitarian guidelines that UNC has agreed to follow under- KATY NELSON UNIVERSITY COLUMNIST mines the integrity of UNC medical research. Despite the fact that UNC’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee has put the best-laid humanitarian rides in place, UNC researchers were shown repeatedly in the PETA investigation breaking these guidelines. The IACUC’s rules are more stringent than the ones the National Institutes of Health oudine. This public relations crisis is a wake-up call to UNC officials, who must enforce the humanitarian guide lines to sustain funding from the NIH. UNC received $236.8 million from the NIH in 2001, the 12th highest total in the nation. Officials have said they are not wor ried about losing NIH funding as a result of PETA’s investigation, but the PETA investigator allegedly uncov ered researchers writing up NIH pro tocol in procedural reports regardless of their actions. According to the PETA Web site, a researcher recorded that he had used correct procedures when that was not the case. UNC officials have defended the legitimacy of their IACUC policies, but PETA’s documentation of abuse proves these guidelines need to be enforced to have any meaning. At a press conference Thursday, School of Medicine Dean Jeffrey Houpt said, “It’s always possible for protocol to be broken.” But researchers will be less likely to break protocol if UNC Hospitals enforces consequences for mishan dling animals. PETA investigator Kate Turlington worked undercover in a laboratory at the Thurston Bowles Building for six months. Wearing a hidden camera under her clothes to record infractions, she did not disclose her PETA ties until her findings went public. Turlington recorded sick and injured mice being neglected, some paralyzed or with broken necks. On the PETA Web site (http://www.peta.org), Turlington reports even finding live mice in the dead animal cooler. Turlington told The Daily Tar Heel that the humane procedures she was taught during her two-day training were not always used after she started working. “It was very clear the way I was trained wasn’t the way things were done,” she said. UNC needs to do a better job of turning IACUC policies into routine laboratory behavior by hiring more vet erinary technicians, who are employed to fight for the animals’ concerns. Only two veterinary technicians monitor the treatment of more than 70,000 animals at UNC, according to the PETA Web site. Turlington also reports that on several occasions she witnessed the veterinary technicians’ written recommendations being tossed into the trash by researchers’ assistants. The abuses Turlington said she wit nessed were not necessary for medical research but a matter of researchers either saving time by abandoning the IACUC guidelines or just being too bored with their jobs to care. For example, rather than putting eight-day-old mice on ice for four min utes as prescribed by IACUC rules, a researcher allegedly doused the ani mals with ethyl alcohol before cutting their heads off with scissors. But Turlington reports on the PETA Web site that this researcher claimed on the procedural report to have followed IACUC policy. Without enforcement, humanitarian guidelines in UNC medical laboratories are little more than nice suggestions. Do medical researchers who are short on time have any reason to think twice about correctly euthanizing a rodent? UNC should enforce IACUC rules to maintain respect for research, not just NIH funding. Columnist Katy Nelson can be reached at knelson@email.unc.edu. Memorial Gets Going-Away Party By Jamie Dougher Staff Writer Stories from the past generated laughter and fond memories in Memorial Hall on Friday during an event honoring the building’s history before it closes this week for an 18-month ren ovation. Present and former students, faculty and staff reminisced about their experiences in the build ing while drinking out of water bottles labeled “Thirsting for Improvement” that listed the ren ovation projects the building will undergo. To begin the program, former Provost Dick Richardson read accounts of the memories alumni have accumulated about Memorial Hall. “Within these walls we have experienced much joy, laughter, great ideas, spirited and con troversial exchanges and a few tears,” he said. Richardson dubbed the program “A Memorial to Memorial" and recounted humor ous stories of past performances as well as the tale of the “Memorial Hall ghost.” Richardson also talked about actor Andy Griffith, class of 1949, whose first theatrical per formance was in Memorial Hall. Griffith played UNC Relay for Life Raises $98,000 By Nikki Werking Staff Writer Fetzer Field was dark at 9 p.m. Friday night except for the light of more than 800 flickering candles. Lit in memory of cancer victims, they lined the track and spelled out the word “hope” on the bleachers. 'The luminary ceremony was part of Relay for Life, a nation wide fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society that brought in $98,000 at UNC. The event consisted of team members tak ing turns walking laps around a track for 24 hours. The local relay, organized by the health focus committee of the Campus Y, was held on Fetzer Field and lasted from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday. This was the first time UNC hosted the local relay, and more than 1,200 people on 87 teams participated. Freshman Brian Paler said that he wanted to participate because it was for a good cause and that he thought it would be fun. “I think this school has a good policy of taking things that are fun and things that are good for society and putting them together,” he said. Other participants, like freshman Janet Soper, said they wanted to honor cancer victims. “I had a friend who died from cancer before graduation last year,” she said. “I joined the committee that helped to plan this event.” Some relay events, such as the Miss Relay pageant, focused on raising funds. The pageant’s male contestants dressed in drag and had an opportunity to say something about them selves before spending the next half hour wandering around the crowd trying to collect money. The 20 contestants raised almost SI,OOO prom-dress-clad professional student Byron Buckley won the event by collecting $155. He said he participated in the pageant to support his teammate, senior Katherine Wilson. “She has lung cancer, so I was doing it for her,” Buckley said. “She was really the motivator for the whole thing.” In addition to fund-raising events, all Relay for Life partic ipants had the personal goal of raising SIOO before the event, using any method of their choice. Many teams chose to raise money at the event by selling things ranging from food to raffle tickets to massages. Members of the Alpha Kappa Delta Phi sorority raised $75 Friday night by selling spring rolls. Teams also held fund-raising events before Relay for Life. Members of the Christian sorority Phi Beta Chi raised more than SSOO with a car wash. In addition, many Relay for Life participants also raised funds individually by asking for donations. Senior Emily Sellers raised $l6O using this method. “I asked friends, family and people in the community to donate money,” she said. “I also got some donations from people in my hometown.” See RELAY, Page 4 Low Turnout Marks Ordinance Meeting Town officials say the six people who did come to discuss development raised important questions. By Adrienne Clark Staff Writer The number of residents at a forum Thursday on Chapel Hill’s development ordinance could have been counted on two hands. Only six residents made the trip to the Chapel Hill Town Hall. But town officials say the small crowd still man aged to raise important questions. “The topics (Thursday night) were a repeat of Monday’s issues at the (Chapel Hill Town) Council meeting,” said Planning Director Roger Waldon. “My sense is more and more people are watching the meetings on televi sion.” Chapel Hill officials are in the process of gathering information from residents as they work to craft a final draft of the town’s new development ordinance. At the hearing Thursday, members of the Chapel Hill planning staff presented articles relating to zoning, procedures and design standards. Resident Suzanne HafT, who is also a member of the town’s planning staff, asked about the possibility of making the fighting in the Weaver Street Market the part of the grand inquisitor of Spain in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers.” Richardson said that Griffith loved the expe riences he had at Memorial Hall and that Griffith once said he was always the first performer to arrive and the last to leave at the end of the night Richardson invited attendees to share their stories after he spoke. Dave Huffman of Raleigh recalled his mem ory of the night Jane Fonda spoke about her political activism as stu dents unrolled a 10-foot “Barbarella” movie poster from the balcony. UNC employee Betty Averette talked about the time Little Richard invited her to dance on stage during his con cert. “The walls were just shakin’,” she said, remembering the audience’s energy. Alumna and former UNC employee Rachael Long attended the event pardy because she worked at the University in Facilities Planning & Construction for 50 years. MF i! *’ Wm !•* *' - DTH ANNE MEADOWS Hundreds of luminaries lit in memory of cancer victims and in honor of cancer survivors flicker in the darkness Friday night as Relay for Life participants circle Fetzer Field. parking lot less bright. Waldon responded by saying that the ordinance does not address fighting but that the question now will be con sidered for the third draft of the ordi nance. “Right now the development ordi nance has very little to say about light ing," he said. The town’s development ordinance is being rewritten in conjunction with the town’s Comprehensive Plan -a detailed account of the council’s vision for the town’s future. The new ordinance likely will account for issues like stormwater man agement and affordable housing that were left unresolved in the existing ordi nance, which was written in 1981. Council members, who are now working from a second draft of the ordi nance, plan to write a total of three drafts before finalizing the ordinance on or before Sept. 18. Town Council member Dorothy Verkerk said she was appreciative of those who did attend. “I’m grateful to the people who did come out,” Verkerk said. “People are very interested.” Verkerk said she thought residents had other things to do Thursday night, which caused the meager attendance at the meeting. “This was a really busy week,” Verkerk said. “There was a lot going See HEARING, Page 4 News “I wrote many a capital improvements request for this building to be renovated,” she said. The renovated hall will have air condition ing, new seats with more legroom, restrooms, anew stage more than twice the size of the old one, anew sound system and a hydraulic orchestra pit lift. The “We have experienced much joy, laughter, great ideas, spirited and controversial exchanges and a few tears. ” Dick Richardson Former Provost in November 2000. An additional $5 million still needed to be raised through the Memorial Hall Transformation Fund. Now SBOO,OOO remains to be raised through private donations. An alumnus who. works at the New York based investment banking firm Goldman Sachs See MEMORIAL, Page 4 House Speaker Says Lottery Could Pass This Summer With this year's fiscal woes, some say a state lottery might be seen as a way to raise the state's revenue. By Emma Bcrgin Staff Writer N.C. House Speaker Jim Black recendy said he would not block a lot tery vote in the state House if there were enough support to pass the bill. Black, who is still opposed to the lot- tery, said the state’s difficult budget situation and likely need for cuts to education might increase the tTiviiiiiiHumimviiiii Local officials maintain opposition to a lottery despite polls that show public support. odds of the House approving a lottery. This summer, the N.C. General Assembly will have to plug a budget deficit of at least $1.2 billion for the 2002-03 fiscal year. Some officials say a lottery could gross as much as $450 million its first year. The N.C. Senate has passed a lot tery bill several times in the past decade only for it to fail in the House. Senate President Pro Tern Marc Basnight has said in the past that the Senate will not take up the lottery again until it is passed by the House. But Black told The Associated Press 2 building’s face-lift also will include a paint job, car peting, light fixtures and draperies. The state pledged $lO million to Memorial Hall’s renovations, $8.7 million of which came from the higher education bond referendum passed DTH/BRIAN CASSELLA Former Provost Dick Richardson shares his memories Friday during a farewell tribute to Memorial Hall. that this year House members might see the lot tery as a better alternative to decreasing the budget shortfall than tapping into other resources. “I believe that the lottery will have a better chance now than it has ever had,” Black said. Danny Lineberrv, Black’s N.C. House Speaker Jim Black says he will not stop a state lottery bill vote if there is the support to pass it. spokesman, said Black has not changed his stance on the lottery. “(Black) is personally opposed to a lottery but will not use his powers as House speaker to stop it,” he said. “Given the alternatives - tax increases or painful cuts - more people will be inclined to vote for the lottery,” he said. Black told the AP that he is going to act on the lottery issue quickly. “We’re just going to start talking to members pretty soon, and I do know there are more votes for a referendum than there would be for a straight up or down vote," Black said. But House Minority Leader Leo Daughtry, R-Johnston, said he will not support a state lottery despite the addi tional revenue that it might produce. Monday, April 22, 2002 Officials: Trespassers Not A Risk University police said most trespassers on campus pose little threat of violent crime and usually do not return. By Philissa Cramer Staff Writer University police officials said that despite the attention being given to a recent on-campus trespassing incident, repeat trespassers do not usually pose a threat to students. Many students, faculty and staff received an e-mail last week warning about a man who police reports state has been charged with simple assault and stalking while at a public function on campus, despite a standing trespass ing warning against him. Samuel Ferebee, 62, of 130 E-8 S. Estes Drive was arrested on campus March 27 and charged Samuel Ferebee has been trespassed from UNC's campus because of pending simple assault and stalking charges. with two counts of assault on a female and one count of misdemeanor stalking, police reports state. Ferebee alreadv had a trespassing order against him, which prohibited him from attending anything other than public events on campus. The order was amended after the March 27 incident to prevent him from attend ing public events on campus as well. But University police Maj. Jeff McCracken said chronic trespassing is not a significant threat to campus secu- See TRESPASS, Page 4 “l’ve never supported the lottery," Daughtry said. “It’s a tax on poor peo ple, and it’s not a good thing for us to do.” Political pundits said Black’s decision is a departure from his past actions. “(Black) has stopped the bill from being considered," said UNC political science Professor Thad Beyle. “He must have been getting some pressure.” But Beyle said debate will not ensure the lottery’s success. “That doesn’t mean it will pass,” he said. “If the Republicans are against it, then there are certainly some Democrats against it." Beyle also said a lottery 7 will not be an immediate solution to the budget short fall. “Even if it were approved, it would not be on the ballot until November, and then it would take a while to get it started,” he said. “It would have nothing to do with next year’s budget.” Beyle said that although polls show a favorable attitude toward the lottery, this might not be the attitude of the voters. “The polls show it is favored by the people who were polled - that’s about 60 percent to 40 percent,” he said. “But those aren’t the people who vote, and that’s a different game. If people are really opposed to it, they will be sure to come out and vote against it.” The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu. 3
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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