riril
The
Vol.XVlNo.5
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
May 1997
Around
THE
WORLD
.and back
Israel’s Independmce Bay
On Monday, May 12, 1997,
Israel celebrated its Independence
Day. Festivities included picnics,
an air show; and a nnval parade.
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netany^u said that he hoped that
Israel could achieve peace in its
49th year. However, peace talks
still remain suspended. The talks
ended abruptly in March over con
struction of a Jewish neighbor
hood in an area of Jerusalem that
Palestine cltums.
Hubble opens windows
Though it had some glitches
at first, the Hubble telescope is
working much better The three
billion dollar telescope is perform
ing flawlessly and opening new
windows on the Universe. Scien
tists are receiving good results
even though one camera is out of
focus. Despite this minor prob
lem, Hubble is lifting the veil Of
secrecy from the Universe.
Sevin lost bn Mti Evem
Seven climbers were caught
in a blizzard near the summit of
the 29,028 ft. Mt Everest. Two
others have already died this year,
and last year 12 climbers were
killed during their feat.
The seven are thought to have
died 650 ft. from the top. Among
the group were three Russians,
two Germans, a South Korean,
and a Sherpa guide.
Australian swims Keys
Susie Maroney succeeded in
her second attempt to swim the
112 mile crossing between Cuba
and the Florida Keys. She made
it to the Keys 24 1/2 hours after
leaving the shore of Havana.
When she landed, she was greeted
with ISOfans. She was sunburned
and had several jellyfish stings.
By accomplishing this feat, she
became the first woman in history
to swim across the Florida Straits.
Blood drive receives record turnout
Eric Huang
The long silver needles seemed
menacing, but that did not prevent
many students from donating blood.
On April 17, the blood mobile ar
rived at NCSSM, drawing record
numbers of donations in the annual
blood drive sponsored by the Ameri
can Red Cross.
Over 100 students took time out
of their schedules to wait in long
lines in .the PEC, fill out question
naires, undergo tests and ultimately
donate a pint of blood. Still, students
say, the end result was worth it.
“I missed dinner to do this,”
said senior Stacey Homaday.
The enormous turnout was un
expected, and lack of anticipation for
such a successful drive led to long
waits. But that did not discourage
students from donating.
“We’ve been here since 4:10
p.m.,” said junior Audrey Phillips,
who donated with Homaday. They
finally donated after waiting over
two hours, yet they say time was no
factor in making this decision.
“It’s a worthwhile cause, as
many people as there are out there
needing blood,” said Phillips.
The blood drive was not limited
to student participation; teachers
also had a high participation level.
Mathematics teacher Peggy Craft,
who has been a donor since college,
took time out of her schedule to do
nate.
The atmosphere was interesting
with so many first time donors, she
said, comparing it to her own expe
riences.
The majority of students wpre
first-time blood donors, so several
had little idea what to expect.
“I was really nervous because
I didn’t like needles,” said senior
Amy Brushwood. “But it wasn’t
bad at all.”
Some students subdued their
fears by considering the good
cause to which they were donat
ing.
After giving blood, junior
Aaron Freeman said he felt “mas
terful” knowing his blood would
be used to save others.
“I’m gonna give a couple
pints to someone that needs it,”
said senior Winston Parker. “A lot
of people have done this before so
it can’t be too bad.
“I feel special,” Parker said
proudly afterward. “It’s that warm
fuzzy feeling inside.”
The event had its periodic
mishaps. Not everyone’s experi
ence donating blood went
smoothly, so the assisting nurses
prepared for the periodic faintings
or feelings of lightheadedness typi
cal for first time donors.
“At least they didn’t have to
prick me five or six times,” said
senior Will Hancock. Sometimes,
several attempts had to be made in
order to get the needle in an arm.
To ensure proper recovery af
ter donating, students were re
quired to rest for 15 minutes and
refrain from unnecessary physical
activity for the rest of the day.
“I’m a little lightheaded but I
feel great,” said senior Zack
I to
to
Senior Robin Armstrong saves a life by donating blood.
Armficld while resting after donat- gible.
ing and eating cookies to relax.
This year’s goal of 70 units was
surpassed with 93 units of blood
collected. It also topped last year’s
record of 85 units. A unit is equal
to a pint of blood, or about 9-10%
of the total blood volume in the hu
man body.
“Each unit can save four lives,”
said Dana Meisner, Associate Di
rector of Blood Services. Meisner
was present at the blood drive to
oversee operations and care for
those recovering.
Potential donors must be 17
years old and weigh at least 110
pounds. These requirements elimi
nated those who may not be physi
cally able to donate. But that irri
tated some students looking for
ward to this event that were ineli-
“I was really upset because I felt
rejected,” said junior Amy Tung. “It
was discriminating against my size.”
Type O blood is the most
needed, but all types are readily-ac
cepted. After the blood has been
collected, it is packaged, sent to labs
and tested for blood type and any
possible disease. Within 24 hours
after the blood is donated, it is ready
to be received by a person in need.
Meisner stressed the signifi
cance of this blood drive.
“This is the first opportunity for
students at this age to donate, and
students need to take advantage of
it,” she said.
“If you feel comfortable, go
ahead,” said Brushwood after re
flecting on her own experience. “It’s
an awesome gift. The need for blood
isn’t going to go away.”
Dr. Leutze to speak at commencement
JORDAN Classman
Dr. James R. Leutze, Chancel
lor of University ofNorth Carolina
at Wilmington,
will speak at this
year’s com
mencement cer
emonies on May
31.
“Dr. Leutze
has not yet de
cided on the
contents of his
speech,” says
Special Assistant to the Chancellor
Mark Lanier. “He is impressed with
the programs offered at NCSSM,
with the quality of students and
faculty, and with the potential of
the distance learning program.”
SGA president Katie Hobbs
first heard
Leutze speak
when he
came to
NCSSM in
November to
sign an
agreement
that would
allow North
Carolina stu
dents to take UNCW courses via
the distance learning facilities
here.
"Dr. Leutze is quick
to grasp a 'big idea'
and implement it."
-Director JohnFriedrick
“Dr. Leutze was an excellent
speaker at the signing, so I spoke to
him there, and then called him later
and asked him to speak at com
mencement,” says Hobbs.
His vested interest in NCSSM
distance learning will allow high
school students to receive college
credit and teachers to receive gradu
ate credit.
“Dr. Leutze is quick to grasp a
‘big idea’ and implement it. His
university was the first in North
Carolina to deliver distance learn
ing and first in establishing a re
gional North Carolina partnership
for K-12 education,” says NCSSM
Executive Director John Friedrick.
During the visit, as a demon
stration of the system. Executive
Director Friedrick and Leutze trans
mitted the news' of the signing to
faculty members at Wilmington.
“We are in the vanguard of a
very important movement. It is go
ing to change the way education is
delivered,” said Leutze in the Ra
leigh News & Observer on Nov. 2.
Leutze was bom in South Caro
lina, but grew up in Maryland. He
graduated from the University of
Maryland with a degree as a Bach
elor of the Arts, and received his
M.A. at the University of Miami.
See Graduation Speaker,ipg 9