THE Researchers Search for Skin Cancer Cure

SCATTERED ND squirrels rank well in cyberspace T-STORMS Wednesday Their popularity spans beyond the Bend and onto the Web. How can we get to better know this growing population of Darners? SEPTEMBER 19, HIGH 71° Scene+ page 14-15 2001 LOW56° THE The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's - VOl XXXV NO. 17 HTTP://OBSERVER.ND.EDU Researchers search for skin cancer cure • Wiest and team Research Center, but Wiest works with people within and outside of synthesize cancer the U.S. curing enzyme "We're just one of the labs that are working on the chemical By HELENA PAYNE aspect of this, but there are people from all over the place." said Assisranr News Ediror Wiest. Other countries with teams con A team of researchers headed ducting similar research include by Notre Dame professor Olaf Vietnam, Germany and France. Wiest are trying to synthesize an So far, Wiest's group has come artificial enzyme that could repair out with a molecule that could sun-damaged DNA that causes work with the skin, which he said some skin cancers. is a very simple system. Thus, he "This is basic research that is all said he hopes to use the smaller about trying to understand how system that his group has created this works and maybe - and this to build a larger system. is a big maybe - making this "Our understanding on how the more useful down the road," Wiest thing actually works is probably said. correct," Wiest said. "You work Wiest and his team of your way up until you come up researchers have been attempting with a biological system as close to build a molecule to mimic the as possible." enzyme that repairs damage. Wiest directs the group. which The enzyme· Wiest is attempting currently includes four post doc to synthesize is found in many dif torates of research, eight graduate ferent organisms in all three bio students and two undergraduate logical kingdoms. But although E students. coli and the South American pos Dr. Rudy Navari, director of the sum have the enzyme, humans do Walther Cancer Research Center not. said that the skin research should "It's pretty clear at this point promote awareness among people that humans don't have it," said in the U.S. about the dangers of Wiest. "If humans don't have a skin cancer. 'maybe' we can make something Navari, an oncologist for 20 to replace it." years has seen several cancer PETER RICHARDSON/The ObseNer The research to synthesize the cases and said many societal activ [From left to right] Pierre Tran, a third-year graduate student, Marco Jonas, a post-doctoral enzyme is based at the ities, such as tanning, has allowed researcher, Patrick Laine, a second-year graduate associate and Olaf Wiest, Notre Dame University's Walther Cancer chemistry professor will try to synthesize an artificial enzyme that could repair sun-damaged see CANCER/page 4 DNA that causes skin cancer. Discussion follows U.S. attacks College celebrates Hispanic heritage By MARY CAMPE News Wrirer By LETY VERDUZCO Three Saint Mary's professors dis News Writer cussed the political ramifications, the religious connotations and the media Hispanic heritage month, sponsored by the Office of coverage of the Sept. 11 attacks on Multicultural Affairs, LONI and the student diversity board, New York and Washington in a began Monday at Saint Mary's. panel on Tuesday. The month, designed to call attention to Hispanic heritage Communications professor Linda through a series of cultural events, has a series of events Berdayes focused on the media and scheduled through Oct. 15. how it portrays the events. She gave "The purpose of Hispanic Heritage month is to educate an overview of her reaction to what everyone of every nationality about all of the different cul happened and her opinion of the tures of Latin America," said La Fuerza president Regina media's coverage. Diaz. "I found myself repelled and Students and faculty enjoyed poetry reading, singing, music obsessed with the media," Berdayes and food while mingling with each other during yesterday's said. event opener. A full schedule had already been made for the Berdayes explained how the media month, including brown bag discussions led by Saint Mary's has selected and influenced the pub faculty members Mark Belanger and Richard Yanez. lic's image of what happened. She This month students will be able to take meringue lessons also expressed her concern for the and experience food from many different Hispanic cultures. responsibilities that the media has Emmy Award-winning journalist Sandra Guzman will also be and whether it has fulfilled those speaking Sept. 26 to students and faculty about her experi throughout the coverage of last ences and the Latino role in America. There will be two week's events. movies shown during the month, "Crazy/Beautiful" and Political science professor Marc "Girlfight." Belanger spoke on behalf of a politi "Hispanic Heritage month is important because it makes cal standpoint. He explained how people aware of the cultural diversities that exist among all the U.S. should view the attacks and Hispanics," said La Fuerza secretary Rocio Estrada. ELIZABETH GAYDOS/The ObseNer the attackers. Belanger tried to Saint Mary's professors gather to discuss media coverage and the religious and political ramifications of last week's terrorist attacks. see TERRORISM/page 4 Contact Lety Verduzco at [email protected]. page 2 The Observer+ INSIDE Wednesday, September 19, 2001 INSIDE COLUMN THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday We have won + Workshop: "Do labor • Lecture: "The political • Booksigning: "Heart • Scholars Series: "From geography of the Stoppers and Hail Marys" page to stage" by Actors of What is our human nature? Is it to inher unions reduce business ently destroy the people around us, flagrantly investments?" Room 203 Columbine crisis" Ted Mandell, 86 Notre the London stage, audito- disregarding any individual but ourselves? Or is it a spirit of compassion, to reach out to O'Shaughnessy Hall, 3 - Alejandro Reyes, Kellogg Dame professor of film rium of the Hesburgh our fellow man and ask three of the most 4:15p.m. Institute, C-103 Hesburgh and video production, Center for international striking words in the English language, Center, 4:15p.m. Hammes bookstore, 2-4 studies, 10 a.m. "Can I help"? Last week's horrific p.m. events brought exam ples of both sides of our humanity. It is difficult for many of us to imagine the absolute hatred in the BEYOND CAMPUS Compiled from U-Wire reports minds and hearts of Jacqueline those responsible for Browder the devastation of the Middle Eastern U Conn. students leave campus World Trade Center and the Pentagon. To Scene Copy STORRS, Conn. of the people in class; all of the commit to a cause so Editior Two University of Connecticut people just look at me," he said. "I evil and malevolent is can't go anywhere I stayed at my beyond our wildest students of Middle Eastern descent have decided to leave UConn and home for four days." dreams, or, more appropriately, nightmares. return to their home countries Alvaabi said aside from the pres However, what has risen from this atrocity sure from his family, a major fac is far greater that the hardened hearts that after encountering harassment in the aftermath of last Tuesday's tor in his decision to leave the harbored the iniquity we have recently wit terrorist attacks. country was a physics class he nessed. The United States, so long considered The students, Rashed Alvaabi, a attended last Thursday in which dormant in matters of nationalism, has fifth-semester mechanical engi students used derogatory language become visibly united. We are once again America- the free, the brave and the proud. A neering major, and lbraheem about people of Islamic descent. Almansouri, a student who just Alvaabi said his professor asked nation shaken, but not shattered, we have not arrived at UConn to study English, only asked if we can help, but stepped up and "My family has called me every the class what they thought about decided to return to their native day [since the terrorist attacks]." asked how we can help. Islamic people, and approximately We gave a part of our vitality to the many country, the United Arab Almansouri said. "Every day." five people responded: "We hate Emirates, mainly because of pres blood banks across the nation. We sent our Since Tuesday's attack on New the Islamic people." sure from their families .. dollars for relief efforts in New York and York City and Washington, D.C., Alvaabi said the professor told Washington, D.C. We looked to our firemen The families of both men feared Almansouri said he noticed a dras these students that they should not and policemen, the tireless heroes working to for their safety after hearing tic change in the way people treat have said that and the discussion reports of violence against save those who would otherwise be strangers. ed him. of Islamic people did not continue. We bowed our heads in prayer, lighting can Muslims across the United States. "I can't stay in th'e U.S. because dles and asking our God to console those who are mourning. We at Notre Dame and Saint Mary's filled the Grotto with light and prayers. We proudly raised American flags in UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN JOSE front of our homes- a quiet, powerful UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ·AT WACO reminder of the solidarity of our nation. These actions are not merely a demonstra tion of human nature- they are an expression Bush's approval rating soars of the American spirit.

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