The Summer Chronicle
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The Summer Chronicle llth Year, Number 6 Duke University, Durham, North Carolina Wednesday, June 17, 1981 Trustees OK hospital budget, rate hikes By Erica Johnston increase by 12 percent to 15 calls for an expense budget of Patients at Duke Hospital percent. $169.7 million, an increase of 8.5 will pay an average of 11 The hikes were part of the percent over last year's, and a percent more for their rooms Hospital's fiscal 1982 budget revenue budget of $175.4 starting July 1 due to an proposal presented to the million. increased revenue budget for executive committee by Andrew In response to a trustee's the Hospital approved by the Wallace, chief executive officer question, Wallace said Duke executive committee of the of the Hospital. Hospital "will still be the most Board of Trustees last Friday. The increase — the second for expensive in the Piedmont On July 1, rates will inrease room rates in six months — is region," but added that the rate from $216 to $231 or by nine needed to make the Hospital's by which Duke's room fees have percent for semi-private rooms, projected revenue budget exceed increased is lower than about from $220 to $240 for private the expense budget to balance half ofthe hospitals' in the area. rooms and from $580 to $705 inflationary factors and help Duke Hospital's rates are daily, or by 22 percent, for decrease the Hospital's $3.5 higher than other area rooms in the intensive care unit. million deficit, Wallace hospitals largely because Duke Charges for out-patient visits explained after the meeting. Hospital does not receive as PHOTO BV LARRY LAWHEAD will be raised by an average of The Hospital's budget, much federal funding as public The Duke Chapel is one of the numerous buildings under five percent, and rates for high approved after 20 minutes of hospitals such as the Veterans construction this summer. technology diagnostic tests will explanation and questions, Administration Hospital across the street from Duke North and because Duke "provides a lot $9 million in renovations begun more charity care" than other area hospitals, Wallace said. By Marcie Pachino needs. The chancellor's report replaced, two new bathrooms While most campus life Over the next three years, $9 further states that "at least $2.3 will be installed, an exhaust He added that more than 2 remains quiet during the million will be spent on deferred million would be required system will be placed in all the percent of the average 11 summer months, maintenance maintenance costs, said annually simply to stay even" bathrooms to remove steam and percent room rate hike will be and construction crews are Stephen Harward, University with maintenance needs. lights will be replaced, Smith used for salary increases working harder than ever. treasurer. Deferred maintenance The most visible renovation continued. ranging from 10 percent to 22 is the term used to describe work, according to Smith, is "$13,000 worth of odds and percent for all Duke Hospital "In the 18 years that I have nurses. been here, never has there been conditions that exist because being done on Southgate ends will also be spent to this much construction and "of the failure to provide dormitory on East Campus. improve the exterior presence of Wallace said last week those renovation under way all over adequate maintenance in the Southgate has been closed for the building — hand rails on hikes are "a special package campus," said Larry Smith, past," according to Chancellor the summer to "redo the entire exterior steps, new woodwork . over and above ordinary director of housing management. A. Kenneth Pye's Directions for domestic water system [water to on the porch ceiling, new porch inflationary increases." Smith attributes the increase Progress report. showers, sinks and commodes] roof and repairing of steps in Another portion of the 11 in campus maintenance to a But Pye's report states that and the pipes, which are old and the back. After all this we will percent increase will be used to greater availability of funds, $23 million in 1978 dollars rotten," Smith said. The dorm paint the interior because it's a "move from a deficit posture to a made possible by a $9 million would be required to restore the was built in 1921. mess," Smith added. positive financial posture,"Wallace allotment by the Board of physical plant of the University In addition, the dorm's See RENOVATIONS on said. Trustees for deferred maintenance "to an acceptable condition." heating system is being page 5 See TRUSTEES on page 11 Duke begins interferon research in two cancer treatment studies By John Ayers cancer drug. Laszlo explained. Researchers at Duke Medical Researchers proved its "First of all, we want to know Center are now conducting two effectiveness in the treatment of how well the interferon is studies on the effects of viral and non-viral tumors in tolerated by the patient; next, interferon in the treatment of animals, and those findings we want to study the side cancer. prompted private studies of its effects, if any, caused by the According to Dr. John Laszlo, effectiveness on cancers of bone treatment; and lastly, we hope director of Duke's Clinical marrow, the lymph glands and to determine what the drug does Research Program, the first other tissues. to the many components of experiment, sponsored by the Though the private studies immunities," or how the drug National Cancer Institute, produced no conclusive helps kill cancer cells. started April 1 with five of the evidence, the federal govern program's 17 patients beginning ment was impressed enough to According to Dr. Hillel Koren treatment in which they receive initiate research into the of the medical center's injections of interferon. effectiveness of interferon, department of immunology, Discovered in 1957, interferon hoping more extensive study cells have the innate capability is a protein produced by the might provide a cure for cancer. to kill cancer, as stated in the body as a "front line" defense The study sponsored by the theory of "natural killing." against viral infections. National Cancer Institute will Interferon helps the cells to Studies on animals in the last two years, with each year destroy cancerous tissues. But various complications can 1960s proved the substance's having a different focus. "The PHOTO RY TRACY TANG strength against viral diseases, first year we are going to try and occur within the body, resulting determine three different in the growth of a tumor. Duke alumni met on campus last weekend to reminisce, but it was not until the 1970s renew old acquaintances, laugh and share memories. that it was hailed as an anti aspects of interferon treatment." See CANCER on page 6 Page Two The Summer Chronicle Wednesday, June 17, 1981 Foundation grants OurWorld $11.5 million According to William Bevan, Duke provost and Duke grad advisor program director under the grant, the grants are made From Staff and Wire reports to institutions rather than to individual researchers so A Duke graduate recently was appointed as the funds can be awarded at local discretion to support The Duke Endowment, the philanthrophic President Ronald Reagan's science advisor. developing research projects. foundation founded by James B. Duke in 1924, George Key worth, 41, earned his doctoral degree at In the past, grants from the National Institute of contributed $11.5 million to Duke in 1980, Duke in nuclear physics in 1968. He is now director of Health have been used at Duke to support research according to the endowment's annual report. the physics division of a scientific laboratory in New projects in such departments as biomedical The foundation made grants totalling $33.5 Mexico. engineering, botany, chemistry, zoology and the basic million to several colleges, hospitals and If Keyworth's nomination is confirmed by the U.S. science departments of the Medical Center. churches. Senate, he will head the Office of Science and Bevan said the funds are used often as seed money The Duke Endowment is not the same as the Technological Policy. for promising new research ideas and may also be used Duke University Endowment. The foundation According to a recent report in the Durham Morning to meet unexpected requirements in ongoing research financed by James Duke's tobacco and electric Herald, Keyworth's appointment was supported by projects. company investments is based in Charlotte, and is scientists considered to have aggressive views on one ofthe 10 largest philanthropic organizations national defense, including Edward Teller, the in the United States. physicist known as the father ofthe hydrogen bomb, The Duke Endowment gets about 70 percent of and Sen. Harrison Schmitt, R-New Mexico. its earnings from the endowment's 13 million shares of Duke Power Company stocks, and from smaller investments in many other businesses, (WW Biomedical grant THE CflROUlM THEATRE Harward said. DOWtlTSOVfl DURflfin 666HW9 Stocks held by the Duke Endowment had a Duke has recently received a "biomedical research market value of more than $380 million in stocks, support grant" of almost $108,000 from the National bonds and notes last year. The endowment of Institute of Health. Duke University is currently "at least $150 million," according to Stephen Harward, University treasurer. Under the terms of the agreement specified by James Duke more than 50 years ago, Duke The Chronicle HELD OVER The Chronicle is published Monday through Friday University receives 32 percent of The Duke Daily 7:00-9:15 Endowment's grants, Harward said. He added of the academic year, and weekly through ten (10) that the University "would still exist" if it did not weeks of Summer sessions by the Duke University Sunday Matinees Publications Board.