u n i v e r s i t y

Vol. 37, No. 12 gazette.unc.edu

August 8, 2012 Carolina Faculty and Staff News

Pierce Freelon and Apple Juice Kid (Steven Levitin), instructors at UNC’s “beat-making lab,” demonstrate beat-making June 19 at the Rio + Social event in Brazil.

NG shares enthusiasm 4 for physics discovery

Davis leads 10 others by example Summertime Storify gives a glimpse into #UNCWork

he Class of 2012 graduated May 13 and the campus crowds thinned soon after. But when summer starts, the University doesn’t shut down. As social media told the story of faculty and staff through their posts about work, Tteaching philosophies and breakthroughs, the Gazette pulled those into a narrative showing Kreiss how Tar Heels work in the summer, whether they stayed near or ventured far. cracks This Storify (found at storify.com/univgazette/uncwork) is a “how I spent my sum- 12 online mer” for the world of new media. code

Reviews help officials fix problems, prevent recurrence

The University welcomes the opportunity to problems it uncovered. The panel consists of BOG members Hari satisfy any remaining questions about its aca- “I look forward to the opportunity to tell our Nath, Walter Davenport, Ann Goodnight, James demic review of the Department of African and story – as difficult as it is – in a comprehensive Deal and chair Lou Bissette. Afro-American Studies and the policies and pro- way,” he said. In charging the panel, Ross reiterated that the cedures now in place to prevent a similar situa- UNC President Tom Ross appointed the irregularities appeared to be traced to two indi- tion from happening again. panel following the June BOG meeting in which viduals, neither of whom is still employed at Car- Chancellor Holden Thorp emphasized that members were briefed about problems that had olina. He also reinforced that both campus and point July 20 in his remarks to the five-member occurred in the department, problems Ross called UNC system officials were addressing the issue of Board of Governors panel charged with review- “deplorable, intolerable and completely contrary ing the University’s investigation and solutions to to everything for which this university stands.” See BOG Review page 11 2 university Gazette

Faculty group issues recommendations on the web With support from Chancellor Holden Thorp,

a subcommittee appointed by Faculty Chair Jan See the related story on page 1 about Boxill and the Faculty Executive Committee has Why Student Aid Matters the Board of Governors review of Caro- completed its examination of the University’s lina’s investigation as well as steps the Tuition and fees at Carolina are among the lowest reviews of courses in the African and Afro-Ameri- University has taken following its reviews. nationwide. But even this value would be beyond the can studies department and independent studies. reach of some families without strong need-based aid. Read about the great things Carolina students The panel – consisting of faculty mem- are able to achieve with this support. bers Steven Bachenheimer, microbiology and including top administrators, faculty members, go.unc.edu/Dg24P immunology; Michael Gerhardt, law; and Lau- athletics department staff and the new student rie Maffly-Kipp, religious studies – has worked body president. to identify questions or gaps in knowledge that The panel recommended considering best Crab Pots to Oyster Reefs contributed to the academic problems and to practices at peer institutions addressing similar Reporter Tori Shaw from WCTI-12 in New Bern recommend next steps. issues and asking the chancellor to appoint an profiled the collaboration between commercial “The purpose of the subcommittee’s work was external group of people with higher education fishermen and researchers from the Institute of not to find fault with, or criticize, any of the offi- Marine Sciences as they use old crab pots to help administration experience to provide a compre- cials who have investigated the academic mis- revive North Carolina’s depleted oyster population. hensive analysis of the relationship between ath- go.unc.edu/La29Q conduct that has troubled this campus for more letics and academics at UNC and the best ways than a year,” Boxill told the Board of Trustees to manage it. Academic Affairs Committee on July 25. Such a panel could “both highlight what we are “We wanted to focus attention on issues that Thorp’s Viewpoint doing right and identify areas of deficiencies in we believe still confront the University pertain- In this guest editorial for Powering a Nation’s new organization and procedure, point to best prac- ing to the complicated relationship between our project, “100 Gallons,” Chancellor Holden Thorp tices that can be brought to bear on these defi- commitments to excellence in our athletic pro- writes about what UNC is doing to solve some of the ciencies … and create a path forward towards biggest water-related problems on our planet. grams and our standing as one of the nation’s implementation,” the report said. premier academic institutions.” go.unc.edu/Qi87Y Thorp thanked the subcommittee for its work. The subcommittee met with 31 people rep- resenting various University perspectives, See Faculty Review page 11

u n i v e r s i t y During the past three years of economic strain, a swarm of competing universities made alluring offers for some of Carolina’s best faculty members. This year, though, the swarm was smaller, and the number of outside offers made to faculty members dropped. Editor This is a positive step in the right direction, Executive Vice Chancellor and Pro- Patty Courtright (962-7124) vost Bruce Carney told the Board of Trustees on July 26. But it still is a long way [email protected] from normal. managing Editor Between the 2002–03 and 2007–08 academic years, the number of outside offers fac- Gary C. Moss (962-7125) [email protected] ulty members received dropped from 75 to 26; the average during that period was 47. During the past three years, the average number of outside offers has jumped to Associate editor Courtney Mitchell (962-8594) 91 (87 in 2009–10, climbing to 110 in 2010–11 and falling back to 78 in 2011–12). [email protected] The good news within those numbers, Carney said, is the University’s increasing

Photographer Faculty retention ability to thwart those offers with successful counter offers to keep faculty here. Dan Sears (962-8592) In each of the past three years, the retention success rate has improved – from

Design and Layout 50 percent in 2009–10 to 61 percent in 2010–11 and 69 percent in 2011–12. The UNC Creative efforts show average success rate for the period 2002–03 to 2007–08 was 65 percent. Linda Graham Of the 35 faculty members who accepted outside offers last year, 10 left after Contributors improvement, rejecting counter offers, Carney added. University Relations Another strategy that proved to be effective last year was a number of what Car- Natalie Vizuete Janet Kelly-Scholle ney called “pre-emptive retentions,” offering prized faculty members more lucrative packages in anticipation of outside offers they were likely to receive. Editorial Offices but ‘still not 210 Pittsboro St., Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Last year, 73 faculty members (many in medicine and public health) received FAX 962-2279 | CB 6205 | [email protected] such packages. change of address back to normal’ All in all, Carney said, “We are doing pretty well after a couple of tough years. The Make changes at: directory.unc.edu news is quite good, but we are still not back to normal.” Read the gazette online at Chancellor Holden Thorp credited the state legislature and the UNC Board of gazette.unc.edu Governors with helping the University win these “pre-emptive fights” by providing The University Gazette is a University publica- the flexibility needed to make such offers. tion. Its mission is to build a sense of campus “A lot of people have been working behind the scenes to make sure these things community by communicating information relevant and vital to faculty and staff and to have gone as well as they have gone,” Thorp added. advance the University’s overall goals and By far, AAU (Association of American Universities) schools have led the efforts messages. The editor reserves the right to decide what information will be published in to recruit Carolina faculty members – 32 percent were AAU public universities and the Gazette and to edit submissions for con- 23 percent, AAU private universities. Health affairs faculty are heavily recruited by sistency with Gazette style, tone and content. industry and government (17 percent), and foreign universities accounted for 10 percent of the efforts. August 8, 2012 3

Trustees begin Cunningham: Powell’s leadership lessons broad conversation a model for success in life and work on Carolina’s future Bubba Cunningham’s first job backyard.” Cunningham acknowledged that speaking one’s was in the ticket office at Notre mind is never easy. “The great thing about working in the This spring, Chancellor Holden Thorp called upon trust- Dame, where phones rang non-stop University is, we have the capacity to ask questions and ees and other members of the University community to join from people who wanted to see the explore,” he said. “No matter the role you have, it’s about in a yearlong public conversation to envision the 21st-century Fighting Irish. asking the right questions.” American public research university. “It’s the people on the phones, or “Organizational charts and fancy titles count for next to The first of these conversations began last month when three on the ground, who understand the nothing.” To get something done, ask the person who will separate committees – each assigned to a specific area – held climate and culture of the people get it done, Cunningham said. “People you can rely on and their inaugural meetings. you’re trying to serve,” said Cun- trust make a great organization,” he said, not the organiza- The conversations, which are a precursor to the University’s Cunningham ningham, Carolina’s athletic direc- tional chart and structure. next fundraising campaign, are designed to develop a more col- tor since last fall. All who work here are tied to the University’s mission, lective, cohesive voice that will help define a new model for a In a presentation to the Employee Forum on July 11, Cunningham said. “The Carolina Family is really all of public university, one that must support the University’s core Cunningham shared a few points from “A Leadership us in this room. We each have different roles and obliga- mission as it adapts to society’s changing needs. Primer,” an 18-point presentation that offers an overview tions, but the students and the alumni who come back are Board of Trustees Chair Wade Hargrove has embraced the of Gen. Colin Powell’s leadership lessons. touched by all of us.” process as an opportunity to influence the national conversation “The commander in the field is always right and the rear “Keep looking below surface appearances [even though] in a way few universities can. echelon is wrong, unless proven otherwise.” Cunningham said you might not like what you find.” It’s important, Cunning- “I am excited about this project, and your leadership has set this idea continues to influence his leadership style. ham said, to take a step back and figure out how to do us on this path of seeking input from the University community “The people who interact with the public often know things better. itself, from alumni and the public,” Hargrove told Thorp. “My best,” he said. “It’s part of the most important thing we do In closing, he said, “We are all very visible in what we do. guess is we will hear things we don’t want to hear. That’s good. here, which is enhance the educational experience of all the We invite hundreds of thousands of people to see us, to watch We should have an old-fashioned debate on these issues in order students who come here.” us on TV. We invite them here, and we all play an incredible to sharpen our focus to make the University better and stronger “Don’t be afraid to challenge the pros, even in their own role in that. I am so fortunate to be a part of it.” than ever before.” One committee will explore how the University can educate more students without increasing costs. It will focus on expand- ing access to a more diverse group of students, adopting innova- Carolina Covenant Scholars’ success is measurable tive models of funding and decreasing the time it takes for stu- Shirley Ort, associate provost and director of the Office of the Covenant, so we’ve been able to maintain exactly what dents to graduate. Scholarships and Student Aid, talked to the Employee Forum we’re doing,” Ort said. “This campus has embraced the Cov- A second committee is focused on exploring new models of about the success of the Carolina Covenant Program, which is enant as its own.” undergraduate education to optimize student success, taking entering its ninth year. Covenant scholars graduate debt-free with the help of Characteristics of Covenant Scholars (fall 2011) into account the economic realities of faltering state and fed- grants and work-study programs and benefit from a host of New scholars ...... 585 eral support. This committee will explore the essence of under- academic and personal support services. Since the inception Average high school GPA ...... 4.42 of the program, the four-year graduation rate of these schol- Average SAT scores ...... 1209 graduate education and how to make college more academically ars has increased by 15 percent, she said. In-state ...... 85% challenging and relevant to students’ needs while enhancing “Nearly all of the improvement occurred among men – a N.C. counties represented ...... 78 success and engagement. headline that we don’t often see today, but quite remark- Gender able,” Ort said. Female ...... 65% The third committee will examine ways to strengthen the In fact, the graduation rate of African-American male scholars Male ...... 35% University’s ability to apply cutting-edge research and scholar- over time has increased from 33 percent to 69 percent, she said. Students of color ...... 58% “We’ve got the full faith and credit of the University behind First-generation students ...... 58% ship to help solve the world’s important problems. The group wants to find innovative ways to leverage the University’s long- standing culture of collaboration and combine current strengths in basic sciences with an applied perspective. Almost as soon as Thorp took over as chancellor in summer 2008, the global economic crisis hit and the University has had Malone discusses proposed unified personnel to deal with challenging budget reductions. As the University envisions its future, Thorp said, financial con- straints are likely to continue, requiring the University to strike a system, says conversation likely to continue careful balance between costs and quality in everything it does. He said the academic and financial fundamentals of the Uni- Brenda Malone marked her fifth low simmer since no bill was included in this year’s bud- versity are strong. anniversary at Carolina this month get,” Malone said. “It is important to remember that even After weathering cumulative state budget cuts of $231 million and celebrated the milestone with though it is not active at the moment, it is not a dead issue. during the past five years, the University will start a new academic members of the Employee Forum on You are likely to hear more about it in the months before year this fall without a state budget cut. In addition, University Aug. 1 as part of her monthly report. we start gearing up for next year’s budget.” employees will see a modest raise, the first in several years. “I just want to say thank you for On the matter of the budget, Malone also reminded Campus-based tuition revenue will be directed toward need- all you do,” Malone, vice chancel- forum members that state employees received their first based financial aid, graduate student support and discretionary lor for human resources, told forum pay raise in several years. While the raise was a modest raises for top faculty as a way to thwart attempts by competitors Malone members. “For those of you who 1.2 percent, it is a sign that perhaps better days are ahead, to recruit them (see related story on page 2). have been wishing and praying for she said. Students, even during challenging economic times, continue me to go, forget about it. I’m not leaving.” Malone also outlined progress made and remedies put in to excel and to graduate on time without racking up high debt, One other thing that is not going away is the idea of a place since the assessment of the culture and climate Thorp said. unified personnel system for all UNC system employees of Housekeeping Services was completed last fall. The under the auspices of the Board of Governors, she said. report on the climate improvement initiative is available at See 21st century page 7 “I would not say it is on the back burner, but it is on a go.unc.edu/Qt78B. 4 university Gazette

Carolina physicist describes UNC-Higgs boson connection

cience class is where we are introduced particle that explains why matter has mass. to the standard model of particle phys- Ng (pronounced ING) was at a physics ics, or what makes up matter. conference in Stockholm, Sweden, when the SGlossy posters point to small spheres of events were interrupted for one of the most atoms and the particles inside them, like pro- important announcements of his career. tons and electrons. These particles, known as “It was a joyful scene,” Ng said. “The dis- fermions, relate to matter and live alongside covery of the Higgs boson is a bridge to the other particles called bosons, which relate to future, to more exciting things so that we can force in matter. understand, even better, nature at the funda- Jack Ng, Kenan Professor of Physics, dis- mental level.” plays this poster on his office door. As a parti- Before thinking of the Higgs boson, Ng said, cle physicist, Ng looks to the model for almost think of the field associated with the boson. everything that happens in the physical world. Higgs first theorized a field permeating all But the poster, like the model it represents, has space with which particles would interact to been incomplete. get mass. While an electron (a fermion) carries charge “When a famous rock star walks through and a photon (a boson) transmits light, no a crowd and draws a lot of attention, people particle has ever been associated with gener- crowd around him, making him move very ating mass. While doing research at UNC in slowly,” he said. “On the other hand, if I walk imparting a greater mass. that we have today.” 1965, Peter Higgs theorized about a boson for through a crowd, I get no attention or crowd, In another metaphor, Ng said if you think This could lead to later discoveries, maybe mass, but no one could prove it. so I can move very freely. A person who moves of the Higgs field as a wave, this Higgs boson even what kind of background field could have This explains why on July 4 social net- slowly because of their interaction with a would be the ripple. catalyzed the “big bang.” works, news channels and physics enthusiasts crowd has more mass. I, the unknown, would “If finding the Higgs boson means there “It’s so much fun to be a physicist. We are all erupted in celebration when the European have little mass.” is a Higgs field, it is now conceivable that a so proud,” Ng said. Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) The crowd is the Higgs field, he said. similar type of background field could have To read more about Higgs’ discovery announced the discovery of what was prob- The rock star is the particle in question. The existed in the early universe. That background and his connection to Carolina, see go.unc. ably the Higgs boson, a never-before proven bigger crowd represents a stronger field field would eventually give rise to all matter edu/p4HGb.

Departments see savings through DeSimone appointed new equipment maintenance partnership Kenan Institute director

University Purchasing Services now specific maintenance vendors or for all ven- The Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of “We are uniquely offers a way to save as much as one-third off dors, and won’t need to use a one-size-fits- Private Enterprise has appointed Joe DeSim- positioned to leverage departments’ equipment maintenance costs all approach, Law said. Cost savings to the one as its new director. the intellectual capital in an initiative started this spring. department can be as high as 32 percent DeSimone, the Chancellor’s Eminent we have right here on An Equipment Maintenance Management annually, a significant savings over tradi- Professor of Chemistry at Carolina and Wil- campus, join it with Program (EMMP), which involves working tional maintenance agreements. liam R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of some of the best and with a third party to defray costs of regular In addition to cost savings, this program Chemical Engineering at N.C. State Univer- brightest minds from and emergency equipment maintenance and offers web-based tracking of work performed sity and of Chemistry at Carolina, replaces around the globe, and repairs, has been available on campus since on all equipment under maintenance. Most John Kasarda, who stepped down in June after develop innovative Desimone April. It is one of several cost- and time-saving electrical equipment is eligible for the program. serving 22 years as the institute’s director. market-based solu- initiatives begun by Procurement Services. “Prior to this program, maintenance infor- “We are very pleased to welcome Joseph tions to some of the most pressing global A Purchasing Services study found that mation either did not exist or was collected DeSimone to the Kenan Institute,” said James challenges of our time, including poverty, participation in the program by all Carolina manually,” said Director of Procurement W. Dean Jr., Kenan-Flagler Business School health, education, energy, sustainable devel- departments could save the University more Services Martha Pendergrass. dean. “He is a world-renowned scholar in opment and economic growth,” he said. “I am than $1 million per year. Since April, nine campus departments his field. As an innovative entrepreneur, he is thrilled to have the opportunity to help drive The EMMP is in part a result of the Bain & have joined the program and have seen net applying his research to design novel nano- the institute forward at this critical juncture.” Company study that led to Carolina Counts, savings ranging from $1,400 to $14,000, medicines for cancer therapy and to improve DeSimone’s research focuses on applying which aims to improve efficiency throughout depending on the equipment in the program. vaccines and drug delivery mechanisms. lithographic fabrication technologies from the University. Purchasing Services solic- Savings are generated by moving from “He is the perfect leader to continue the the computer industry for the design and ited bids for firms that could help streamline expensive maintenance contracts based on institute’s cutting-edge research and col- synthesis of new medicines and vaccines. In equipment maintenance costs and reached an worst-case maintenance scenarios to a time- laboration with business and communities 2004, DeSimone and his students invented a agreement with two firms, Specialty Under- and-materials basis in which the EMMP to create positive local and global change.” new technology to create nanoparticles using writers LLC and the Remi Group. vendor pays the vendor for actual work per- The Kenan Institute, part of Kenan-Fla- a process they coined as PRINT (Particle Under the EMMP, University departments formed at the rates charged by the vendor. gler, pursues leading research, educational Replication In Non-wetting Templates). work through these two firms, depending The EMMP vendor will work with the programs and public policy initiatives in the DeSimone co-founded Liquidia which has offered the lowest bid for the depart- current vendor to save costs, but might rec- areas of entrepreneurship, economic devel- Technologies, a Triangle-based nanotech- ments’ equipment maintenance, to get the ommend an alternate vendor if significant opment and global competitiveness. nology company, to further develop the lowest costs from maintenance vendors, said savings can be found. DeSimone said the Kenan institute is cen- PRINT technology. Liquidia has its first Director of Purchasing Services Bernard Law. For additional information about EMMP, tral to UNC’s continued leadership as an product – a nanoparticle flu vaccine – in Departments can choose the EMMP for contact Law at [email protected]. entrepreneurial university. clinical trials. August 8, 2012 5 Faculty/News Staff Schuettpelz Willis to lead UNC’s state relations office assumes new role Jennifer Willis has been named Carolina’s new director of with the General Assembly and as chief of staff state relations. Willis, who has more than 15 years of experi- team leader for the Natural and ence in government relations, assumed the post on Aug. 1. Economic Resources Team. Before coming to Carolina, she served for four years as “We couldn’t ask for a more Chancellor Holden Thorp has named director of government relations for the N.C. Community capable person to serve as the Uni- Erin Schuettpelz as chief of staff. College System, where she was the primary liaison between versity’s liaison with the legislature,” Her responsibilities include strategic the system’s office and the State Board of Community Col- said Erin Schuettpelz, chief of staff. planning and administration of the Board leges with the N.C. General Assembly. There, she devel- “Jennifer has extensive experience of Trustees, including planning its meet- oped policy issues and executed the legislative agenda for in state government relations, strong Willis ings, and serving as a liaison with Student the community college system’s 58 constituent institutions. relationships with our legislature Government, UNC General Administra- Before assuming that position, Willis had seven years and a thorough understanding of education funding.” tion and the Board of Governors. experience with the government of Wake County – two Willis, who holds a bachelor’s degree in political science “Anyone who has worked with Erin in Schuettpelz years as the intergovernmental relations manager and the from Carolina and a master of public administration her role as director of state relations and previous five years as budget and management analyst. degree from N.C. State, replaces Schuettpelz, who was communications will understand why I have great confidence in Willis also served for seven years as a senior fiscal analyst named Carolina’s chief of staff this summer. her abilities,” Thorp said. Before she came to Carolina two years ago, Schuettpelz, an alumna with undergraduate degrees in political science and geography, worked at General Administration for seven years, advocating to the N.C. General Assembly on behalf of the UNC system and its fiscal priorities. In Memoriam “We have been very fortunate to have Erin advocating for Car- J. Richard Udry, pioneering researcher and population scientist olina the past couple of years,” Thorp said. Following the retirement of Brenda Kirby after 40 years of J. Richard Udry, Kenan Distinguished Professor shift in the center’s mission from technical assistance of maternal and child health in the Gillings School of to research, particularly interdisciplinary work. University service, Schuettpelz will manage the Chancellor’s Global Public Health and professor of sociology in “Dick created the center that exists now,” said Bar- Office as well as taking on the added duties of chief of staff. the College of Arts and Sciences, died on July 29 after bara Entwisle, vice chancellor for research and Kenan As a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet and Vice Chancel- a long illness. He was 83. Distinguished Professor of sociology. “As a scholar, lors, Schuettpelz will work with other senior administrators to Udry also directed the Carolina Population Center Dick Udry worked on topics that were at times con- examine and resolve various University issues. She also will man- (CPC) from 1977 to 1992. troversial. He was way ahead of his time.” age local and state government relations and work with the Divi- During his nearly 50-year career, Udry pioneered Udry earned a Ph.D. in sociology from the Univer- sion of Research to oversee federal relations. research that integrated biological and sociological sity of Southern California in 1960. After teaching “I have worked closely with Erin since she came here,” Thorp models of human behavior in the areas of adolescent briefly at Chaffey College and California State Poly- said. “Her keen insight into operations at the University, the behavior and health, sexual behavior and women’s technic College, he moved to Carolina in 1965 and UNC system and state government is impressive, and her grasp gender roles, and developed the National Longitudi- remained here for the rest of his career. of complex issues – and how to solve problems – is outstanding. nal Study of Adolescent Health. Contributions may be made to the N.C. Sierra She will be a tremendous asset not only to my office, but also to As CPC director, Udry initiated a fundamental Club, 112 South Blount Street, Raleigh 27601. the University as a whole.”

honors

Graduate students Onur Dagliyan, Alakananda Public Health 2012 list, published by MPHprogramslist.com. Institute of Medicine. Zolotor is also a member of the UNC Das and Mira Pronobis each were awarded International Rankings are based on the reputation of the institution along Clinical and Translational Science Awards program. Predoctoral Fellowships by the Howard Hughes Medical Insti- with the personal achievements of each dean. tute. The program, now in its second year, is designed to sup- Karen Smith and John Torontow, two doctors affili- port international students during their third to fifth years of The N.C. Environmental Management Commission and ated with the Area Health Education Centers Program based at the graduate school in the United States. the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources School of Medicine, were honored at the White House on June 19 honored David Moreau, professor of city and regional plan- for a celebration of the nation’s more than 100,000 primary-care The UNC Bridge Team, advised by physics professor ning, with the creation of the Dr. David H. Moreau Environmen- physicians adopting electronic health records since 2009. Hugon Karwowski, won the 2012 North American Col- tal Stewardship Award to honor outstanding contributions and legiate Bridge Team Championship. Four UNC students are on excellence in the protection and conservation of North Carolina’s Joseph DeSimone, Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of the team: Jensheng Zho, Patrick Domico, Xiyuan Ge and cap- water, air and land resources. Moreau was the inaugural recipient. Chemistry and member of the National Academy of Sciences, tain Ovunc Yilmaz. has been selected as a member of the 2012 class of Ameri- Adam Zolotor, an assistant professor and maternal and can Chemical Society’s Fellows. ACS Fellows are selected for Barbara Rimer, dean of the Gillings School of Global child health services director in the Department of Family Med- extraordinary achievements in the sciences and excellent volun- Public Health, was ranked #2 in the 100 Awesome Deans of icine, has been selected as the new vice president of the N.C. teer services for the ACS community. 6 university Gazette

Researchers uncover reason for false-positive marijuana tests in babies

What would you think if, immediately after birth, a baby UNC social worker Lizzy Burch organized a meeting with z c tested positive for marijuana? Well, you might think the baby’s nurses, clinical staff and doctors. The team walked through the r ewi mother used drugs. But what if the mother didn’t? What if the results, and then nurses described every step that takes place in e test was wrong? the nursery between childbirth and sample collection. It turned D

False positives happen, and they’ve stumped lab chemists out that nurses collected urine samples in different ways. Some Mark and nursery departments across the country. But now research- used cotton balls or gauze to dab samples from diapers. Others ers at Carolina have figured out what’s going on. turned diapers inside out, which caused urine to interact with Nurses collect urine from a newborn for a drug test if doctors colored dye from the diaper. Maybe that dye was made from determine that the mother hasn’t had adequate prenatal care. hemp, Hammett-Stabler thought. Other nurses used collection If the test for THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, devices to get urine directly from babies. Some nurses cleaned comes back positive, then doctors have a conversation with babies with towelettes; others gave babies baths with soap. the mother. A single positive drug-test result doesn’t mean the Resident Daniel Duncan and chemist Steve Cotten collected nursery will call child protective services, but it is one of several all these materials and ran experiments to determine whether any determining factors, so getting that test right is important. would trigger a false-positive result when mixed with urine. All In July 2011, nurses at UNC Hospitals’ Newborn Nursery those tests came back negative except for one item – baby soap. found that some babies’ urine samples came back positive for To confirm the finding, Hammett-Stabler bought as many laboratory staffs, testing protocol has changed at UNC and THC even though tests of their meconium – a newborn’s first kinds of baby wash as she could find at local stores and ran other hospitals around the country. Before, the laboratory bowel movement – came back negative. them through the same tests. Sure enough, nearly all the baby had to receive permission from a doctor to order the confir- Catherine Hammett-Stabler, executive director of UNC’s soaps on the market produced some false positives. She then matory mass spectrometry test. In the time it would take for Core Laboratory at the William W. McLendon Clinical Labo- sent her samples to Duke and Rex Hospitals, which use slightly the request to be processed, many urine samples would have ratories, and Carl Seashore, director of the Newborn Nursery, different immunoassays to test urine for THC. Both hospitals been discarded. Now, when there’s a positive THC result, the asked the nurses to continue collecting urine samples from got false-positive responses as well. laboratory is allowed to automatically order the mass spec- newborns. If any came back positive, the nurses were immedi- “We realized this problem wasn’t unique to the assay we use,” trometry test. ately to request that the doctor order a confirmation test using said Hammett-Stabler, who is quick to point out that these Since Hammett-Stabler and Seashore’s research paper was the more sophisticated mass spectrometry to confirm or cor- soaps don’t contain THC. Chemical components in the soap published in the “Journal of Clinical Biochemistry” in June, rect the initial finding. – cocamidoprophyl betaine, polyquaternium 11, PEG 80 and Hammett-Stabler has been contacted by colleagues across the A week later, nurses had compiled a number of positive sorbitan laurate – cause the false-positive results. Hammett- country who had been chasing the false-positive THC problem results using the standard test, but mass spectrometry showed Stabler’s team tested these chemicals individually and found that but hadn’t been able to figure out what was going on. that they were all negative. This was odd, Hammett-Stabler they seem to cause false positives independent of each other. “We could not have done this without the nurses and the saod, because the hospital never had a problem with the stan- “Exactly how the false positive happens – what the mecha- hospital staff,” Hammett-Stabler said. “It’s been a tremendous dard test when screening other patients for THC. nism might be – we don’t know,” she said. Structurally, the team effort.” “The mass spectrometry test always matches,” she said. “So chemicals in question don’t look like marijuana metabolites, but this bothered me. It made me think something was happening for some reason the standard test sometimes thinks they are. Editor’s Note: This article was written by Mark Derewicz at the in the nursery that was different.” As a result of the collaboration between the nursery and Office of Research Communications.

Powering a Nation: focus on water University supports Northside study, plan

Students at the School A nonprofit foundation affiliated with the studies department, the Marian Cheek Jack- of Journalism and Mass University has completed an agreement with son Center for Saving and Making History, the on

ti Communication have the Center for Community Self-Help to study Town of Chapel Hill and the community. a

N launched an interactive and develop a five-year plan to help sustain Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt com- a ng

i film exploring the human Chapel Hill’s downtown Northside neighbor- mended Thorp and the University for the effort. r connection with water hood, Chancellor Holden Thorp announced “The town has long recognized Northside’s we at 100gallons.org, a con- during the July 26 Board of Trustees meeting. unique history and proximity to downtown and e/P o tinuation of the school’s Chapel Hill Foundation Real Estate Hold- the campus, as well as the role it plays in the cul- asb

K award-winning Powering ings, a not-for-profit corporation founded by ture of our community,” he said. on

J a Nation project. the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Thorp credited Communication Studies Named “100 Gallons” Foundation, approved a request to contract Professor Della Pollock, executive director of for the amount of water the average American uses daily, the project examines topics across with Self-Help for the study and five-year plan. the Jackson Center, for helping prompt the the country including the New York sewer system, natural gas drilling in Ohio, bottling rain- “We’re asking Self-Help to recommend a University’s involvement. She is among com- water in Texas and the search for water in space, among other topics. Water is also the sub- viable approach to balancing the mix of owner- munity leaders who have been instrumental ject of the University’s first academic theme, “Water in Our World.” occupied housing of all types with the rental in conversations about the neighborhood and People can choose to experience “100 Gallons” as an interactive film, navigating through needs of community members and our stu- suggested involving the Center for Commu- the opening video to access videos, graphics, articles and more. Or they can watch the com- dents who want to live close to downtown and nity Self Help. plete video before exploring the in-depth content through an interactive mosaic. campus,” Thorp said. In conjunction with outside consultants and Laura Ruel, professor at the school and Powering a Nation executive producer, said, In recent years, Northside has been a topic the Jackson Center, Self-Help will work on the “The project creates a visual experience that informs viewers of the universality of our of community discussion in part because of the five-year plan in three phases: research and relationship with water. The site’s main video is unique in the sense that it is artistically presence of UNC students, who are estimated analysis; program design; and implementation. filmed while adhering to journalistic principles, with no staged shots.” to live in about half of the single-family homes, Initial steps will include a detailed housing Since 2009, Powering a Nation has won more than 45 national and international awards and the practices of private developers. market analysis, baseline report and review of including last year’s South by Southwest Interactive award and recognition from World Self-Help staff will partner with neighborhood zoning and related regulations. The contract Press Photo as one of the top three interactive productions in the world. residents, the University and its communications for the services is valued at up to $210,000. August 8, 2012 7 ted bu i t r

Two con Carolina families experience Olympic dreams

or some Carolina families, life these Two other University employees, Carmen At 23, Megan is the youngest member of the Ana and her husband, Doug, decided early days seems like a dream come true. Samuel-Hodge and Mike Hodge, are also in team. She was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands on that if they could manage it financially Ana McCrory, a technician in the London cheering for the red, white and blue and her family moved to Durham when she was they would try to attend Nick’s competitions LinebergerF Comprehensive Cancer Center’s – specifically for their daughter, Megan, who 3 years old. Both parents played on the U.S. Vir- together to show their support and family Tissue Culture Facility (above left), has been plays on the U.S. women’s volleyball team. gin Islands national volleyball team and in col- unity. That meant the family schedule was in London to watch her son, Nick, a diver, (The family is pictured above right.) lege. Mike Hodge, a Facilities Services support pretty chaotic for a while. compete in the 2012 Olympic games. “We could not be more proud of our daugh- services supervisor, also is the volleyball coach McCrory, who has a public health degree “It feels pretty wonderful!” McCrory said. ter’s accomplishment,” said Samuel-Hodge, a at Megan’s alma mater, Riverside High School. and a nursing degree from Carolina, said her “Nick has been working to get to this point research fellow at the Center for Health Pro- Earning a spot on an Olympic team requires current job allows her to work part-time and for a long time. It hasn’t always been easy and motion and Disease Prevention and research skill, confidence and determination, no doubt still make key trips with her family. there were times when we weren’t sure if it assistant professor of nutrition at the Gillings – but it also takes an exceptional inner strength. As for watching Nick dive last week, would all be worth it. But he was determined School of Global Public Health. “To make this McCrory said, “It’s not really something you McCrory said they were on pins and needles and we just provided all the support he needed team is no easy feat. Even the players who do can teach someone. It’s more of an inherent the entire time. to get there.” not start are among the best at their positions, characteristic.” When it became clear that Nick and David Nick, who attends Duke University but took and they play a very important part in making Getting Nick ready to compete at this level would receive the bronze medal, McCrory the past year off to train, earned a bronze medal the starters the players that they are.” also has required a lot of shuffling for all of the said, “We just started screaming and shouting in the 10-meter synchronized diving compe- The U.S. Olympic volleyball team has never McCrorys, especially Ana. She was the pri- and hugging and crying and all kinds of things. tition with David Boudia on July 30. He com- won a gold medal, but they are the favorite mary person to get him to the pool, get him fed “It’s an honor for all of us, but mostly for petes again this coming Friday and Saturday in to win this year. Competition began late last and get him to doctor’s and physical therapy him, and it’s a tribute to his dedication and his the 10-meter individual diving competitions. month and continues throughout the week. appointments when he was young. perseverance really, not ever giving up.”

Shirley Ort, associate provost and director of student aid; communication; and 21st century from page 3 Ming Lin professor of computer science; Jane Thrailkill, professor of English and comparative Bill Rivenbark, professor of public administration and literature. Now, when “the fundamentals look good is precisely the government; time we need to be doing this,” he said. Abigail Panter, professor of psychology; and Research to solve pressing problems: The three committees will meet several times during the aca- John Akin, professor of economics. *Lowry Caudill, Board of Trustees; demic year before issuing their final reports in May 2013. *Barbara Entwisle, vice chancellor for research; Models of undergraduate education: Trustees Peter Grauer, Wade Hargrove, Steve Lerner and College access and completion: *Alston Gardner, Board of Trustees; John Townsend; *Felicia Washington, Board of Trustees; *Karen Gil, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Steve Matson, dean of the Graduate School; *Steve Farmer, vice provost for enrollment and undergradu- Trustees Phil Clay, Don Curtis, Wade Hargrove and Barbara Barbara Rimer, dean of the Gillings School of Global Public ate admissions; Hyde; Health; Trustees Wade Hargrove, Kel Landis, Will Leimenstoll and Bruce Carney, executive vice chancellor and provost; Joe DeSimone, professor of chemistry; Sallie Shuping-Russell; Bill McDiarmid, dean of the School of Education; David Margolis, professor of medicine; Jim Dean, dean of Kenan-Flagler Business School; Peter Mucha, professor of mathematics; Cynthia Bulik, professor of nutrition; and Taffye Clayton, vice provost for diversity and multicultural Laurie Maffly-Kipp, professor of religious studies; Jim Johnson, professor of business. affairs; Dulcie Straughan, professor of journalism and mass *Committee co-chair

Despite lingering economic challenges, the Uni- include pledges as well as gifts. Support of Education. Carolina earned an Overall versity completed a very successful fundraising year. “This is a remarkable show of support,” said Matt Performance and a Sustained Excellence Award University sees Gifts from private donors totaled $287.4 million Kupec, vice chancellor for university advancement. based on the judges’ analysis of three years of in fiscal 2012, marking the University’s second-best “It’s a testament to our donors’ belief in what we’re fundraising data. year in history and topping the previous fiscal year’s doing for our students, our state and our world. Commitments in 2012 also helped the University gifts continue total of $277 million by 4 percent. We’re very grateful.” create nine endowed professorships, as well as a Commitments also rose for fiscal year 2012 to In recognition of its continued success, the total of 95 undergraduate scholarships and gradu- to climb $331.4 million – up from $305.6 million the previ- University received a 2012 Educational Fundrais- ate fellowships. Carolina had more than 78,000 ous year, for an 8 percent increase. Commitments ing Award from the Council for Advancement and donors for the year. See go.unc.edu/f5TKi. 8 university Gazette NewsIn Brief

Sign-up for alternative commuting ‘An Iliad’ joins PlayMakers’ season their training no later than Aug. 24. by Aug. 15 lineup in september For more information, see go.unc.edu/a9QLr. Registration is open for the 2012–13 Commuter Alternative Obie Award-winner “An Iliad” will open PlayMakers Reper- Carolina named ‘Best Buy’ in Program (CAP) through Aug. 15. A regionally and nationally tory Company’s 2012–13 season Sept. 5–9 as part of its PRC2 2013 Fiske Guide recognized program, CAP encourages biking, walking, ride second stage series, in which each performance is followed by Carolina has been named a “Best Buy” in the 2013 Fiske sharing, busing, use of park-and-ride lots and vanpooling as artist-audience discussion. Guide to Colleges. means of getting to campus. Program incentives include access “An Iliad,” a one-man play, brings a modern sensibility to Carolina is among 41 campuses – 20 public and 21 private – to park-and-ride lots, discounts at local merchants, entry into Homer’s epic tale of mighty warriors, gods and goddesses, and designated as “Best Buy Schools.” Based on quality of academic prize drawings and emergency rides home. go.unc.edu/g5N8L the face that launched a thousand ships, without losing the grit, offerings in relation to the cost of attendance, Fiske research- glory, bloodlust and poetry that have held audiences enthralled Back-to-school programs from the ers combined cost data with academic and other lifestyle infor- through the ages. Center for Faculty Excellence mation about each campus to determine which schools offer “An Iliad” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. nightly and 2 p.m. on To register and for more information visit cfe.unc.edu. remarkable educational opportunities at a modest cost. Sept. 9 in the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre in the Center for Aug. 15 – “CFE 100+: Teaching Your First Large Class” in Of Carolina’s 2011 graduates, only 35 percent borrowed Dramatic Art. For more information, call the PlayMakers box 318 Wilson Library from noon to 1 p.m. This workshop is to finance their education. Their average cumulative debt office at 919-962-PLAY (7529) or visit www.playmakersrep.org. designed to introduce instructors to planning for classes of was $15,472, well below the national average of $25,000. See 100 students or more and will address goals such as facili- greatstudents.unc.edu for more information. tating effective student learning and developing an effec- Conflict of interest training now tive learning community. Facilitated by Donna Bailey, CFE available for researchers Xerox now managing on-campus teaching and learning consultant. The online conflict of interest (COI) training is now avail- printing operations Aug. 16 – “Teaching So Everyone Can Learn: What’s Race able at apps.research.unc.edu/coi-training. As of Aug. 1, Xerox is now managing the on-campus print- Got to Do with It?” in the Center for Dramatic Art from COI training should be completed by all individuals (fac- ing/mailing services for UNC and will continue to provide all 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This interactive workshop is presented ulty, staff, students or trainees) who are involved in research by the printing/mailing services currently offered. by UNC faculty members and sponsored in part by the Aug. 24 in order to comply with the new federal regulations. Xerox will focus its initial efforts to make the transition as Office of Diversity and Multicultural affairs. Individuals who receive funding from the Public Health Service seamless as possible for University clients. They will use the Aug. 16 – A tour for faculty new to Carolina will be held from (PHS) through the NIH, CDC, AHRQ, FDA, HRSA or oth- same Web submission, procurement and billing system cur- 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m beginning in 316 Wilson Library. ers will receive additional email training reminders to complete rently in use for departments to request or submit work.

Send your photos to the Carolina Global Photo Competition

The submission period is now open for the 13th annual amateur Carolina Global Photography Com- Digital heritage petition hosted by the Center for Global Initiatives, the Study Abroad Office and UNC Global. The com- petition is open to all UNC students, faculty, alumni and staff. The deadline is Sept. 30. Winners will be center provides awarded prizes and select photos will be displayed in the FedEx Global Education Center exhibition opening Jan. 3, 2013. This year’s contest includes a “Best Water” award for the image that best embraces “Water in Our blast from the past World,” the University’s campus-wide academic theme. For more information, visit unc.edu/photocontest. Yearbooks from 14 of the 17 UNC system institutions and 37 other schools are now archived online, thanks to the North Caro- lina Digital Heritage Center. The North Carolina Collection at the Wilson Special Collections Library manages the center. History buffs and alumni can glimpse famous grads like Andy Griffith, Jesse Jackson, ESPN reporter Stephen A. Smith, singer Emmylou Har- ris and author David Sedaris in their school days. In addition to celebrity-spotting, the year- books highlight changes in stu- dent culture and life, said Nick Graham, program coordinator for the center. digitalnc.org

Last year’s winner, “Sun-dried,” was from Kelsey Snell in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. August 8, 2012 9

Auxiliary Services will provide management of the departmen- the coursework for the garden’s certificate in botanical illus- limited; email [email protected]. tal billing for Xerox through the current interface with FRS and tration and introduces the instructors for that certificate pro- Aug. 11 – “Drawing in the Galleries” from 10 a.m. to noon. University Accounting. There will be no change in the process gram. The fee is $40 ($35 for members). Amanda Hughes, the Ackland’s director of external affairs, for departments at this time. Events at NC TraCS leads participants in a creative exploration of a particular For more information, contact Sam Elliott, project manager, object in the Ackland’s collection. Bring paper and dry media For more from NC TraCS visit newsletter.tracs.unc.edu. at 919-383-3034. (crayon, pencils). All levels are welcome. For more infor- Aug. 10 – “Clinical Research 101: Who’s Who at UNC” at mation, contact Allison Portnow at 919-843-3687 or aport- 1 p.m. in 219 Brinkhous-Bullitt. Claudia Christy, regulatory Workshops from North Carolina [email protected]. nurse consultant, will review the function of the departments Botanical Garden focus on art Aug. 11 – “Drawing for Tweens” from 10:30 a.m. to noon. and personnel that support clinical research at UNC. Atten- To register, visit ncbg.unc.edu or call 919-962-0522. This program invites 10- to 13-year-olds to look at artists’ dance is free, and registration is suggested. go.unc.edu/Rg4o7 Aug. 16 – “Chinese Brush Painting: Four Gentlemen” from techniques in the Ackland’s permanent collections and spe- Aug. 15 – A CRMS 2.0 Training Session will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. The Four Gentlemen – bamboo, orchid, plum cial exhibitions. Participants explore selected works and 1 to 3 p.m. in 219 Brinkhous-Bullitt. Learn to submit requests blossom and chrysanthemum – are famous in Chinese brush identify skills that the artist used to make them. Materials are online to the Office of Clinical Trials, Investigational Drug Ser- painting. In this workshop, intended for any experienced art- provided. Free for members, $5 for nonmembers. To regis- vice and Patient Accounts, monitor progress of requests, esti- ist, students paint the various Four Gentlemen and birds. ter, contact Caroline Culbert at 919-962-3342 or culbert@ mate time commitments required from your research team, Bring supplies, including watercolors. The fee is $35 ($30 unc.edu. www.ackland.org budget using the new research fee schedule, estimate subject for members). enrollment and compare costs to sponsors’ offers. Bring laptop Aug. 18 – “Short Course: Drawing for People Who Think for extra “hands-on” training. go.unc.edu/Nf6t2 They Can’t Draw” from 1 to 4:30 p.m. This workshop shows students that drawing is a skill anyone can learn. Students Events at the Ackland NEWS IN BRIEF Submissions progress from a blank sheet of paper to a beautiful finished Aug. 21 – “Yoga in the Galleries” from noon to 1 p.m. The Next issue includes events from Aug. 23 to Sept. 12. drawing. The fee is $40 ($35 for members). hour-long session offered by registered yoga teacher Joanne Deadline for submissions is 5 p.m., Mon., Aug. 13. Aug. 25 – “Short Course: Introduction to Botanical Illus- Marshall will provide an opportunity to practice a series of Email [email protected]. The Gazette events page tration” from 1 to 4:30 p.m. This half-day class explores the gentle yoga poses inspired by the art in the gallery. Beginners includes only items of general interest geared toward history of botanical illustration, shows examples of various are welcome; mats are provided. Wear comfortable cloth- a broad audience. For complete listings of events, see types of botanical illustrations and botanical art, describes ing. Free to members, $5 for nonmembers. Registration is the Carolina Events Calendars at events.unc.edu.

Paperhand Puppet Intervention presents ‘City of Frogs’

“City of Frogs” is a modern fairy tale for all ages. An ancient witch has traded her heart for eternal life with the mysterious Man of Beasts. A wooden boy, cut free by the Scissors of Fate, sets out on a journey to help the witch find what has been lost. Using giant puppets, masks, stilts, painted flats, junk and paper-cut shadows, Paper- hand tells stories that inspire people of all ages toward a better world. Shows at Forest Theatre are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday Aug. 10 – Sept. 9, including Labor Day, at 7 p.m. with a pre- show at 6:20 p.m. Matinees Sept. 2 and 9 are at 3 p.m., with a pre-show at 2:20 p.m. A donation of $12 (adult) or $8 (kid) is sug- gested, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. www.paperhand.org Shows at the N.C. Museum of Art are Sept. 14–16 at 7 p.m. with a 6:20 p.m. pre- show. Visit ncartmuseum.org/buy-tickets for tickets. 10 university Gazette CarolinaworkiNG At Davis devoted his career to creating opportunity for others

In high school, Herb Davis was an all-state By first grade, when his classmates were recit- Throughout his childhood, Davis and his knew my future did not reside in football,” halfback with incredible vision. ing their ABCs, he was already reading on his three brothers and sister would visit Philadel- Davis said. “When I was young, everyone knew What he could not see, though, was a future own. He would maintain that edge all the way phia to spend time with their grandmother. education was your way out.” in football. That’s because from the time he through high school in his hometown of James- They learned firsthand about racial prejudice was born, he was told he had farther to run. ville, a farm community in eastern North Caro- in a Northern city, and how it was different – Staying on course “All my life, I have had people pushing me lina virtually destroyed during the Civil War. and the same – from the discrimination they His first move out of high school – to play forward,” Davis said. “All my life, I have had experienced back home. football for what was then Hampton Institute people whispering in my ear, ‘You are going to Finding a way out In Jamesville, Davis ran into white people in Virginia – was a wrong step he quickly cor- be successful.’” Even as a little boy, Davis glimpsed the big- who saw it as a birthright to look down on rected by withdrawing and accepting an aca- Davis listened. And he believed. ger world that lay beyond the long-leaf pines him because he was black; in Philadelphia, demic scholarship to Elizabeth State College. The whispering in his ear began with his and tobacco fields that engulfed the town and he encountered white people who did not see Here, too, he found people who offered aunt, Ernestine Davis Staten, when he was still its way of life. For generations, the town’s big- him at all. encouragement and support, including Walter in the crib – literally. gest employer was a sawmill. His father, Herbert Sr., made his living as a Ridley, the college president who went on to She was a teacher, and she began getting He saw that bigger world through the truck driver who hauled logs during the day become the first black graduate of the Univer- him ready for school from the first time she eyes of his mother, Marian, who was born but made it home for supper every night. His sity of Virginia – at age 41. laid eyes on him. in Philadelphia. presence and steady support gave his family Ridley hired Davis to serve as valet for his something that many families today do not wife, Henrietta. One of his duties was to drive have: stability. her to Norfolk, Va., to go shopping in Ridley’s They lived in a house built by Davis’s grand- Buick Electra 225. That’s when she would father on the Roanoke River. “When I say ask how his classes in biology and chemistry on the river, if you went to my backyard and were going. She knew of his plans for medical rolled down the hill, you would roll into it,” school and how vital it was for him to succeed Davis said. in those classes. He turned the river into a laboratory where “When I was with the Ridleys, I had a chance he conducted scientific experiments, such as for the first time in my life to see people who sticking raw meat into the water so he could were wealthy and well educated,” he said. “Both study the planaria – “they are like leeches” – of them encouraged me to work hard, and I did.” it would attract. After graduating, Davis came to Caro- “I was so blessed because I had all these lina and enrolled in the doctoral program in things coming together, not knowing at developmental biology under the tutelage of the time how they were influencing me,” H. Eugene Lehman, a beloved professor who Davis said. taught here for 41 years. Lehman was then From those experiments on the river, chair of the zoology department. his dream of becoming a doctor began to While Davis worked on his dissertation, take shape. “Football was fun and I wasn’t bad, but I See Davis page 11

General assembly grants FY13 Leave in a school, university or community service organization, or Human Resources briefs In addition to the 1.2 percent salary increase for state employ- for parents’ involvement with their children’s school activi- ees, the N.C. General Assembly provided an additional five days ties through high school. It cannot be used for partisan politi- of special leave to permanent full-time, leave-earning employees. University, unless it is due to retirement and the retirement cal activity or religious organizations. While it can be used The leave will be pro-rated for part-time employees. Since occurs the day following the last day worked. to volunteer at the polls to assist voters with the process nine-month faculty do not earn leave, they are not eligible. For more information, see go.unc.edu/Ms67X. on election day, it cannot be used to hand out materials on The special leave, or “FY13 leave,” is a one-time benefit and behalf of a specific issue or candidate. must be used by June 30, 2013. Community Service Leave options Option B – 36 hours per calendar year for any employee to “This special leave is not like the bonus leave that has been pre- The University recognizes the importance of community participate in a tutoring and mentoring school program. viously provided to state employees by the General Assembly,” involvement and encourages employees to participate in volun- Blood, platelet and bone marrow donation – reasonable time said Ashley Nicklis, senior director for benefits and work/life teer activities by offering Community Service Leave. off is allowed for any donations. (Donating and volunteering programs in the Office of Human Resources. “Bonus leave is car- This leave is available to permanent SPA and EPA non-fac- at the two University-sponsored blood drives is considered ried over from year to year if it’s not used. The FY13 leave must ulty employees and EPA faculty who earn leave. It provides work time.) be used during the 2012–13 fiscal year or it will be forfeited.” paid time off for employees who have a passion for volunteer Organ donation – 180 hours. The Office of State Personnel first stated that FY13 leave work and community involvement. All time allowances are Disaster relief – 15 days per calendar year for those reg- must be used before any other leave but later revised the policy calculated on a calendar-year basis, and unused time does not istered with the American Red Cross for disaster relief ser- to allow employees to choose when to use the leave. All leave carry over from year to year. vices, or for employees participating in volunteer emergency requests must follow individual department or unit procedures. Leave categories are: and rescue services. FY13 leave will not be paid out when an employee leaves the Option A – 24 hours per calendar year for volunteer activity For more information, see go.unc.edu/Kj6d4. August 8, 2012 11

Now, with the implementation of ConnectCarolina, the Univer- Davis from page 10 BOG Review from page 1 sity’s new centralized database, it is easier to manage, monitor and track student records and grade forms, Gil said. “We can now see Lehman hired him as a zoology instructor. It academic fraud. how the previous paper system allowed for misuses,” she said. was 1975. Davis was 26 and about to encoun- Thorp told the panel the University had asked hard questions and Chris Derickson, assistant provost and University registrar, ter something that shocked and dismayed found answers that were humiliating and painful. explained that ConnectCarolina provides much better oversight him: student indifference. “What happened here was wrong. There is no excuse and no jus- than the previous system did. For example, he said, “We know to the “You know, when you first start teaching, tification for it,” he said. “As chancellor, I take responsibility for it. I minute who put a course in the system and when it was modified.” you believe you are going to change the world also take responsibility for cleaning it up and making sure it never Also, only authorized instructors for a course can enter and access and that every student is going to love you,” happens again.” the grades. “You never want to see an incident of forged grades,” he Davis said. New BOG Chair Peter Hans urged the review panel to be objec- said. “As a registrar, you almost take this personally.” At the end of his first class, as he read tive, independent and thorough, and to keep integrity, academic In conjunction with these changes, the trustees will hire an out- through students’ evaluations, he discov- rigor and accountability as top priorities. side firm to validate the new academic controls. Interviews with ered he had been wrong on one assumption: Problems identified, steps taken potential firms are currently under way, Chair Wade Hargrove said “Some of them didn’t love me,” he said. during the July 26 BOT meeting. A year ago, as University officials began investigating questionable Eventually, Davis called the admissions In an email message to faculty, which was also shared with staff, courses in the African and Afro-American studies department, they office to complain. Thorp provided an update about the reviews and steps the Univer- pieced together an account of highly unethical and unprofessional Again and again, he said they needed to sity is taking (see go.unc.edu/n3LBw). activity, Thorp said. Consequently, the administration immediately send him students who were not just smart, A subcommittee of the Faculty Executive Committee recently com- asked Julius Nyang’oro to step down as department chair and this but hungry to learn. pleted its report of issues related to the University reviews. See the spring pushed him into early retirement. related story about their findings and recommendations on page 2. Finally, Collin Rustin, the assistant direc- A probable long appeals process combined with a faculty mem- In May, officials also released the University reviews to the NCAA tor of undergraduate admissions, proved he ber’s right under BOG and BOT policy to receive full pay until the and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), had been listening. Faculty Hearings Committee had concluded its work made retire- Thorp said. “Collin called me one day and said, ‘How ment preferable to termination for cause, he said. “As we expected – and as any first-rate accrediting body would would you like to come over here and do Officials also chose to publicly release the report of the University do – SACS followed up with questions for us about the new aca- some admissions work for us?’ Davis said. “It investigation. (See go.unc.edu/Kn76P for information about the demic policies and procedures that we have put in place, the kind was crazy how it happened, but I said, ‘Sure, academic reviews.) of monitoring we have with our Academic Support Program for I’ll give it a shot.’” “We knew that would be the strongest deterrent to this ever hap- Student-Athletes and the qualifications of the people who lead our He started working in the admissions office pening again,” Thorp said. “And we felt an obligation to absolve the various departments,” he said. “We feel good about the answers we in fall 1978 and did not leave until he retired dedicated faculty in the department who had done nothing wrong. will provide on each of these issues.” this summer, shortly after winning a 2012 We disclosed the academic fraud, and we are fixing it.” C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service None of the students in the classes that were improperly taught Earlier in the week, SACS notified the University that its fifth- Award for his 37 years of stellar service. received the quality educational experience they deserved, Thorp year interim report was accepted with no issues, marking the highest said. “And that is absolutely not OK.” possible ranking for a report submitted as part of Carolina’s 10-year Going back As soon as they became aware of the academic issues, University accreditation timeline. Davis insisted that he did not deserve officials worked to identify what happened and who was responsible, A place for athletics it – that his luck was good and his timing to make sure the problems had stopped and to determine the best While some have questioned whether the University should con- even better. way to prevent such problems from recurring, Karen Gil, dean of the tinue to support intercollegiate athletics, Thorp said he believed ath- When he came to the admissions office, College of Arts and Sciences, told the panel. letics had a place at Carolina. the University was still embroiled in a legal The reviews uncovered that some independent study courses Finding the right balance is something distinguished thought- battle with the federal government that began were being taught with little or no faculty involvement, some stan- leaders, including former UNC President Bill Friday and his col- in 1972 over enforcement of the desegrega- dard lecture courses were being taught as if they were independent leagues on the Knight Commission, have been striving to do for tion of higher education as required under study courses and some grade forms had unauthorized signatures. 20 years. Two decades later, Thorp said, the Knight Commission the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In college-wide reviews conducted two different ways, she said, acknowledges there still is much work to be done. It was resolved by a consent decree ironed no similar problems were found in other departments. (For details “But we can do it,” Thorp said. “We have to get better. And out between 1979 and 1981 calling for about the new policies and procedures put in place as a result of the we will.” the courts to monitor the state’s desegrega- reviews, see go.unc.edu/Gs4t5.) tion plan. Davis can still remember the memo that former UNC President William Friday sent Furthermore, the group said, there is a looked forward to discussing the recom- to all the UNC campuses, explaining that the Faculty Review from page 2 need for better publicity about certain pro- mendations with Faculty Executive Com- system would be required to nearly double its grams in the Loudermilk Center, such as mittee members and creating an action plan minority enrollment within the next six years. “I’m especially supportive of the recommen- supplemental instruction, being available to for next steps. He felt pretty positive about that message dation that I appoint outside experts to help all undergraduates. Boxill, who also is director of the Parr because, during his first year in the admis- us examine the relationship between aca- A stronger partnership between the Center for Ethics and senior lecturer in the sions office, Davis was instrumental in nearly demics and athletics as we move forward,” Department of Athletics and the College of Department of Philosophy, said that grap- doubling the number of African-American he said. “It will complement the other inqui- Arts and Sciences would help integrate stu- pling with these complex issues would not students enrolling at Carolina for 1979-80. ries and activities in progress.” dent-athletes more fully into campus life, the be easy. He had already found his life’s mission. Other recommendations include estab- report said. “We are confident that the University That mission would take him back to James- lishing clear lines of accountability for Other recommendations include foster- administration is committed to addressing ville and other overlooked places in eastern academic advisers and counselors, with ing closer interaction and better commu- these issues, and we make these recommen- North Carolina, places filled with promis- academic advisers in Steele Building nication between faculty and the broader dations in the spirit of helping to ensure that ing men and women who had never dared to responsible for advising and the counselors campus community, not only with student- this doesn’t happen again,” she said. dream Carolina was within their reach. in the Loudermilk Center for Excellence athletes but also with other students whose The report has been accepted by the Fac- It was his turn to go back, and to give back, responsible for approval. circumstances make navigating a university ulty Executive Committee, also chaired by by pointing such students toward Chapel Hill. “These are both important units but they the size of Carolina difficult. Boxill, and will be discussed with the Faculty It was his turn to whisper in a child’s ear do not have identical functions at the Uni- Thorp said he appreciated the faculty’s Council this fall. (To read the report, see about the bigger world awaiting them. versity,” the report said. involvement in these important issues and go.unc.edu/Xy4k5.) 12 university Gazette

Kreiss examines new media’s role in political campaigning

In January 2004, Daniel Kreiss was a master’s student at more credible as a voter to see information coming from one of that you’re going to do x, y or z.” Stanford when Howard Dean’s campaign for the democratic your friends rather than a political campaign.” Though this trend in new media might make voters feel presidential nomination reached the Iowa primary. After Dean’s unsuccessful presidential bid, this group duped, these tactics are often aimed at supporters who share A journalism student interested in politics, Kreiss, now assis- brought new media to the Democratic Party and then to Barack the same goal as the campaign: electing their favored candidate. tant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communi- Obama’s 2008 campaign. Through mybarackobama.com, sup- Even more, professional journalists still play a key role in mak- cation, watched the Web as Dean’s campaign used technology porters could register as volunteers, create events, register vot- ing sure that voters are exposed to a wide range of political mes- and online presence to organize support in a way that would ers and make calls no matter where they lived. sages, Kreiss said. radically change the way elections are conducted. Whether new media get the credit for Obama’s 2008 win is “It’s still the professional journalists who have the resources In 2000, the websites for Al Gore and George Bush were up for debate, Kreiss said. What is clear is that electoral partici- for reporting, creating that content that’s being passed,” he mostly print brochures with URLs. But Dean’s site had moving pation has risen steadily over the past decade, facilitated by the said. “Intermediaries, like journalists, are oriented toward the parts that gave his supporters the ability to participate with one ease and speed of networked connections. public first and foremost.” another across geographic and demographic lines. Kreiss saw “Using new media has lowered the costs of doing things like those supporters spreading Dean’s message through emails and volunteering and engaging in these sorts of civic activities,” CRACKING THE CODE blogs and arranging get-togethers through Meetup.com. Kreiss said. “More people can make phone calls or give small Kreiss is looking at a busy election season as he investigates Some of Dean’s devotees were so impassioned, the media donations. It’s much more efficient in where you’re going to what’s different about 2012. dubbed them “Deaniacs” and “Deanie Babies.” spend your resources.” “For one thing, a lot more people are writing in public about The reporter in Kreiss, though low on cash and states away, elections,” Kreiss said. knew he had a story at hand. He bought a plane ticket to THE DATA DELUGE This September, a non-partisan group called The PPL will Nebraska and drove the three hours to Sioux City to tag along New media have enhanced a campaign’s capability to col- provide a media infrastructure for bloggers, citizen journal- with Dean volunteers he’d met online. lect and leverage voter data, and to target voters based on what ists and independent media to report from the Democratic What he would find – and spend the next two elections fol- their activities say about them. The development and optimiza- National Convention in Charlotte. Kreiss will be on the ground lowing – is the subject of his new book, “Taking Our Country tion of the Democratic Party’s voter database is one of Dean’s interviewing those writers about audience, their roles in the Back: The Crafting of Networked Politics From Howard Dean biggest legacies, Kreiss said. media ecosystem and what sorts of tools they are using. to Barack Obama.” “The Obama camp knocked on millions of doors in 2008. “If you don’t have access to the press room, how do you write “Campaigns need money and they need boots on the ground That data gets stored in a database,” he said. “They meld that about the convention? We’re trying to figure out if the stories to knock on doors; they need people driving their message for with other information they have online about people, like and narratives they’re producing are qualitatively different from them,” Kreiss said. “Dean’s campaign pioneered how you har- what social networks they’re embedded in. Once you have that what the professional press is producing,” he explained. ness this incredible energy that revolves around candidates to massive data set you can find patterns within it, and that shapes He’s also planning to work on a project with ProPublica, a make it work for you.” everything you do in the campaign.” nonprofit investigative journalism organization, to dissect the Campaigns use Internet browsing history, grocery store card process of targeted online ads and give voters an opportunity to A NEW NETWORK purchases, spending habits, real estate records and hundreds of see ads sparked by their data profiles. Though Dean never made it to the White House, he became other points of data to optimize their approach. Kreiss said it was important to be aware of these practices, chair of the Democratic National Party in February 2005. His An unregistered voter in a swing state might get a more gen- think critically and turn to trusted sources. former staff stayed nearby, launching consulting firms and eral email, while someone who created a profile on Obama’s “The Internet is not only embedded in the fabric of our lives, training organizations to teach and hone the tools they built, site may be asked to donate, Kreiss said. Sites test colors and it is fast becoming the central way that we act and express our- and to sharpen methods of cultivating supporters. copy to see what increases the likelihood of a specific voter tak- selves as democratic citizens,” he said. “We all share the respon- Kreiss said staffers working in broadcast communications ing a specific action. sibility to make sure that we can have robust and inclusive polit- and high donor fundraising struggled to get a handle on this “In 2008, Obama’s team designed over 2,000 different ver- ical participation and debate.” new portion of the electorate who could use new media to can- sions of their webpage alone,” Kreiss said. vass and create buzz in their own circles. Though many may not be aware of the extent to which their With each passing election, many of these same players have data is recorded, it’s nothing new, Kreiss said. In the early Kreiss was featured on NPR’s OnPoint recently talking stayed involved with the party, perfecting tools and creating 1900s, William Jennings Bryan’s family helped create a file about political advertising: go.unc.edu/Nx95F. technology in the off years to reach and engage more voters the on voters based on the information in their letters of support. Kreiss also gave a lecture on new media in campaigns next time around. Direct mail has long been a way to profile people and infer as a part of the Humanities in Action 2012 Election Series, “Campaigns want to reach out to folks who are supporting political preferences from that information. hosted by the Program in Humanities and Human Values and taped by C-SPAN. Learn more at humanities.unc.edu. them and have those people pass on their message in their It isn’t behavioral theory, Kreiss said, it’s formula. “At the end social networks,” Kreiss said. “There’s an idea that you’ll find it of the day, what they care about is increasing the probability