DAILY LOBO new mexico
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friday
February 8, 2013
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
UNM Davie accused of discrimination preps to replace WebCT Anonymous letter accuses UNM’s head football coach of treating black players unfairly
New online system to be phased in by summer by Ardee Napolitano news@dailylobo.com
Freshman Ada Duran said having to use two types of online coursework systems during the same semester has complicated her academic life. Duran is one of many UNM students caught between the phasing-in of the new UNM Learn online system and the phasing-out of the older WebCT system. “All my assignments are on WebCT, but I actually use both,” she said. “I think either one would be OK, but I figured out it’s kind of confusing in a way because you have to remember what goes with what.” Duran uses WebCT for written assignments but uses UNM Learn for readings. Professors using UNM Learn can post documents and readings directly to the site without requiring students to download PDF files or Word files, as WebCT does. Duran said that although accessing both sites is not a hassle for her, the process might be difficult for some. “I’m a very organized person,” she said, “but I know other people who are not as organized would be confused about that.” She added that she prefers WebCT over UNM Learn. “I find them really similar, but I’ll stick with WebCT, though not because it’s better,” she said. “I would actually stick with WebCT just because I’m kind of used to it.” Because Blackboard, the software developer for both WebCT and UNM Learn, no longer provides updates for WebCT, the switch to UNM Learn is very important, said New Media and Extended Learning (NMEL) Director Debby Knotts. “With the vendor no longer supporting the WebCT product and moving all of their support to the newer product that is covered under our perpetual license, the timing was critical to move to the newer product,” she said. Knotts said NMEL has been planning the transition to UNM Learn for more than two
see Learn PAGE 3
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 117
issue 97
Daily Lobo file photo UNM head football coach Bob Davie
by Thomas Romero-Salas sports@dailylobo.com @ThomasRomeroS
Various media outlets received an anonymous letter alleging that Lobo head football coach Bob Davie discriminates against players based on their race. The Daily Lobo did not receive the letter, but learned about it at Wednesday’s National Signing Day press conference. Shortly after the press conference,
Lobo athletic director Paul Krebs sent a statement by email that University officials concluded the allegations cited in an anonymous letter were false after reviewing the letter and speaking with Davie. “We firmly believe, based on the information we have and the fact that the letter was sent anonymously, that the allegations are unfounded and untrue,” Krebs said in the email. The letter, which was signed “Sincerely, UNM Senior Football
Players,” also claims Davie penalizes black players more harshly than he does white players. At the press conference, Davie said the letter was nothing more than a farce. He described his reaction as “probably the same reaction that it’s been through my 35 years of broadcasting and coaching, that anonymous letters are anonymous letters. … there’s no reason to defend an anonymous letter; it’s par for the
course. There’s no underreaction and overreaction.” Davie said anonymous letters like the one sent to various news outlets are nothing new to him. “We might be releasing statements every day if we start releasing statements on anonymous letters,” he said. Davie held a press conference regarding the anonymous letter on Thursday but the Daily Lobo was unable to attend.
UNM scientists target tuberculosis Suppression of TB’s effects may assist treatment of HIV and other inflammatory diseases
by Rosario MarroquinFlores news@dailylobo.com
A UNM Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Department team’s research has potentially resulted in a new and more effective way to combat tuberculosis and other inflammatory diseases. In November department chair Vojo Deretic and his post-doctoral researchers published their new research on autophagy in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Autophagy is the process by which specialized cell bodies eliminate damaged or infected parts of a cell. Their research suggests that this process, which suppresses inflammation, could be useful on a large scale for counteracting
the body’s overactive immune response to tuberculosis. This is because inflammation weakens healthy cells.
“You think it may take the next generation; I think it’s going to be faster than that” ~Vojo Deretic UNM molecular genetics and microbiology department chair
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“What we’ve shown is actually that autophagy can get rid of tuberculosis; it degrades it,” said Eliseo Castillo, a post-doc researcher on Deretic’s team. Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly bacterial disease that has been frequently linked to death in people who have HIV and AIDS. “It’s an opportunistic pathogen in AIDS,” Deretic said, “and worldwide, people die, not because they have (an) HIV infection, but because TB comes with it. It’s the lethal duet, so to speak.” The team is now expanding its research to other diseases that may function similarly to tuberculosis, such as inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s Disease. Their research may even lead to a breakthrough in cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis research.
“In essence, the drugs that we are developing for TB, part of the project for HIV, could work … in any inflammatory disease,” Deretic said. The team has also begun the process of drug development, testing compounds already approved by the FDA. Deretic said final treatments may be developed earlier than expected. “You think it may take the next generation; I think it’s going to be faster than that because we’re focusing on drugs that are already FDA-approved,” he said. “It could be 10 years down the line.” Deretic added that the progress of this research has required minds from different backgrounds.
see Scientists PAGE 3
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