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Duke researchers offer new insights on Prozac
rrri DUKE UNIVERSITY One Hundredth Year,
issue
1 DURHAM, N.C.
THURSDAY, JUNE 10,2004
S5
WWW.CHRONICLE.DIIKE.EDU
DPD arrests suspect for homicide
MOURNING IN AMERICA Officials, citizens join capital farewell for former president by
Jeff Wilson and
Confession obtained in employee murder case
Calvin Woodward
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON
in
state
Ronald Reagan lay Wednesday under the Capitol
Paul Crowley THE CHRONICLE
by
dome, his body borne to that historic place of tribute by horse-drawn carriage
past thousands drawn to the high pageantry of America’s first presidential state funeral in three decades. With the storied riderless horse symbolizing the fallen president, Reagan’s casket came to the Capitol in a procession that quietly riveted crowds standing 15 deep on each side of Constitution Avenue. Cannon fired upon his body’s arrival at the home of Congress, sending smoke cascading into the steamy evening air. “Fellow Americans, here lies a graceful and a gallant man,” said Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking at the state funeral ceremony opening the 34-hour period of Reagan’s lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda. “It was the vision and the will ofRonald Reagan that gave hope to the oppressed, shamed the oppressors and ended the evil empire.” In her husband’s death as in his life, Nancy Reagan was beside him at every step. She acknowledged cheers at the head of the procession, waving repeatedly, looking wan. “God bless you, Nancy,” a man cried out.
When her husband’s flag-draped casket SEE REAGAN ON PAGE 4
MATTHEW CAVANAUGH/GETTY
Soldiers accompany thebody offormer President Ronald Reagan toward the Capitol Wednesday.
Alzheimer s research advances in wake of Reagans struggle by
Steve Veres
THE CHRONICLE
When former president Ronald Reagan announced his affliction with Alzheimer’s disease in November 1994, he de-stigmatized an oft-neglected disease and provided momentum for research for years to come. In the early days of research, Duke University scientists competed to score the next major breakthrough, but a greater sense ofcollaboration now unites
them. Using newly-developed genetic tools, scientists hope to find a reliable bio-marker that would enable early detection of Alzheimer’s within the next two to three years. In the meantime at Duke, a multifaceted approach to research focuses on three important phases of disease. The theory is to attack the disease from three angles: recognizing susceptibility,
Police officers arrested Durham resident Thomas Pitt Friday and charged him with the murder of Duke employee Curt Blackman, whose body was found May 20 in his Hilton Avenue apartment. Pitt confessed to Blackman’s murder, a Durham County prosecutor said at a bail hearing Monday. Duke police officers found Blackman’s body after his co-workers noticed his absence from work. He was director of graduate programs and minority recruitment at Duke Pitt, 22, was denied bail at Monday’s hearing, at which his court-appointed attorney, Chris Roberts, had sought a $lOO,OOO bond. Opposing the attempt to release Pitt from pre-trial confinement, the prosecutor offered grisly details of Blackman’s murder and noted that Pitt confessed to the crime. ‘The victim was gagged, bound, blindfolded and stabbed numerous times,” Assistant District Attorney Kendra MontgomeryBlinn said. She characterized Blackman’s
SEE ALZHEIMER’S ON PAGE 6 SEE MURDER ON PAGE 6
Bulls eye Deng with pick No. 3 by
Jake Poses
THE CHRONICLE
With league sources all but confirming he is a lock to be a top-five selection, former Duke basketball star Luol Deng has decided to close the door on his short-lived Duke career, becoming the seventh Blue Devil ever to leave early for the NBA Draft. After meeting with three potential agents in Durham, Deng has officially surrendered his collegiate eligibility by hiring lawyer Leon Rose and has moved on to the pre-draft camp DRAFT at Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute, where he 2004 joins many of the other top prospects in this year’s class. Following this week’s exhibition, Deng will likely participate in individual workouts with the Chicago Bulls, the expansion Charlotte Bobcats and SEE DENG ON PAGE 12
Grad student dies in Kelly Rohrs THE CHRONICLE
by
Zhaochun Xu, a 31-year-old graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, died early Monday morning as a result of injuries suffered a car accident late Sunday night Friends described Xu, a Chinese citizen, as a sweet and cheerful person whose presence will be deeply missed. ‘The Pratt community is saddened by the death of Zhaochun Xu,” Kristina Johnson, dean of the Pratt School of Engineering, said in a statement. “It is a particular tragedy when someone so young with so much potential passes away.” A car crashed into the vehicle Xu and his wife, Yuan Liu, were driving on Highway 15501 at 10:05 p.m. Sunday, causing it to run off the right side of the road, said Officer L. L. O’Brien of the Durham Police Department. The car then hit a tree, another DPD spokesperson said.
car
crash
The driver of the other vehicle jumped from his car and fled the scene. DPD Lt. Norman Blake said Wednesday that he had not yet been located. Police are following leads about the cause of the accident and declined to say whether alcohol was involved. O’Brien said more details will likely be available by the end of the week. Liu sustained minor injuries and was released from Duke University Hospital earlier this week. Duke’s International Office and the Chinese embassy are working together to help Xu’s parents secure passports and visas in Beijing, which they need in order to enter the United States. Colleagues who worked with Xu at the Fitzpatrick Center for Photonics and Communications Systems described him as a soft-spoken but diligent worker. “He was one of those people who doesn’t say very SEE XU ON PAGE 8