Daily Egyptian TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015
VOL. 100 ISSUE 37
SINCE 1916
DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM
University researchers discover potential alternative to carcinogenic preservatives ANNA SPOERRE | @annaspoerre
Turmeric, a bright yellow spice native to India, has the capability of adding more than just an aromatic flavor to the plate, according to a team of SIU researchers. Ruplal Choudhary, an associate professor in plant, soil and agriculture systems, is lead principle investigator of a team researching the potential health benefits of turmeric, which contains the natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent curcumin. Choudhary said this research is important because turmeric can be used as a natural way to delay the expiration date of foods. He said there is a growing concern that artificial food preservatives link to cancer, and shoppers should be able to identify ingredients on food labels. “It has been scientifically proven that many synthetic preservatives are carcinogens,” Choudhary said. “Health-conscious people are going for natural products.” Choudary worked with fellow principle investigators Derek Fisher, an assistant microbiology professor, and Punit Kohli, an assistant chemistry and biochemistry professor. The group received $5,200 earlier this month from the deans of agriculture, science and engineering and $92,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund research. Their previous research beginning in 2011 — supported by a $400,000 grant from the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund based in
Aidan Osborne | Daily Egyptian Jim Thomson, a second-year graduate student in plant, soil and agricultural systems, looks on while Ruplal Choudhary, an associate professor in plant, soil and
Israel — revealed the spice also has antimicrobial qualities. It is powerful enough to potentially prevent E. coli outbreaks in food and lengthen the shelf-life of fresh produce, Choudhary said. Jim Thomson, a second-year graduate student in plant, soil and agricultural systems from India, has been helping with the research
as part of his thesis project. Choudary said Thomson had the idea of testing the benefits further by combining limonene, a natural chemical found in citrus peels, with curcumin to produce an antibacterial and antifungal agent. “He is getting good, encouraging results,” he said.
Thomson said this coating, which damages E. coli cells and slows fungal growth, can be poured on berries and increase their shelf-life by three to four weeks. They are also testing the use of Ultraviolet light, which damages E. coli cells, for use by smallscale farmers to store produce, Choudhary said.
“Basically, we are developing a UV-light purified cooler,” he said. The team will present its research at the American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers this summer in Florida. Anna Spoerre can be reached at aspoerre@dailyegyptian.com or 618536-3325.
Aspen Court prepares for SIUE employee sues for civil rights violation Polar Bear weekend EVAN JONES | @EvanJones_DE
After Solar Bear 2015 ended with police pepper spraying several partygoers, Aspen Court Apartments is laying down new rules ahead of Polar Bear 2016. Apartment complex employees posted a flyer with several ground rules around the premises for Polar Bear, which is a drinking event started by Pinch Penny Pub that has grown to encompass other areas of Carbondale. Sanctions include fencing off the grass area between apartment buildings P and Q adjacent to the pool, banning DJs and PA systems and prohibiting people on rooftops, and hanging out of windows, according to a flyer posted on the premises. The area near the Q building has been a popular congregation spot for partygoers and music during the past few semesters. Brian Marik, property manager at Aspen Court
Apartments, said Polar Bear is a bar event and the organization has never promoted the parties. “We want people to be safe, we don’t want anyone to get hurt,” he said. “Last year we had extra security because we knew what was happening. This year we’re going to have heavy security and fence off some areas. We want people to have a good time — we just don’t want destroyed property. After the Solar Bear problems, we don’t want that to happen again.” There were also noise warnings posted on the sheets from Carbondale’s sound ordinance. In apartment buildings, noise cannot be heard from more than 25 feet away at night and 50 feet during the day, according to the ordinance. Fines will be handed out to any tenants or apartments who violate the rules. Evan Jones can be reached at Ejones@dailyegyptian.
@DAILYEGYPTIAN
BILL LUKITSCH | @Bill_LukitschDE
The SIU Board of Trustees and SIUEdwardsville are being sued by a Palestinianborn employee for racial discrimination. Sandra Tamari, an international admissions specialist at SIUE, according to the biography on her university webpage, claims the university violated her civil rights when she was denied an in-person interview for a promotion because of her national origin, according to a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court last week. Tamari also alleges systematic discrimination directed at herself and students of Middle Eastern descent has been perpetuated by administrators and staff. One or more SIUE staff members equated admission of students from the Middle East as “admission of terrorists,” Tamari claims in her complaint.
Tamari asked all inquiries concerning the case be relayed to her attorney Lee Barron, who could not be reached for comment. SIUE would not comment regarding ongoing litigation, university spokesperson Megan Wieser said. Chad Martinez, SIUE’s director of the office of equal opportunity, could not be reached for comment. Tamari is seeking damages in excess of $75,000 from SIUE for lost compensation and attorney fees. An injunction has also been filed with the suit to prohibit SIUE from discriminating based on national origin. While Tamari still has a biography on SIUE’s webpage, Wieser could not confirm if Tamari is currently employed by the university. Bill Lukitsch can be contacted at blukitsch@ dailyegyptian.com or (618) 536-3399.