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Five Gwinnett students at UGA in summer
research studies
By
Joelle Walls
Special to GwinnettForum.com
ATHENS, Ga. June 26, 2007 -- Five University of Georgia undergraduates
from Gwinnett are among 27 students taking advantage of summer vacation
to investigate local, national and international research topics.
The students are Caroline Anderson of Snellville, Purvi Sheth of
Lilburn, and Cleveland Piggott, Victor Orellana, and Jessica Van
Parys, all of Suwanee. These students are the latest participants
in the summer research fellowship program sponsored by UGA's Center
for Undergraduate Research Opportunities.
Anderson |
Anderson's research is focused on the text-music relationships
exhibited in Hugo Wolf's art song settings of Eduard Mörike's
poems Peregrina I and Peregrina II. She is working under the guidance
of faculty mentors Max Reinhart, a professor of German, and John
Turci-Escobar, a professor of music theory. She would like to pursue
graduate studies after earning her music and German degrees from
UGA.
Sheth |
Sheth is investigating the characterization of Mycobacterium shottsii,
a bacterium recently isolated from a striped bass found in the Chesapeake
Bay displaying skin lesions. She is working in the laboratory of
Russell Karls, a professor of infectious diseases in UGA's College
of Veterinary Medicine. Sheth would like to attend medical school
after earning her microbiology degree from UGA.
Piggott |
Piggott is studying how Hirano bodies form. These are structures
most commonly found in the brains of individuals suffering from
neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
He is working under the guidance of Marcus Fechheimer and Ruth Furukawa,
both professors of cellular biology. Piggott would like to become
a neurologist or cardiologist one day after earning his psychology
and biology degrees from UGA.
Orellana |
Orellana, working under the guidance of Ángel Nicolás
Lucero, a professor of Spanish, is completing a literary and historical
study of Lautaro, a Mapuche military leader during 16th century
Chile. He would like to pursue a Ph.D. after earning his comparative
literature and telecommunication arts degrees from UGA.
Van Parys |
Van Parys is investigating whether the scores on the new writing
section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test accurately predict academic
success of incoming college freshman. She is working under the guidance
of faculty mentor David Mustard, a professor of economics. Van Parys
would like to pursue a Ph.D. in either public policy or economics
after earning her economics and political science degrees from UGA.
For the last six years, CURO has competitively awarded summer fellowships
to undergraduate students to conduct research in various disciplines
under the guidance of faculty mentors with expertise in fields ranging
from international business and linguistics to biochemistry, molecular
biology and infectious diseases.
David S. Williams, director of UGA's Honors Program, which administers
CURO, says: "Students who have held CURO summer fellowships
have achieved great success in recent years, as evidenced by the
prestigious scholarships they have been awarded and the premier
graduate schools they are attending. We greatly appreciate the support
we receive across campus for this important program."
In addition to the Honors Program, the Office of the Provost, the
Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, the Office of the Vice
President for Research, the UGA Alumni Association, the Interdisciplinary
Toxicology Program, and the Bill and Jane Young Honors Summer Fellowship
provide financial support for the intensive eight-week research
experience.
The summer undergraduate researchers earn academic credit for conducting
their individual projects and give presentations of their work at
the undergraduate research symposium CURO sponsors every spring.
They also share their research experiences with other students through
panel discussions held during the academic year.
For more information on UGA's CURO summer fellows program, visit
http://www.uga.edu/honors/curo.
Crackpot legislators come with unreasonable
idea in Virginia
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JUNE 26, 2007 -- Every now and then in about any state, legislators
get crackpot ideas. Last week we heard of one, out of Virginia,
authored by two state representatives that would impose more-than-double
heavy fines on Virginia drivers, while not fining out-of-state drivers
for the same offenses. We suspect it is unconstitutional and a waste
of the Virginia legislature's time.
Brack |
The whole idea is to raise substantial revenue for transportation
through what is being called "abuser fines" to those violating
traffic regulations. These fines are in addition to regular fines
for traffic offenses.
For instance, exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 miles per
hour would normally gain you a fine of $200 for the local police
jurisdiction. Under the "abuser" definitions, the offender
would have to pay an additional $1,000 fee to the state. While driving
under the influence of intoxicants normally draws a $300 fine, the
person cited would also have to pay an additional $2,250. Driving
without a license, a $75 infraction now, would also produce another
$900 fine for the state.
This new plan will go into effect in Virginia on July 1. The measure
came under sponsorship by Reps. David Albo and Thomas Rust, both
Republicans, who modeled their new idea after a 1983 law passed
in New Jersey. The main difference between the two laws is that
New Jersey double-fines anyone violating their laws. Last year it
raised some $130 million in New Jersey.
In Virginia, the two sponsoring representatives hope to gain for
state transportation uses between $65 and $130 million annually.
However, they wrote their laws only aimed at Virginia residents.
That may be where the rub comes, as some offender in Virginia will
surely challenge this new way to raise money for the state.
After all, finding Driver A, who happens to be from Virginia, and
not finding Driver B, who lives in some other state (or the District
of Columbia), for similar offenses seems unfair on its merits. It
amounts to selective enforcement of laws, applicable to residents
of one state, but not applicable to residents of any other one.
Not only that, but consider another argument. With most state highways
built with heavy federal funds, the new measure also would run smack-dab
into states imposing unfair burden on drivers from only one state
on what is a federal road. It fails to put the equal burden on a
motorist from out-of-state, giving this motorist an unfair advantage,
and unduly taxing the Virginia resident. It's an unfair tax to drivers
with the same violation.
Should the Virginia law go unchallenged or pass review by the courts,
it would also create a virtual "Full Employment" system
for defense attorneys. With the stiff double fines, they would want
to employ an attorney, in hopes of a technicality relieving them
from the heavy fines of the new rules.
It would also add to the number of cases coming before the courts.
In effect, crowded court dockets would become even more crowded.
All this because two crackpot Virginia legislators single out Virginia
motorists for this tax, and think this is a route to raise additional
monies for building and maintaining more roads in Virginia. We don't
know these legislators, but feel this is the type of lawmaker who
should be defeated at their next outing.
Watch out Georgia: such crackpot legislation could happen here,
too, if it hasn't already and we don't know about it.
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today we welcome a new underwriter.
It is The Community Bank (formerly Bank of Loganville). The
bank was organized in Loganville in 1946. It opened a branch in
Snellville (and changed its name) in 1999, a branch in Grayson in
2000 and a branch in Covington in 2006. It serves all these communities
and is principally engaged in real estate lending both residential
and commercial. You can check out its web site at www.banktcb.com.
Says
her two Prius autos averaging 48 mpg, with AC on!
Editor, the Forum:
Just wanted to let you know that Toyota has always had a 100,000
mile warranty on its battery for the Prius. I own two and they are
fantastic! Not that I am bragging, but I average about 48 mpg -
even with the air conditioner running!
-- Marsha Bomar, Duluth
Would rather U.S.
troops guard American borders
Editor, the Forum:
The United States had a police action along the Mexican border
when Gen. "Blackjack" Pershing, leading the U.S. Army,
chased Poncho Villa and his illegals southward. Maybe we should
re-deploy our troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, where the hot war
is, and place them along our southern border to really provide Homeland
Security.
Since you seem to suggest that we might be too far down the road
to cure what should have been cured long ago, we should just let
it go. This is akin to my finding a burglar in my house, calling
the police to arrest him, and then being told that since he got
this far I should just let him have what he wants. Come on Elliott!
-- Howard N. Williams, Jr., Snellville
Dear Howard: Great to get such a good, sensible
idea out of you. Many Americans are in agreement that we should
abandon Iraq and Afghanistan and concentrate more on the USA.
Keep your brain working for another good idea!--eeb
Take "Retail
Test" to find many products made outside USA
Editor, the Forum:
Please, for the sake of our country, take this 3-10 minutes "Retail
Test."
Next time you are out shopping, take the time to examine the labels
to find out just in the world the products you are buying are being
made. Re-think just from where in the United States these factories
have gone
You will come near being empty-handed for items being made in the
United States! Especially interesting are those connected to office
supply stores, products for which almost every home/school and business
needs!
When factory jobs, and even white collar jobs such as accounting
or even reporting, go overseas, there goes keeping our local, state
and national communities healthy.
The recall of toys made in China follows a series of health scandals
in the United States involving food, drugs and other products imported
from China, from poisoned cough syrup to tainted toothpaste and
pet food.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said recently that about
1.5 million wooden vehicles, buildings and other train-set parts
for young children are being recalled. The toys were sold in the
United States from January 2005 through June 2007 with lead paint,
a toxic and that can pose a serious health risk to young children
who often put objects in their mouths. Children under 6 are most
at risk.
This is just one example of jobs leaving our shores for other areas
which puts the lives of our citizens in danger.
-- Debbie Willis, Peachtree Corners
Buford
Business Alliance plans Old Time Summer July 7
The Buford Business Alliance and its co-sponsor, Peoples Bank and
Trust, will present "Old Time Summer" in Historic Buford
on Saturday, July 7.
Among the activities are a "Cruise In" style car show;
old fashion horse-drawn carriage rides; and oodles of food and merchant
participation. Main Street will be lined with show cars of days
of past.
Tim Koenning, president of the Buford Business Alliance, says: "We
should be graced with some of the finest cars from some of Buford's
and the surrounding area's most noted collectors."
The "Cruise In" was the brainstorm of Christine Truhe,
co-owner of Carisma and the past President of the Buford Business
Alliance. Last year's event revolved around the grand re-opening
of Peoples Bank and Trust on Main St. The weekend after the Fourth
of July is becoming an annual event in downtown Buford.
The parallel parking along Main St. is reserved for show cars and
is on a first come, first serve basis. Once those spots are taken,
the show car overflow will also have reserved parking in the lot
off of Scott and Moreno Streets, in front of the old historic City
Hall.
The Buford Business Alliance is a non-profit organization that brings
together the citizens, city leaders, civic organizations and the
businesses of Buford in a communal spirit. For more information
on this event and the Buford Business Alliance, go to www.VisitBuford.com.
Loganville July 4
fireworks provided by The Oasis Church
Residents of the City of Loganville can mark the Fourth of July
with a professional public fireworks display.
The display will be provided by The Oasis Church, at 3275 Tig Knight
Road. This is off Georgia Highway 81, adjacent to the "Tars"
mansion. Those coming are asked to bring their own chairs or blankets
to watch the show. Fireworks watchers are asked to come after 5
p.m., when activities begin. The fireworks show will begin at just
after sundown..
Food will be available for purchase from Beef O'Brady's of Grayson.
.Deadline nears to
register for Gwinnett Corporate Challenge
The deadline of June 30 is approaching for companies who want to
register their team in the Gwinnett Corporate Challenge.
Your company CAN make a difference and have fun at the same time!
The Lloyd-Bennett Gwinnett Corporate Challenge takes place September
9 - 21, 2007, and includes many team and individual activities.
They include about 20 events, from: golf, to laser tag, and even
table tennis. It's great for team building within your company.
A closing awards ceremony, where teams come together with their
medals won for each competition, caps off this event.
Last year's winners were WIKA Instruments of Lawrenceville in Division
A (100+ employees), and Development and Consultants of Duluth in
Division B (up to 99 employees.)
Think you don't have enough members in your company to make a team?
The Corporate Challenge can match you up with other companies who
want to be involved in the Corporate Challenge.
For more information, contact Tammy Gibson at Gwinnett Parks and
Recreation.
Clean
and Beautiful urges recycling of old telephone books
Gwinnett residents and businesses have just received new telephone
books, and are invited to recycle their old phone books. For each
500 phone books recycled, the savings amounts to 7,000 gallons of
water; 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space; 17 to 31 trees; and 4,100
kilowatts of electricity, enough power to serve an average home
for six months!
Phone books are made of about 40 percent recycled materials. Recycling
your old phone book is an easy way to help keep paper out of q landfills.
Phone books can be recycled at the Recycling Bank of Gwinnett on
4300 Satellite Boulevard in Duluth 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For information about other recycling opportunities, please visit
the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful website at www.gwinnettcb.org.
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
Watson
lawyer, statesman and also Populist mouthpiece
Incorporated in 1910 by the Georgia lawyer, author, and statesman
Thomas
E. Watson, the Jeffersonian Publishing Company was the official
mouthpiece of Georgia's firebrand Populist. The company printed
most of Watson's literary works-pamphlets, monographs, biographies,
and histories-but it was known primarily for Watson's newspaper,
The Weekly Jeffersonian, and his monthly literary magazine, Watson's
Jeffersonian Magazine.
Initially given to trenchant muckraking editorials written in the
Populist Party spirit, both magazine and newspaper eventually included
Watson's fierce attacks against the Catholic Church hierarchy and
the domestic and foreign policies of U.S. president Woodrow Wilson.
Watson's publications survived an organized Catholic boycott and
a federal prosecution for mailing obscene literature, and would
not be silenced until finally suppressed by the Wilson administration
under the Espionage Act of 1917. Despite controversy and opposition,
Watson's weekly and monthly publications commanded a loyal political
force, and no Georgia governor between 1906 and 1922 was elected
without Watson's support.
A celebrated criminal defense lawyer for much of his career, Watson
still was no newcomer to publishing. The intellectual force behind
the Populist revolt of the 1890s, Watson launched and edited the
successful weekly People's Party Paper in 1891. He was a
frequent contributor to the Populist journal Arena and other
national periodicals and was the author of several books: The
Story of France (1899), Napoleon: A Sketch of His Life, Character,
Struggles, and Achievements (1902), and The Life and Times
of Thomas Jefferson (1903).
In the midst of his failed 1904 presidential campaign, Watson refused
repeated offers from William Randolph Hearst to edit the New
York American. He instead launched Tom Watson's Magazine in
1905, a monthly literary magazine published from New York. The first
issue sold more than 100,000 copies. With articles from such contributing
authors as lawyer Clarence Darrow and novelist Theodore Dreiser
and with Watson's sensational editorials that abused class rule
and runaway capitalism, the magazine was identified with other well
read muckraking and reform journals of its day.
Views poets as troublemakers
for good in society
"A poet's work is to name the unnamable, to point at frauds,
to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it going
to sleep."
-- Author Salman Rushdie (1947 - ).
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
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© 2007, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum
is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
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