Today's News Weekend Edition: Monday, October 29, 2012
Administration
Free online courses 'inevitable' at the University
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus offers 415 online courses, but it doesn’t offer massive open online courses, or MOOCs — yet. Karen Hanson, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, said developing MOOCs is “inevitable,” but the University has to figure out how to pay for them first.
Minnesota Daily
http://www.mndaily.com/2012/10/29/free-online-courses-‘inevitable’-university
Kaler names new VP of research
A University of Texas administrator will be the next head of the University of Minnesota’s research efforts and funding. Brian Herman will begin the job Jan. 1, pending regents’ approval. He was chosen after a five-month search spurred by the looming departure of current Vice President Tim Mulcahy.
Minnesota Daily
http://www.mndaily.com/2012/10/29/kaler-names-new-vp-research
Program puts college on middle schoolers' minds
We’ve all heard about the importance of starting early when considering higher education, but how about sixth grade? ...Oltman is one of about two dozen middle schools around the state implementing the “Ramp Up to Readiness” program. It’s an initiative out of the University of Minnesota designed to include college prep work into the school day — the goal is to prepare students for higher education.
WCCO-TV
To Watch: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/10/27/program-puts-college-on-middle-schoolers-minds/
‘U of M’ struggling to keep up with mental health cases
New research shows one in four students at the University of Minnesota is diagnosed with a form of mental illness every year. ...Boynton Health Service Chief Medical Officer Gary Christienson says the plan is to increase staff and resources by 15 percent on the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses, and they’ve already started.
WCCO-TV
To Watch: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/10/29/u-of-m-struggling-to-keep-up-with-mental-health-cases/
Research
Women who quit smoking may gain up to 10 years of life: study
Smoking takes at least 10 years off women's lives but they can significantly reduce that risk if they quit smoking early enough, a new study suggests. "That we had to wait until the 21st century to observe the full consequences in women of a habit that was already widespread in the mid-20th century, when tobacco smoking pervaded much of the developed world, might seem paradoxical," wrote Rachel Huxley, of the University of Minnesota.
U.S. News and World Report
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/10/27/women-who-quit-smoking-may-gain-up-to-10-years-of-life-study
WLS Radio
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/10/27/women-who-quit-smoking-may-gain-up-to-10-years-of-life-study
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9637527/Women-who-quit-smoking-by-40-can-live-an-extra-decade.html
Trans fats raise cholesterol, not blood sugar
Researchers found that both blood sugar and insulin, the hormone that keeps blood sugar levels in check, were similar regardless of how much trans fat people ate. "They saw what you would expect to see" regarding cholesterol, which shows that the studies were well done, said Mark Pereira, an expert in public health and nutrition at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/us-trans-fats-cholesterol-idUSBRE89P0Z820121026
Chicago Tribune
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-28/lifestyle/sns-rt-us-transfatsbre89s019-20121028_1_trans-fats-blood-sugar-ldl
Business and Politics
In presidential politics, Minnesota has become a 'fly-over state'
If you're a Minnesota political junkie, you might feel like you're sitting in a dark, lonely apartment while there's a really great party going on next door and another big, loud party downstairs. ... "Mitt Romney is within striking distance of making Minnesota a competitive state, but he hasn't taken a step," said Larry Jacobs director of the University of Minnesota's Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.
Pioneer Press
ttp://www.twincities.com/elections/ci_21864777/presidential-politics-minnesota-has-become-fly-over-state
That guy won? Why we knew it all along
Amid the many uncertainties of next Tuesday’s presidential election lies one sure thing: Many people will feel in their gut that they knew the result all along. “What consciousness does is tell the most compelling story it can come up with,” Dr. Vohs, the University of Minnesota psychologist, said in an e-mail.
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/health/he-won-the-election-i-knew-it-all-along.html?pagewanted=all
The future of retail: Shopping more at smaller stores
In the next five to eight years, consumers can look forward to disappearing checkouts, shrinking stores and hovering holograms with product information. Many people will move closer to urban centers, where quick trips to stores, restaurants and services will be more convenient. But they will continue to blur the line with such discounters as Target offering more expensive merchandise as a splurge item or Nordstrom offering a value-priced item, said Akshay Rao, professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/business/176023631.html
People and Lifestyle
Local leadership program addresses complex community issues
Professionals who enter the University of Minnesota Extension’s eight-month Collaborative Leadership Fellows program recognize from the outset that solving community problems — gangs, teen bullying, unemployment — doesn’t involve simple solutions. ...The program seeks to strengthen community capacity for collaborative leadership to address complex community issues, said Margo Herman, the Collaborative Leadership Fellows facilitator and an assistant Extension professor.
Rochester Post-Bulletin
http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1513123
Few deer hunters switching to copper bullets
Most deer hunters have not switched to non-toxic copper bullets despite studies indicating that potentially toxic lead fragments disperse up to 18 inches from the wound channel in firearms-killed deer. Twenty-five percent of the 100 to 120 eagle patients The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota sees each year are admitted because of lead poisoning, according to Dr. Pat Redig, a veterinarian at the center.
Duluth News Tribune
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/247868/
Commentary and Opinion
U athletic director: The $800,000 schedule decision
Norwood Teague, director of athletics for the University of Minnesota explains his decision to cancel Gopher football games with the University of North Carolina for future seasons.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/176040731.html
Updates and Events
Area colleges see fast-growing demand for online courses
At the University of Minnesota-Crookston, an influx of 236 more students this year contributed to breaking the university’s enrollment record. “I don’t do a lot of lectures, because what we’ve found is they won’t watch the whole thing,” said Rachel Lundbohm, a marketing instructor for the business department at UMC. On online learning platforms, students can take tests, be updated on grades, find homework assignments and participate in discussion boards.
Grand Forks Herald
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/247953/group/homepage/
Gay marriage amendment: Foes plan University of Minnesota rally
The campaign working to defeat the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage is holding a rally at the University of Minnesota to kick off its get-out-the-vote efforts. The Minnesotans United for All Families rally is at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, in front of Northrop Auditorium. Minnesota's two U.S. senators, Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, are scheduled to participate, as is Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, an outspoken critic of the amendment.
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_21880062/gay-marriage-amendment-foes-plan-major-rally-at
Raptor Center on mission to protect Galapagos animals
The University of Minnesota Raptor Center will head to the Galapagos island of Pinzón next week in a continuing effort to help the endangered Pinzón giant tortoises and hawks.
WCCO
http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2815852.shtml