Also inside:• The origns of H1N1• Dr. House and lessons on medical ethics• The effects of the recession on food prices• A student take on troop levels in Afghanistan

Volume 4, Issue 1 Bringing you the Best of Barrett October 2009

Constructing Barrett The campus has been built - so where do we go from here?

The Barrett Chronicle

InsideThe Barrett Chronicle October 20092

IN THIS ISSUEBarrett AdministrationGet in touch with Classics at ASU, the original old school of thought ; and a brief discourse on the need for a new Barrett tradition.

pg 4-5HumanitiesIn this issue we are turning toward the ele-ments of the ‘good life’: revisit the origins of ethics and find out when money and status are not the optimal choice.

pg 6-7

PoliticsReceive an update on the issues sur-rounding the Afghanistan and Iraq wars while seeing the difference between Bush administration civil liberty issues and Obama’s radical changes to it - if there are any.

pg 8-9Science Get ready to hear one of the most disturb-ing facts behind the recent flu pandemic. Then some words of wisdom from a scientist who has been honing his game since 1962.

pg 10-11

OpinionFind out one student’s take on how the new beloved Honors complex may be closing us off to diversity, and think twice about the sustainability of your food pur-chasing choices.

pg 14-15

BARRETT CHRONICLE STAFFManaging Editor Paul Bergelin Adviser Ashley Irvin

SECTION EDITORS

Paul BergelinBarrett Administration

Milica MiocevicHumanities

Kurtis ZingerPolitics

Samantha NovakPhotography

Open positionArts & Entertainment

John FitzpatrickScience

Carrie GrantOpinion

Contributors: Jared Neufer, Kathryn Deschamps, Amanda Piltz, Joshua Niska, Anita Gardea, Jared E. Reed

TheBarrettChronicleisastudentnewsmagazineforBarrett,theHonorsCollege,andispublishedtwiceeachsemester.TheviewsexpressedinthispublicationdonotreflecttheviewsoftheBarrettadministration.Formoreinformation,gotohttp://thebarrettchronicle.wordpress.com.

A Note from the editors Seven weeks into the fall semester

and we find ourselves at a new campus with a new generation of editors - with the exception of yours truly - and a new layout for the Barrett Chronicle. So, with all of this said, what does all of this change within Barrett amount to? For some, it clarifies an imperative for student to start traditions that tie-in to this new campus (pg 4); for others, the new campus seems like an obstacle between Barrett students and the rest of ASU.

Beyond this perspective, we’re exploring how change can manifest itself, whether that is accomplished through effectuating new policies in Iraq and Afghanistan (pg 8) as well as civil liberties reform (pg 9), or coming to the realization that you would rather be working as an independent film director than spend another day in

your job (pg 7). Conversely, this change begs the question of how one can stay current in a world where information creation and exchange is so fast-paced. John Fitzpatrick thinks he may have found the answer in the mantra of a septuagenarian ASU professor (pg 10).

With that said, I’m proud to say that we’re still continuing the tradition of providing you with an eclectic news magazine that can comfortably contain an analyisis of how TV medical dramas formulate ethical discourse (pg 12) right next to a culinary expose about a restaurant that serves fried chicken and waffles (pg 13). And as always, Jared Neufer is back with another crossword puzzle (pg 3). We hope you enjoy this issue of the Chronicle and we look forward to your future contributions.

- Paul Bergelin

Arts & EntertainmentAn article exploring how TV medical dramas impact perceptions of ethical dilemmas, and a culinary expose on one of the valley’s hidden gems for quality soul food - Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles.

pg 12-13

PuzzleOctober 2009 The Barrett Chronicle 3

ACROSS

1. “____ about our…”6. Tidbits11. Some batteries14. Ad man Jay15. Loses momentum16. Wolfish17. What a belayer often does?19. Half of a dichotomy20. Urban pollution21. Type of a stick22. Subject of many jokes25. What a youngster often does?29. Golfer Aoki30. “Excuse me”31. Got up again34. Aramaic word and science fiction race35. Stowe heroine

38. The theme to this puzzle41. School dept.42. Colo. acad.43. Type of weather44. Banned orchard spray45. Part of Q.E.D.46. What a rat often does?52. Trading org.53. Sheep’s genus54. Cartoon noise56. Onetime TWA rival57. What a bully often does?63. Body messenger64. ___ citato65. Not worldly66. Modem type67. Dadaist Max68. “Paint Your Wagon” mother

DOWN

1. Commonly injured body prt.2. Queen’s “___ Makes Me”

3. Fox type4. Sunday reading5. Dict. Info6. Rodeo producer7. The ___ days8. As well9. Response to a rabbit, often10. Govt. ID11. ____ Like It12. Set straight13. Council18. Boat item21. Trendy fruit beverage22. Italian beverage23. “___ or lose it”24. Canadian fir26. Sign in a store window27. Hellos aboard28. French royal32. Bellow and Steinberg33. Test question, often34. Movie with Will Ferrell35. All36. Wang and others37. Mountain ridge39. Hawaiian root40. Sooner or later44. Loser to DDE46. Instrumental plant47. Journalist Molly48. The theme of this puzzle, relating to a popular internet meme.49. Forum list50. Dismayed51. Two-___55. Primo57. Yellow bartender58. Mth. of Seth Rogen’s birthday59. Plastic beau60. Year in Trajan’s reign61. Campers, for short62. Affirmative vote

By Jared NeuferPolitical Science junior

ANSWERS onPage5

AdminThe Barrett Chronicle October 20094

Barrett, the Honors College is touted as being among the top honors colleges in the nation, with the Arizona Republic going so far as to ascribe it the label of “The Harvard of the Southwest.” Whether or not this is an accurate description, it underscores the reality that we as Barrett students are willing to take our education to the next level. There are an endless number of statistics that could be rattled off in support of this claim. One could even see this trait reflected in the new campus: it’s littered with study rooms, has a tech support staff and, most importantly, a refrectory modeled after that of Oxford University.

It short, the new Barrett seems well on its way to distinguishing itself as prominent institution for undergraduate education. However, there’s one element that seems absent from the campus of an institution of this caliber – traditions. Each year, students at the Muir College at UC-San Diego drop a 200-pound pumpkin stuffed with candy from the 11th floor of the Tioga Residence Hall before their annual Halloween carnival; at Oxford University, following final exams students engage in “trashing” — the tradition in which students are pelted with flour and deluged with champagne to celebrate finishing their exams; at Reed College, graduating seniors create a massive bonfire using rough drafts of their theses, launching an annual weeklong celebration with music, refreshments, fireworks, arts, and sports called Renn Fayre.

From the perspective of Keith Southergill, Senior Coordinator of Student Services, Barrett students have the potential to offer their responses towards these events. “Students groups are more integrated with the administration than at any of the other academic units on campus.” He credits the understanding that exists between the administration and students, to the extent that student organizations often take the initiative in putting on events that fall within the parameters of larger Barrett goals. The examples are many and varied, ranging from the annual Concert to Benefit the Hungry to the Barrett Cup.

Although these activities are a good start, they all have their roots in the Center Complex campus. What is needed is a tradition whose history

will be deeply integrated with the new Barrett. Moreover, there are still two dimensions to tradtitions that Barrett students have yet to be explore. One surprise that Southergill has noted among many students new to Barrett is the lack of a service requirement. What was once enshrined by high school groups like the National Honor Society seems to be reserved in ASU for Greek life and student organizations through the SORC’s community outreach directorate. In his commencement address, President Obama encouraged us to make a difference in our community. Where is the whole of Barrett in all of this local outreach?

Moreover, there’s a certain element of creativity which seems lacking from the aforementioned Barrett activities. Yes, the idea of having your professors play

against one and other over a game of softball sounds interesting and very entertaining – but a creative apogee? Certainly not. As honors students, we are accustomed to going above and beyond what our teachers expect of us. It’s time that we did this for ourselves by christening this new campus with a unique tradition that can continue alongside it for years to come. Whether it’s a conducting a game of human chess with honors faculty serving as the pieces or creating a partnership programs between Barrett and local middle schools, we have the creativity, imanigation, and determination to craft a legacy that is so quinessentially Barrett that it will continue long after we’ve left this ASU. Simply put, there’s no excuse for denying our potential - all we need to do is harness it.

By Paul BergelinHistory and Spanish Senior

The Need for a New Barrett Tradition

Top image courtesy of Collegehumor.com/Bottom image courtesy of ASU Cares: College traditions need not be debaucherous to persist. Providing community outreach, like the ASU students in the bottom photo, can be the new legacy for Barrett.

AdminOctober 2009 The Barrett Chronicle 5

Despite Hollywood’s constant bastardization of history, they’ve managed to consistently get one point right: ancient history is awesome! When “300” came out, it was impossible to avoid hearing the battle cry “THIS IS SPARTA!” that resonated everywhere, from movie theaters to football games to parties. Historical fiction continually inspires the present day with its common human experiences, so why study anything less interesting or inspiring? Greek and Roman history form the backbone of philosophical, political, and cultural thought for Western civilization. We are fortunate at ASU to continue the tradition of classics education beyond the classroom with two clubs that support the study of classics.

For something more formal, the

classics honors society, Eta Sigma Phi, opened up a chapter at ASU in the spring of 2009, and the organization is currently seeking members for those who have suffered through enough semesters of declining nouns

and parsing verbs. Eta Sigma Phi is chartered with academic guidelines set by national standards like other honor societies, and while there are no official activities planned this semester, in the spring, the focus will be on recruitment.

Solis Diaboli, the more informal classics club, puts on diverse events such as Coffee and Classics, which is an informal discussion with Dr. Tom Morton of the Architecture department, Dr. Mira Poudrier of the Classics department and Dr. Jayne Reinhard of the History department. Events can also take on a decidely nerdy tone; Dr. Paul Arena organizes Game Days where students gather to play Commands and Colors Ancients.Lecturers are also frequent, with speakers presenting talks about exciting developments in classical studies like the latest archaeological digs at Nero’s palace in Rome. Future events for this group are advertised in the week that they occur.

As a classics student, you too can proclaim, “I like the old stuff better.”

By Kathryn DeschampsLiterature and Political Science junior

Classics: No School Like the Old School

Courtesy of Warner Brothers: The study of classics isn’t limited to Spartans.

ANSWERS

HumanitiesThe Barrett Chronicle October 20096

Everyone is taught from a very young age to be ethical and to have good morals. While we were toddlers, our parents told us not to hit others. At a university, we are told not to cheat or plagiarize. But where do these ethical principles come from? Why should we not hit one another? Whose rules are we following?

Though each person has their own set of morals that have been instilled by their religion, their parents, or their peers, philosophers are trying to set a standard for perfect morals which they believe everyone should strive to follow. It is impossible to list all the circumstances one may face in life and which decisions would be the morally correct decisions. Therefore, philosophers lay out moral theories: sets of rules or standards that can be applied to any situation that may arise in this changing world which will help a person decide which decision should be taken. The task has proven to be a challenging one.

In a famous passage from Plato’s Republic, Glaucon tells the story of the Ring of Gyges. In this story, a man named Gyges finds a ring, and discovers this ring has the ability to make him invisible to all people, creatures, and gods. Having possession of this ring, Gyges proceeds to do horrible things: seduce the king’s wife, murder, and steal. Glaucon argues if there were two of these rings in the story and one was placed on man considered unjust and the other on a man who was considered just, the two would become equal in their actions. This moral theory is called egoism; it is the belief that humans, free from punishment, will do whatever is in their own self-interest.

Many people had a problem with

the moral theory of egoism simply because we believe ourselves to have a higher moral conduct than animals which do whatever they please without fear of punishment. Thus, other moral theories arose. Moral relativism is the idea that there are no universal moral truths. What is morally acceptable in one country may not be morally a c c e p t a b l e in another. This theory has become the subject of many critiques: according to this theory, Americans could not say the Holocaust was wrong, because though genocide is not morally acceptable in America, it may, according to moral relativism, be morally acceptable in Germany.

Utilitarianism, on the other hand, considers an act morally acceptable by judging the act’s overall contribution to happiness or pleasure of all the people involved. Though this moral theory would denounce the Holocaust, there are certain instances where the morally correct act according to Utilitarianism would not be the morally correct act according to many people’s personal beliefs and standards. For example, in the famous critique of Utilitarianism by Bernard Williams, a man stumbles upon 20 Indians tied up to be used as an example of what will happen to rebels. The captain tells the man if he kills one, the others will go free, but if he does not, they will die. According to Utilitarianism, the man should kill one Indian, because the happiness of the other 19 men will outweigh the suffering of that one. Most people, however, would agree it is wrong to

kill the man.The Kantian Moral Theory

differs from other theories because it revolves around a person’s thoughts and actions, unlike other theories that focus only on the latter. According to

Kant, the only thing that can be intrinsically good is Good Will. Kant argues that someone who does the morally correct thing cannot always be called a moral person, because, according to Kant, a man

who follows the law just because he wants to be seen as moral is not the same as a man who follows the law because he believes it is the right thing to do. The Kantian Moral Theory uses two maxims that all people should live by in order to be moral. The first: “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law”; and the second: “Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means to an end”. These two maxims are written in such a way that they can be applied to virtually any situation.

Though many of us may have our own sets of morals, and know what we would do in numerous situations, there are times when we need guidance. In this growing and changing world, it is impossible to imagine all the possible moral dilemmas one may have to face. Thus, it is important for every person to have rules to live by that can provide guidance when faced with a complex moral problem.

By Amanda PiltzPsychology freshman

The Origin of Ethics

Contributed image

HumanitiesOctober 2009 The Barrett Chronicle 7

Leena Manimekalai was born and raised in Chenai, a cosmopolitan but very traditional Southern Indian city. She took dance and music classes throughout her childhood and wrote poetry in her free time. Despite her artsy hobbies, Leena’s parents and teachers encouraged her to go into engineering because of her high grades.

After only ten months of working as an engineer, Leena quit in order to pursue filmmaking. “My family and I were in conflict around my decision for about three years. Where I come from, film is not seen as a career for women, and being a woman filmmaker was seen as rebellion. Only when I gained recognition did my family give me more space to do what I love.”

But recognition (or tangible results) did not come immediately. In order to learn the mechanics of filmmaking, Leena worked as an assistant to a film director. It took her two years of learning before she completed her first documentary.

By that point, the difference in pay between an engineer and a filmmaker became a problem.

To pay the bills, Leena spent several months working on game, cultural, and travel shows for television; the remainder of her time was devoted to making documentaries, teaching, and working for a radio station. This is what the rhythm of her years has been like ever since.

Even though this combination of jobs seems ideal for exposure, government censors have only allowed one of her ten documentaries to be broadcast on national television. Because of this censorship, Leena turned to the international scene. “Getting into film festivals is all about networking. Initially you have to be alert to events taking place on the international film scene and make contacts. After you become recognized, invitations to film festivals will come to you.” Today, almost ten years after she switched careers, Leena has traveled to five continents and has received countless international awards. However, success was not easy, nor was it foreseeable when she first started.

So, why would anyone give up a lucrative and respected career in engineering in order to be an independent filmmaker? For Leena, filmmaking was a way of being in touch with her community and of combining dance, music, and picture.

As for the losses in pay and status, Leena has reconciled with them and learned to value personal fulfillment more than the norms for success in her society.

Though Hollywood continues to feed us stories about successful career transitions and changes in life philosophies, the fact that individuals all over the world are undergoing them only confirms that there is a problem with letting social norms guide your choice of major and career. Even psychological research supports this claim: a study by Nurmi and Salmela-Aro (2002) reported that individuals engaged in meaningful and fulfilling work scored lower on measures of stress and depression and expressed greater levels of subjective well-being.

If there is anything you should take away from Leena’s story, it’s the message that you will be happier doing what you love, regardless of how much you earn or what prefix comes in front of your name.

By Milica MiocevicPsychology junior

Re-engineering the Norm: When and Why the Switch Pays Off

Contributed image

The worst days of those who enjoy what they do are better than the best days of those

who don’t. “

- E. James Rohn

“

PoliticsThe Barrett Chronicle October 20098

By Kurtis ZingerFinance and German sophomore

Eight years and almost 800 Ameri-can lives later, the war in Afghanistan rages on. The media only recently be-gan to put the war under the micro-scope due to President Barack Obama’s switched focus from Iraq. Although President Obama has kept his promise to pull troops out of Iraq, how many has he really taken out, and for that matter, how many has he trans-ported to Afghanistan where a new offensive is growing rapidly?

Over the past few weeks, military leaders, pentagon officials, and GOP lawmakers have spoken out in favor of a troop increase in Afghan-istan. With the death count of Operation En-during Freedom reach-ing almost 1,500 and Au-gust being the bloodiest month this year, it’s be-coming increasingly clear that current strategies aren’t effective.

Current troop levels in Iraq total close to 130,000, which is a signifi-cant drop from the almost 170,000 the year prior. Troops evacuated Baghdad and other Iraqi urban areas in June to head for the borders in hopes that Iraqi security forces could take complete control of the country. Although the US-trained security forces have been effective in keeping their cities safe, the continued presence of US military forc-es in Iraq is expected to continue well into the next decade.

As Iraq becomes a more stable,

self-sovereign state, Afghanistan has continued to be a haven for al-Qaeda and the Taliban. After a recent troop surge numbering over 20,000 ordered by President Obama, the country now holds over 60,000 US military person-nel. Despite the recent increase in US presence in Afghanistan, a recently di-vulged, classified pentagon document

written by Gen. Stanley McChrystal - the top US Commander in Afghanistan – states that a failure in supplying more troops within the next year would “like-ly result in failure” of the war. General McChrystal has gone so far as to pub-licly lobby for more action to be taken in Afghanistan, a not-so-common path for military officials to take. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has urged gen-erals to speak “candidly but privately” about issues surrounding deployment and strategies, although he continues to support McChrystal and the President.

These continuous warnings of im-

manent failure have landed flat on Capitol Hill, leaving GOP leaders such as Sen. John McCain distressed about the situation. McCain recently pointed out that Afghanistan is “not as tough as Iraq, and don’t let anyone tell you that it is, because when we started the [2007] surge, Iraq was virtually in a state of collapse.” Indeed, the military surge in

Iraq aided the US in their efforts so much that we were able to leave Bagh-dad two years later. Fears continue to mount that if the same treatment isn’t given to Afghanistan, the United States could have a serious chance of losing.

While the White House continues to de-bate a host of other is-sues, such as health care and the economy, sol-diers in Iraq and Afghan-istan continue to risk their lives and die on an almost daily basis. Ask Paige Bennethum from Berks County, Pennsylva-nia what she thinks about the recent lack of deci-

sion regarding Iraq and Afghanistan. A moving image caught the four-year-old daughter of Staff Sgt. Brett Ben-nethum standing in line, not able to let go of her father as he prepared to ship off to Iraq. Stories that document the hardship faced by even the youngest of Americans have made the war be-ing fought abroad less popular in the public eye. As pressure continues to mount against Obama, a decision must be made regarding strategy and troop level to bring Paige’s father and many other Americans home safe from their tour of duty abroad.

Afghanistan & Iraq: Strategy and Troop Levels Questioned

Courtesy NBC News: Four-year-old Paige Bennethum says goodbye to her father as prepares to deploy to Iraq.

PoliticsOctober 2009 The Barrett Chronicle 9

When he campaigned for the presidency, Barack Obama -a constitutional law professor- emphatically attacked the Bush administration for its gross abuse of constitutionally protected rights. It seemed like the continuation of his time when he was editor of the Harvard law Review; his first issue, Volume 104, was replete with civil liberty issues. By all accounts, Obama was - as Jeffrey Rosen, law professor at George Washington University, put it – the candidate who understood “the need to make the case for civil liberties in the political arena.”

In this regard, Obama’s first year in office has been a minor success. It is true that he signed executive orders mandating the closure of Guantánamo Bay and an end to the mistreatment and torture of suspected terrorists. Since then, he has faced difficulties implementing the former, ranging from creating a new legal system to charge detainees to finding a new facility to house such persons.

However these initial steps have not defined the entirety of the Obama administration’s record on civil liberties. As part of his closure of Guantánamo, Obama had originally insisted that he would work with Congress to create a viable legal framework to hold suspected terrorists. But last week, in an about face, Obama declared that he would not ask Congress to write a new law. In this absence, he would continue to rely on the congressional authorization for use of military force granted to President Bush in the aftermath of 9/11. This was the same power invoked by Bush to justify broad-ranging program including the NSA’s

warrantless wiretapping program.Furthermore, the Obama

administration is also continuing the precedent of Bush administration regarding state-secrets privilege. Lawyers from the Justice Department have argued, like those of Bush administration, that a lawsuit involving extraordinary rendition and allegations of extreme torture should be dismissed outright because discussions of such matters in court would harm national security. In doing so, he is vitiating an opportunity to retrospectively review these affronts to civil liberties infractions. There are also concerns among civil libertarians about the Cybersecurity Act of 2009. This measure, if approved, bypasses all existing privacy laws and allows W h i t e House political operatives to tap into any online communication without a warrant, including banking, medical, and business records and personal e-mail conversations. Essentially, it amounts to an extension of warrantless wiretaps. The White

House has yet to comment on this provision. For a man who, in his inaugural address, proclaimed “We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals,” this behavior portends something bad.

Yet, if one were to further examine Obama’s past, such policies seem more like a continuance. As a Senator, Obama voted ‘yes’ on the FISA bill, which gave the Bush administration virtually unchecked power to intercept Americans’ international email messages and telephone class. This was done, despite Obama’s promise during his senatorial campaign to fight against and filibuster any bill that provided retroactive immunity for FISA violations. For that matter, in his twelve years as a professor at the University of Chicago, he never once authored any legal article. Essentially, despite claims to the contrary, it is doubtful that Obama was ever, or for that matter, will ever be the antithesis to the Bush administration’s rampant abuse of civil liberties.

By Paul BergelinHistory and Spanish senior

Change Unrealized: Obama and Civil Liberties

AP image: The sun is setting on Guantanamo Bay, but other civil liberties infractions still remain nearly one year into the Obama administration.

ScienceThe Barrett Chronicle October 200910

Spotlight on Dr. Roy Curtiss IIIBy John FitzpatrickMicrobiology sophomore

In today’s ever changing world it’s perfectly reasonable to wonder how much of our current understanding of science will be applicable in five years. More importantly, how can we keep this understanding current with the developments made in fast-paced fields such as genetics or physics? As an answer to these pervasive concerns, I would like to highlight Dr. Roy Curtiss III, whose knowledge and skills have kept him at forefront of genetics research for over fifty years.

As an adolescent, Dr. Curtiss first began investigating heredity in tomatoes before he moved on to poultry, creating a nationally recognized breed

of chicken before he was eighteen years old. This interest continued in college, where he studied bacteria with the hopes of developing a means to prevent the outbreaks he faced as a child. Dr. Curtiss recalled, “When I went to grammar school, there were times when some of my class mates never came back to school. There was a measles epidemic and some kids didn’t make it.”

When he began his research on bacteria, he had few basic questions in mind: How do bacteria exchange genetic material? Why are they successful as pathogens? And how do

they acquire antibiotic resistance?

Although Dr. Curtiss could not answer many of these questions when he received his PhD in 1962, advancements in recombinant DNA technologies and gene cloning in the 1970’s finally made it possible for him to isolate and describe the genes he was after. With this technology he began analyzing the genetic makeup of the bacteria that cause leprosy, dysentery, and tooth decay. But even then, Dr. Curtiss still lacked most of the sophisticated equipment found in today’s lab. Conducting successful research in the seventies then often meant building his own equipment or improvising with the equipment he had available; at one point, he used a heart and lung pump to do a continuous culture.

As Dr. Curtiss and his team began to understand of how certain species of pathogenic bacteria function, he realized he could use this information to create drugs and vaccines to target them. Over the years, Dr. Curtiss and his team have pumped out serious scientific advancements, including the first self-d e s t r u c t i v e E. coli which enabled scientists to safely insert human genes into bacterial genomes. The insertion of the genes that code for interferon, insulin and human growth hormone has lead to the

commercial availability of these once scarce products.

At seventy-five, Dr Curtiss isn’t planning on quitting any time soon, comfortably remarking “I’m doing more today than any previous year in my life, and next year is going to be better.”

When asked for advice on how he has been able to maintain his level of expertise in the fluctuating field of genetics, he stressed

the importance maintaining a broad horizon: “Increasingly today, if you only know one thing, you’re not going to make it.” Moreover, he avoids narrow-minded thinking by surrounding himself with divergent viewpoints. “I’m the only on in my lab that others would describe as a card-carrying geneticist. Most of the people that have joined my lab have been trained in a great diversity of backgrounds. [They] rub shoulders, they talk and everybody educates everybody else.” For students interested in the fields like biotechnology, it’s scientists like Dr. Curtiss who prove hard work and ingenuity are more important than anything you know now.

Courtesy Arizona State University: Despite the seriousness of his job, Dr. Curtiss always seems to be in a good mood.

• Genetically proved the chromosome of E. coli is circular

• Proved DNA is transferred between bacteria in a single strand (not double stranded).

• Showed E. Coli was capable of exchanging genes with over 35 different genera of bacteria.

• Composedthefirstgeneticlibraryfororalstreptococci and leprosy bacillus.

• Created an FDA approved vaccine that prevents the virulent form of salmonella that causes food poisoning from growing in livestock.

Some of the accomplishments attributable to Dr. Curtiss and his labs:

“

“ I’m modifying bacteria to a greater extent

than anyone I know intheopenscientific

community, and we’re making them safe

enough to give to a newborne mouse.

ScienceOctober 2009 The Barrett Chronicle 11

Health officials working in Mexico City first detected what was latter dubbed pandemic H1N1 flu in March of this year. Within days, several Mexican cities were under a government-enforced lock down. In a vain attempt to contain the outbreak, several European and Asian governments reacted by restricting travel and halting trade with Mexico, the United States and several Latin American countries. In a matter of weeks the virus spread across the Atlantic, and as of September 28 only a handful of countries have yet to report any cases. Precautions have been taken by every level of the United States government, and these pale in comparison to other nations responses.

Despite pandemic H1N1 flu’s rapid spread, only about 4,500 people have died so far. This number is trivial compared to the hundreds of thousands of deaths attributed to seasonal flu. So what’s with all the fuss? When this pandemic started, news agencies were reporting that the death toll would be in the millions by the end of the year. One possible scenario is that the billions of dollars thrown at this virus by every government and public agency have actually paid off, but I seriously doubt it considering there is no obvious observable difference in the incidence rates of developing and industrialized countries. A more likely scenario

is that this is another case of severe government and media overreaction to something they didn’t understand.

As time passes, more and more people will come to realize that pandemic H1N1 is not going to meet the media’s expectations of ushering in the apocalypse. However, despite my disgust with the way this disease

was over hyped, I still strongly urge everyone to maintain a healthy level of concern. The sad fact is that this is a man-made disease, and every death associated with it is blood on our hands.

Like the “Bird flu” flu before it, H1N1 pandemic flu was the result of agricultural practices in Asia and the Americas, which involve squeezing as many animals as possible into

a confined space. Aside from the numerous environmental problems, this practice presents a serious epidemiological issue. While these animals are loaded up with antibiotics to prevent bacteria from decimating the populations, viruses spread easily in the cramped conditions. Normally, natural selection tends to favor less

deadly forms of viruses as they are more effective at spreading through populations. The most virulent strains kill their hosts before getting a chance to spread. Considering that most farm animals are packed so tightly they don’t have room to turn around, there is no impetus for viral populations to evolve into less deadly stains. The outbreaks that ensue force farmers to cull millions of animals each year, putting countless numbers of them in the third world below the poverty line.

The situation turns from bad to worse when a mutation allows that virus to infect humans. It happened in 1997 and again in 2003 with H5N1 influenza A, and it happened with H1N1. While these outbreaks

have been relatively contained(at a cost of billions of dollars), the next one might not be. We’ve been lucky because so far we have only had to deal new strains of influenza (something scientists have become quite adept at); I seriously doubt humanity can effectively cope with a novel strain of Ebola. Unless we start to rethink where our meat is coming from, that possibility is on the horizon.

H1N1: Existential SicknessBy John FitzpatrickMicrobiology sophomore

Courtesy AP: By changing their surface protiens, new strains of the swine flu prevent our bodies from recognizing and responding as quickly as with many other viruses. It is the direct result of poor farming practices, which have implications for other infectious agents. CDC officials have already confirmed the presence of the Ebola-Reston virus in certian pig populations, including the Philippines.

A&EThe Barrett Chronicle October 200912

Since its inception in the 1950s, the television medical drama has consistently grown in popularity. To gain credibility in the early days of the medical drama, NBC and ABC gave the American Medical Association (AMA) veto power over scripts, ensuring not only a certain level of accuracy, but also that the script portrayed physicians in a positive light. When the producer of a show called The Nurses refused to hire representatives from the AMA, he set the precedent of independence from the AMA. M*A*S*H soon followed, representing physicians with complete irreverence. Since then, television medical dramas have depicted flawed physicians on television, giving viewers insight into the ethical dilemmas that often face physicians.

Michael Crichton’s ER continued depicting imperfect physicians but also took on a new level of medical authenticity, attracting viewers within the medical field. Medical students began watching, sparking a debate over whether television medical dramas help or hinder medical education. All agree that television cannot instruct the practice of medicine, but what can be said of the human aspect of medicine portrayed on television? What effect does television have on the bioethical views of medical students?

A 2008 study by Matthew J. Czarny at Johns Hopkins University investigated the effects of television medical dramas on the bioethical views of medical and nursing students at Johns Hopkins University. Not surprisingly, eighty-five percent of students reported having watched a

medical drama in the past year. Over a third of all students watched House, M.D. and Grey’s Anatomy weekly. The vast number of future doctors who serially watch television medical dramas may lead one to believe that the situations they watch Dr. House or McDreamy go through each week may affect their ethical beliefs. However, Czarny’s study showed that television medical dramas ranked second to last on the students’ sources of information on bioethical issues, just above popular magazines and just below television news and clergy. Still, some physicians, such as Dr. Howard Trachtman of Schneider Children’s Hospital, believe that the shows could promote “unrealistic views about the ways in which to be a doctor, the speed with which problems will be handled, even the attractiveness of patients.”

Despite the objections of some physicians, many bioethics professors at prominent medical schools use television medical dramas for illustrative purposes. Rather than using medical school resources to create cheesy, low-budget videos for educational purposes, they let the professionals in the television industry create engaging and interesting situations each week for them to use in the classroom. With such a large number of students who have already viewed the material and had time to consider its implications, a short clip from an episode of House,

M.D., in which Dr. House pushes the ethical limits in his relentless pursuit of a diagnosis, can elicit a rich bioethical discussion among students. In one episode, Dr. House induces a seizure against the desires of his patient (his former fiancée’s husband, no less) in order to confirm his diagnosis. Such a scenario is ripe for a discussion regarding ethics, or the lack thereof. As other factors have already shaped their ethical views, television dramas give students an opportunity to reflect upon bioethical issues. By approaching these issues through the critical lens of their already established ethical beliefs, students learn from the mistakes of characters like Dr. House.

By Joshua NiskaBiochemistry senior

TV Medical Dramas: A Lesson in Flawed Physicians

Contributed image: Dr. House, a prime advocate for medical ethics.

A&EOctober 2009 The Barrett Chronicle 13

It’s Sunday morning and you’ve had three exams at school and a crazy weekend to top it all off. You wake up at 10:00 A.M. with little intention of being productive. Hunger begins to set in, disabling you from completing even the simplest of tasks. You have a choice to make: where to eat. Do you go to the McDonald’s down the street for the fast and proven service, or do you go to Chompies for a more expensive, albeit more delectable breakfast? Break free from tradition and do neither. Instead, go to Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles.

Lolo’s may not seem worth the twenty-minute trek at first. Students are notorious for wanting what is simple and cheap, especially after a tiring week. If you doubt the worthiness of this place, drag a friend out of bed one weekend morning and take a trip you’ll never forget. Standing on the corner of Yuma Street and Central Avenue in downtown Phoenix, Lolo’s peers out at unsuspecting pedestrians who write off the shady building as a condemned corner shop from the 90s. The barbed wire fence and barred up windows are a turn-off for some, but the moment you open the front door you find yourself in a world completely set apart from other Yuma Street residents. Pictures of famous jazz musicians grace the walls of one room while other abstract depictions of musical performances grace the walls of another. The kitchen and front register are in the back of a room that has signatures from famous customers that have visited Lolo’s since it was founded in 2002. Celebrities such as Muhammad Ali, Charles Barkley, Amare Stoudemire,

and E-40 have gone to Lolo’s in search for unmatched quality in both food and service. Their signatures, along hundreds more that adorn the walls display the loyal customer base that has grown to include much of the surrounding community.

As if the family-owned, friendly, laid back environment wasn’t enough, Lolo’s offers an ample supply of soul food specials. Each dish, named after a close relative or family member, is teaming with flavor and variety. Order the #10 or “Tre-Tre’s Special” for two deep-fried chicken legs and a large waffle with a hint of cinnamon. Not full yet? Order a side of grits or some homemade cornbread. Whatever you do, try the red drank; yes, that’s what it’s called even on the menu. The red Kool-Aid is so sweet that you’ll utilize their free refill policy at least once. All of the drinks are served in a mason jar that only adds to the down-home feel that the Lolo’s family strives for. Their cheerful and timely staff give new meaning to a sign that hangs high in the dining room, “We give fast service, no matter how long it takes.”

That dichotomy is found everywhere within the walls of Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles. Each customer enjoys the great food and fast service, but it is delivered in such a unique and

relaxed way that you end up spending money for the atmosphere and people rather than the food. Bring soul food back, and contribute to the growing Lolo’s culture. The recent opening of a Scottsdale location will ensure the continued success of a restaurant that is sure to become a cult-hit. Although the Scottsdale location offers the same great food at a more convenient place for ASU students, go to the downtown location for the full Lolo’s experience. Next time you wake up on that ill-fated Sunday morning, tell your friends you’re headed downtown. For Barrios Café? For Portland’s Restaurant and Wine Bar? No, for Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles.

Lolo’sChicken&Waffles:APlace for Friends and Culture

By Kurtis ZingerFinance and German sophomore

Courtesy Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles: Enjoy the cuisine, but be sure to indulge in the delicious red drank.

OpinionThe Barrett Chronicle October 200914

When I first heard about Barrett the Honors College, I was truly impressed. It offers brand new dorms, small honors class sizes, a top-notch dining hall, and resources that are available only to honors students. While I feel very lucky to have access to all of these amenities, Barrett’s heavy-duty security system and lack of access to non-Barrett students has made maintaining relationships with my other ASU friends quite a challenge.

Perhaps the impediments that keep my non-Barrett friends out are simply meant to foster camaraderie

within Barrett with fellow Barrett students, which is an admirable goal. However, I also value diversity, and I believe that diversifying the people who come through Barrett is important. Barrett students are not homogenous, but what about other students whose unique perspectives cannot be found at Barrett? Understandably, everyone cannot be an honors college student, or nobody would be, but everyone can learn something from people who are different. Learning what others have to offer is difficult when you can’t invite them over to your dining hall without worrying about how many guest passes you have left, or hang out with them in your dorm room in the

evenings unless you want to go down and unlock the security gates so they can enter.

Some of my guests have commented on how they feel a little out of place, or get the sense that they shouldn’t be here, and while I do my best to dispel these worries, I know it will be a while before they get comfortable with Barrett. The imposing metal gates and cinderblock buildings create a first impression that can be daunting to outsiders, though it really is a wonderful place to live. It’s unfair that they should feel awkward in a place that is a part of their campus and mine. Whenever I venture outside of the Barrett realm to visit my friends in other dorms across campus, I never get the feeling that I don’t belong. There’s nothing to block me from the general vicinity around their dorms, and the overall atmosphere is lighter. It is true that I have to show my ID to the person at the desk before I go up to a friend’s room, but at Barrett, I wave my card in front of an impersonal sensor. And while this doesn’t make Barrett a frigid prison, it doesn’t soften the image either. I want to be able to share Barrett with all my friends, whether they are honors students or not.

Of course, some may assert that these problems are subtle and therefore insignificant. Admittedly, I have found

ways to circumnavigate Barrett’s inconvenient obstacles for the benefit of myself as well as my friends, but I feel that I should not have to. I still don’t like I having to stop to analyze the logistics of meeting up with a certain group of friends. Rarely can anything be planned on the spur of the moment. Debates continue to ensue over where we should meet up, and the unwelcoming environment may sway us not to pick Barrett. Some of my friends may not be honors students, but that’s no reason to keep them out.

Not Welcome HereBy Anita Gardea

Sustainability freshman

Anita Gradea/For The Barrett Chronicle: If you can get through the gates, you’ll learn to love it.

““ I believe that diversifying the people

who come through Barrett is important.

OpinionOctober 2009 The Barrett Chronicle 15

Has the recession hit you yet? If you’re like me, a struggling college student, your scholarship refund check might have looked pretty dismal this semester, you can’t find work, and grocery shopping at Wal-Mart or Food City is a mainstay of your survival, despite those nagging comments from socially-minded friends. Yes, it’s hit us all in one way or another.Food-Price Increases

Take a moment to consider this however; the global prices for agricultural commodities have hit the highest level in history. For almost two billion people (a third of the global population), these hikes in food prices mean the difference between life and death - and they are dying, by the thousands.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, a subsidiary of the United Nations, those living on less than $1 dollar per day (2009-2010 estimates 1.45 billion people worldwide), spend 50-80% of that dollar on food. Now, imagine when food prices increase.

Many issues compound the phenomena of food-price increases. From increased investment in biofuel production, fluctuations in oil prices, to agricultural subsidies in the developed world, food-price increases are one of the most complex and multi-faceted issues of our time. And, just because you can’t see it acutely around you in Tempe, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

If you took a trip to East Lansing, MI or New Orleans, LA, you might see why, for the first time in history, the United Nations is requiring a Human Development Index report from the United States. Citizens of the same

country you and I call home are living in conditions akin to those in third-world nations, and going to bed starving every night. What Can I Do About Global Hunger?

As a college student with limited cash, one of the last things on your mind is the issue of global hunger; never mind taking steps to help. Let me take a moment though, to explain why your actions do make a difference directly to this matter.

When you buy a non-accredited fair-trade product, chances are very good that you are supporting a number of processes: 1) agribusiness companies that negotiate the lowest-possible price for goods, which hurts a farmer’s chances to be more productive and invest in expensive equipment and input materials, 2) use of petroleum-based fertilizers, pesticides, and other products that are harmful to the environment, contribute to soil-erosion and water contamination and thus global warming, and increase dependence on foreign oil, 3) support of companies that have increasingly vertically integrated R&D biotech investment, large-scale monoculture farms, and institutionalized irresponsible farm-lobbying efforts to internationally undermine developing nation farmers.

The complete scope of issues is undoubtedly beyond the point of this article. However, the point I’m trying to make is simple: the choices you make when buying your food affect everyone

- and if you continue to make choices that support irresponsible agribusiness, someday our world will look even worse for those 1.45 billion people, our fellow citizens living in East Lansing, our neighbors in Tempe, and, someday, our children and ourselves.

But let’s face it, we’re strapped for cash: it’s a recession. Barrett Sophomore and President of United Students for Fair Trade, Kimberly Pearson, recommends shopping or eating out at places like Cartel Coffee Lab, Fair-Trade Cafe, or checking out the new Tempe Farmers Market on Mill on Thursday nights, which all have affordable prices. Or, next time you do go to Wal-Mart, look for products with fair-trade labeling (yes, believe it or not, Wal-Mart does sell these products - at a reasonable price). For some at-home research, check out Transfair USA or Fair Trade Federation on-line. To paraphrase the words of British singer-songwriter Lily Allen, you are a weapon of mass consumption: the amount of damage you wage is up to you.

By Jared E. ReedPolitical Science senior

Hungry College Student?: Think Again

Jaron E. Reed/For The Barrett Chronicle: Cacao from Equador can be delivered by farmers to local depots where they recieve a fair price.

“ I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.”

- Gilda Radner