In the News

June 2007

Beltsville in Running For New Lab
The Diamondback - June 28

The Mid-Atlantic Bio-Ag Defense Consortium, comprising universities and institutions in several states, is working on a proposal to the Department of Homeland Security to relocate the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a biodefense research facility now located in New York, to a site at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. ýFrom an educational perspective, itýs a gold mine of opportunities,ý said Stephen Schimpff, MD, the consortiumýs director, professor at the School of Medicine, and the former chief executive officer of the University of Maryland Medical Center. "Once the facility is in place, professors can then apply for other grants and contracts to do research. Thatýs one of the big advantages for the university."
media.www.diamondbackonline.com

Economic Alliance Assesses Marylandýs Business Strengths
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 29

After years of failing to attract a big pharmaceutical presence to the state, a new report by the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore says itýs time for Maryland economic developers to shift gears in biotechnology. James Hughes, MBA, vice president of research and development at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is overseeing development of the Universityýs BioPark, a 10-acre, 10-building business venture under construction on the cityýs west side. He said he has used the regional collaboration portions of the report, taken from a draft he saw earlier, to market the area to businesspeople in Japan. "Companies already think of it as a great big region, and they're working with sources of funding and partners all up and down the East Coast. What really has lagged behind is more the economic development focus," Hughes said.
www.baltimoresun.com

New Toothpaste Can Regrow Teeth
Guardian Unlimited - June 28

The $3 billion global market for toothpaste is on the verge of a shake-up as new biotechnologies come through that not only curtail sensitivity problems but will also enable teeth to re-grow to fill in small cavities. American scientists developed a material that helped in bone regeneration for combat-wounded troops. Later, two researchers at the Dental School took that bioactive compound and found a way to adapt the same technology for renewing teeth.
business.guardian.co.uk

Despite Risks, Needle Sticks Underreported
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 28

U.S. health care workers suffer up to 800,000 needle jabs each year, and a new study suggests that the injuries are far more common among early-career surgeons than previously thought and could put them at risk for disease. Craig Thorne, MD, MPH, clinical assistant professor at the School of Medicine and the medical director of employee health and safety at the University of Maryland Medical Center, said regular training is important for getting workers to report needle sticks. "In my experience, people are sometimes fearful of reporting," he said. "Institutions need to let them know that testing is confidential, free, and convenient."
www.baltimoresun.com

Indian Student is One of the Top Two Brains in International Brain Bee
MediaSyndicate.com - June 27

Sanat Sethi, a 10th grader of West Essex High School, Roseland, N.J., won the second place in the 2007 International Brain Bee, hosted by the University of Maryland, Baltimore on March 16 and 17. The University of Maryland Dental School's Department of Biomedical Sciences developed the Brain Bee program as part of a quest to boost interest among young people who might choose neuroscience as a career, as well as to advance an appreciation for the subject among the general public.
www.mediasyndicate.com

2 Your Health
WMAR-TV - 5 p.m. June 22, 6:45 p.m. June 25

Student Jacob Koch and Andrea Morgan, DDS, MS, clinical assistant professor, discussed some of the newest technologies in use at the Dental School. Morgan mentioned some of the ways the technology will help patients when they visit their dentist, and Koch said he was eager to someday use his high-tech training in his own practice.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Angelos Sets Sights on Arsenic
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 27

Peter Angelos, the Baltimore lawyer who parlayed his cutting-edge role representing workers who were exposed to asbestos into the ownership of the Baltimore Orioles, has placed advertisements in The Sun trolling for possible clients who might have been harmed by arsenic in South Baltimoreýs Swann Park. Abraham Dash, JD, professor at the School of Law, said such advertising is legal under Supreme Court decisions and ethical under the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct. "I don't like it," Dash said. "Perhaps I'm an old-timer, but I think it cheapens the profession."
www.baltimoresun.com

Hospital Cracks Down on Deadly Infections
The Daily Record - June 27

As concern over antibiotic-resistant infections grows, some hospitals are aggressively screening patients with new tests that can rapidly detect one of the most problematic bugs. Hospitals such as the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) say the effort, though expensive, is paying off, in part because they can quickly isolate patients carrying the strain to help prevent its spread. "In reality, it's a tremendous savings," said Harold Standiford, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and medical director for infection control at UMMC. "We're avoiding morbidity and mortality for the patients in the hospital. They're not as sick when theyýre in here, they're not having complications, they're getting well faster."

Learning to Live with Chronic Pain
The Washington Times - June 26

Chronic pain is recurring pain caused by ongoing damage to nerves or tissue that lasts for three months or longer, while acute pain is sudden, short-lived pain from a trauma or injury. "Most of the patients weýre seeing think we can take the pain away to zero," said Thelma Wright, MD, clinical instructor in anesthesiology and pain management at the School of Medicine. "Patients need to realize they need to be active in their care, not passive."

Vice President's Classified Material
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - June 27

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed why Vice President Dick Cheney's office is refusing to comply with an executive order regulating the handling of classified material.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Former Trader Disputes Report on Natural Gas Prices
The Associated Press - June 26

A former natural gas trader for a hedge fund facing congressional scrutiny on Monday disputed the findings of Senate investigators who blamed high natural gas prices last winter on the company's speculative bets. At the hearing, Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, and a former director for trading and markets for the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said the CFTC has been "a captive of the industry it regulates" and not responsive to consumers.
www.washingtonpost.com

Law Firms on Hunt for Patent Attorneys
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 26

With about 3 percent of the nation's 1.1 million active lawyers specializing in the demanding field, patent lawyers are a precious commodity in a world where intellectual property (IP) has never been more important and can mean a companyýs survival. The School of Law is working to meet demand by hiring experienced intellectual property attorneys to design and teach courses on the topic. Before Lawrence Sung, JD, PhD, professor and director of the Intellectual Property Law Program arrived, the School offered three or four IP classes. Now 20 IP classes and a clinical program are offered. "It used to be a patent attorney was just a scientist or an engineer who happened to have a law degree," Sung said. Today, law firms are looking for first-rate lawyers who understand the science, he added.
www.baltimoresun.com

Medical Memos
Worcester Telegram & Gazette - June 25

Angela Brodie, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine, recently received a Gregory Pincus Medal from the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Brodie spent a formative segment of her early professional career in the labs of what was then the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology. She is recognized for discovering and developing a new class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. These drugs help to prevent recurrence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women by reducing the level of the hormone estrogen produced by the body, thereby cutting off the fuel that promotes the growth of cancer cells.
www.telegram.com

A Missing Link Between Patients and More Effective Health Care
The (Baltimore) Examiner - June 25

Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, associate professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, has no shortage of titles, but at heart, she is an advocate for the community pharmacist. "A pharmacist is the only health care provider that is really accessible to the patients within the community," she said. David A. Knapp, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy, has worked with Rodriguez de Bittner for many years. "She is a great mentor for newer faculty and newer practitioners," he said.
www.examiner.com

Hundreds of Cancer Survivors Celebrate
The (Baltimore) Examiner - June 25

Hundreds of cancer survivors from the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center and their loved ones celebrated Sunday at the Hippodrome Theater. "It's really a chance to thank the many patients who've been through so much with cancer," said Kevin Cullen, MD, center director and professor at the School of Medicine. He added that the number of people in attendance was a testament to recent advances in treating cancer.
www.examiner.com

In the Headlines
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 23

Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, associate professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the School of Pharmacy, was elected vice president of the Maryland Pharmacists Association.
www.baltimoresun.com

Senate Committee Moves Bill with $5M for Maryland Health Care Providers
Washington Business Journal - June 22

A federal spending bill could include nearly $5 million for Maryland health care services and facilities. It includes $1 million for University of Maryland, Baltimore's Institute for Educators in Nursing and Health Professions, a new institution where nurse educators can train future health care professionals.
phoenix.bizjournals.com

Study Heats Up Old Cold Herb
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 25

Echinacea, a popular herbal supplement made from the purple coneflower, might reduce the chances of catching a cold by 58 percent, according to the latest in a long line of confusing and contradictory studies. The work might result in more federal funding for echinacea studies, according to Brian Berman, MD, director of the Center for Integrative Medicine and professor at the School of Medicine. What's harder to get, Berman said, is drug company funding, which is critical to conducting clinical trials that would test echinacea more conclusively.
www.baltimoresun.com

UB Law's Dean Steps Down
The Daily Record - June 25

After six years as dean of the University of Baltimore School of Law, Gilbert Holmes is returning to the faculty. He said one of his regrets is that he struggled with securing more money from the state. Holmes said as he lobbied to reduce what he called a disparity in funding between his school and the University of Maryland School of Law, all he got were funding cuts under the Ehrlich administration.

A Change of Heart
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 21

In the future, doctors are expected to be able to customize the aspirin doses they prescribe for heart patients. Robert Poston Jr., MD, an assistant professor of surgery at the School of Medicine who researches platelet functioning, said, "People don't like to think it's that complicated when it comes to blood clotting, but as a surgeon I see some people who bleed like crazy and other people who are bone dry and heal themselves quickly."
www.baltimoresun.com

Coach Chuck Daly Creates Game Plan to Manage the Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
EARTHtimes.org - June 21

Hall of Fame basketball coach Chuck Daly and a leading menýs health organization dedicated to fostering awareness of prostate health issues have teamed up to launch BPH Game Plan Starts With U. "While this may be a difficult and sometimes scary subject to talk about, opening a dialogue with your primary care physician about your urinary symptoms is an important first step to effectively manage BPH," said Michael Naslund, MD, professor at the School of Medicine.
www.earthtimes.org

Federal Government Has Authority to Deploy Troops to Restore Order During Natural Disasters
Municipal Litigation Reporter - June 15

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed why the federal government has the right under several statutes to order federal troops into states to restore order during natural disasters. "If information were clear during Hurricane Katrina, many citizens would not have suffered as they did," he said.

ICE Woos CBOT for Merger
TheStreet.com - June 21

The InterContinentalExchange, Inc. (ICE), isnýt melting under the pressure of a big bidding war. The Atlanta-based futures and commodities exchange once again urged Chicago Board of Trade shareholders to reject a planned merger with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. "This is well worth the fight, and whoever wins this wins a valuable commodity," says Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director for trading and markets for the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. "The futures industry is the hottest, most dynamic industry in the financial sector. It's overwhelming the equity and debt markets and the exchanges only have a small part of it because the OTC market is even more vast."
www.thestreet.com

A Drug War Set Back
The (Baltimore) Sun- June 20

Faced with Medicaid's low payments and bureaucratic red tape, some Maryland doctors are reluctant to prescribe buprenorphine for heroin addicts, although the drug has been promoted as a potential magic bullet in the war against addiction, according to a survey set for release today. The survey, commissioned by the Center for a Healthy Maryland Inc., found that doctors were not always sufficiently reimbursed for their time and services and that there were other ýhassles,ý including medication preauthorization, a process that in some cases can take 48 hours, and varying and confusing protocols among Medicaid providers. "One of the biggest barriers to prescribing buprenorphine is dealing with the insurance companies," said Christopher Welsh, MD, a psychiatrist and assistant professor at the School of Medicine. Welsh uses the drug to treat patients at the Universityýs hospital.
www.baltimoresun.com

Blood Test Can Reveal Colon Cancer
South Florida Sun Sentinel - June 20
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 20

Johns Hopkins researchers are developing a simple blood test that can help doctors determine who needs a colonoscopy, a screening procedure for colon cancer recommended for all adults over 50ýbut one considered so unpleasant that many avoid it. Jean-Pierre Raufman, MD, professor and head of gastroenterology at the School of Medicine, said screening for colon cancer might begin earlier in life if the blood test proves safe and effective. "We chose 50 as the starting age with the notion that colonoscopy is an expensive test that carries some risk," he said. "If you could do the same thing with a blood test or a stool test, that would be a great thing. Maybe people would be tested in their 40s."
www.sun-sentinel.com
www.baltimoresun.com

Lyme Disease: It's Time To Talk About Ticks
The Pittsburg Post Gazette - June 20

As summer sets in, doctors say ticks will too. They can bring a host of illnesses, including Lyme disease. Robert Edelman, MD, associate director for clinical research at the Center for Vaccine Development at the School of Medicine, said, "The ticks start emerging and become questing for food, and for ticks, food is blood."

Reliability of Defendant Blake's Statement is Murder Trial Focus
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 19

The defense attorney in a federal carjacking-murder case tried yesterday to raise questions in jurorsý minds about whether they can rely on the allegedly incriminating statements made by a jailed teenager to Annapolis police in 2002. Leeander Jerome Blake, now 22, was 17 when arrested in the Sept. 19, 2002, fatal shooting of Straughan Lee Griffin, 51, as the businessman was unloading his Jeep Grand Cherokee in front of his home near the State House in Annapolis. ýWhat the defense lawyer is obviously trying to do, now that the statement is in, is try to show the statement is not reliable," said Abraham Dash, JD, a professor at the School of Law and former federal prosecutor who has no connection to the case.
www.baltimoresun.com

Service Honors Those Who Donated Bodies to Science
The (Baltimore) Examiner - June 19

A nationally renowned chemist, a Baltimore City clerical worker and several babies were among the 549 Marylanders memorialized Monday for donating their bodies to science in the past year. Nick Kessides, a student at School of Medicine, was among the dozens of future doctors who attended the service. "As more people learn of the stateýs anatomical-gift program, more sign up," said Ronn Wade, director of the anatomical services division at the at the School.
www.examiner.com

UMB Seeks Construction For Third BioResearch Building
The Baltimore Business Journal - June 18
The San Antonio Business Journal - June 19
The Daily Record - June 19

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) put out requests for proposals Monday for the construction of its third building in a growing biotechnology research park adjacent to its campus. The bioparkýs first building and nearby parking garage opened in October 2005. Tenants in the first building include biotech and life science companies like Alba Therapeutics Corp., a UMB spinoff company, and FASgen, Inc.,which was developed out of research from Johns Hopkins University.
sanantonio.bizjournals.com

Being Away From Home Tempts Some to Cheat
Asbury Park Press - June 18

While no one has specifically studied business travel and infidelity, academics and therapists say cheating is probably more prevalent on the road than close to home. And people in certain professionsýathletes, military officers, pilots, lawyers, doctors, and others in "high-profile" jobs-are more prone to have affairs, said Frederick DiBlasio, PhD, MSW, associate professor at the School of Social Work. "They have fame, power or wealth, and their positions tend to attract suitors," he said.
www.app.com

Court OKs Late Charges Above Cap on Interest
The Daily Record - June 18

Defining contract law and interest rate caps more clearly, Maryland's Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling that late payment fees on automobile leases are not subject to the 6 percent rate limit mandated by the Maryland Constitution. According to Irving Breitowitz, JD, associate professor at the School of Law, Maryland is different from most other states in that its constitution grants the legislature final authority over the interest rate. "In the short run, consumers pay more money, but if businesses are able to legally charge these late fees they might be able to then give credit to those who are more high risk," he said.

On the Move: Stuart Appointed
The Daily Record - June 15

Bruce Stuart, professor and executive director of the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the School of Pharmacy, has been appointed to the federal Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. An experienced research investigator, Stuart has directed grants and contracts with various federal agencies, private foundations, state governments, and corporations. The 17-member commission advises Congress on issues affecting Medicare.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Party Animals Turn Out for Zoomerang
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 17

As hundreds of guests at Zoomerang! 2007 arrived at the Maryland Zooýs main gate, they were not only greeted by party chairs Stuart and Suzanne Amos and zoo president Billie Grieb, but also by a few ýanimal ambassadors,ý including camels, a rooster, a baby alligator, and a toucan. School of Medicine's director of the Center for Integrative Medicine, Brian Berman, MD, and his wife Sue, chose the "Savoy Cafe," the tent rocking with the sounds of Mambo Combo.
www.baltimoresun.com

Sleeman Profiled
The Daily Record - June 18

Bill Sleeman, MA, ALMS, assistant director for technical services at the Thurgood Marshall Law Library at the School of Law, was profiled in the latest issue of Library Journal. The article cites a number of his accomplishments, including work on several digitization projects, "African-Americans and the Law," and "Historical Publications of the United States Commission on Civil Rights." He is also the incoming chair of GODORT, the Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association.

Students Affected by Rising Gas Prices
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 5 p.m. - June 15

Due to rising gas prices, the Campus Caravan, a free student shuttle service at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is not running this summer. ýWhen we renegotiated the contract, the high gas prices drove the rate we pay sky high. It was a 60 percent increase,ý said Tricia OýNeill, JD, senior advisor to the vice president of academic affairs. Right now, students pay a $28 transportation fee, which is not enough to pay for the summer. "For students who are encouraged not to work and to focus on studies and to live within their means, rises in any cost really make an impact on what we can afford to do with student fees and loans," said student government president Jessica O'Kane, who is entering her fourth year at the School of Pharmacy.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Summer Can Bring Lyme Disease in Maryland
WJZ-TV - June 15, 6 p.m.

As summer sets in, doctors say ticks will too. They can bring a host of illnesses, including Lyme disease. Robert Edelman, MD, associate director for clinical research at the Center for Vaccine Development at the School of Medicine, said, "The ticks start emerging and become questing for food, and for ticks, food is blood."
wjz.com

Tainted Toothpaste
WBAL-TV - June 15, 5 and 11 p.m.

Louis DePaola, DDS, professor at the Dental School, said in response to news of tainted toothpaste that people probably would not be harmed by low doses of the chemical, but they might become ill if they consumed enough of it. "The message here is, 'Please be a wary consumer.'" He added, "Just use products manufactured in the United States."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Baltimore Hebrew University President Quits
The Baltimore Jewish Times - June 14
The Washington Jewish Times - June 14

In a story about Rela Mintz Geffen stepping down as president of Baltimore Hebrew University (BHU), the schoolýs dual degree program with the School of Social Work is mentioned, saying the program has brought "quality interns to Jewish agencies, an enhanced national reputation for Jewish Baltimore, and the settlement here of numerous BHU graduates."
www.washingtonjewishweek.com

CHHS Trains Emergency Planners in Louisiana
KYKZ-FM - June 14

Alexandra Podolny, JD, senior law and policy analyst and Continuity of Operations Planning program manager with the Center for Health and Homeland Security, talked about the training of emergency planners in Lake Charles, La. The training helps emergency planners in the development of Continuity of Operations Plans, which is the effort to ensure the continued operation of essential government functions during a wide range of potential emergencies.

Health and Fitness in the City
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 14

Black Entertainment Television fitness expert Mocha Lee is pictured leading an exercise session during the University of Maryland Medical System Health Fair, which was held on campus.
www.baltimoresun.com

Justice System Gaining Insight Into Tricks Played by Memory
The Daily Record - June 15

During a panel discussion about eyewitness testimony at the annual Maryland State Bar Association meeting in Ocean City, Magistrate Judge Paul Grimm, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, will talk about the rule of law in the evidentiary arena, including what experts get to tell a jury about human memory and what thresholds they must meet.

Pet Law Gets Day in the Sun
The Daily Record - June 15

Whether pets should have the same legal standing as their human owners is just one of a myriad of issues the one-year-old animal law section of the Maryland State Bar Association addressed at a forum in Ocean City on Thursday. Susan Hankin, JD, associate professor at the School of Law, said one of the main challenges in the field of animal law is the pervading legal opinion that defines animals as property. She said under Maryland law, a family's beloved pet is seen as nothing more than a lamp or a table. "We don't view the animals in our lives as propertyýthey're seen more as members of the family," Hankin said.

Report Says Tainted Park Soil is No Risk-Unless You Eat it
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 15

A federal report released yesterday concludes that playing on arsenic-tainted soil in South Baltimoreýs Swann Park is not likely to cause cancer or other illnesses, unless children eat the dirt. However, researchers did not collect any soil or air samples from the park or surrounding neighborhoodýdespite concerns expressed by local residents that arsenic dust could be whipped up by the wind or during sporting events. Rena Steinzor, JD, professor at the School of Law and legal adviser to a task force organized by the city to examine Swann Park, said the federal report should have included more testing. "I can't see how anyone would conclude it's not a risk without additional sampling," said Steinzor. "It doesn't enhance ... the confidence of the community when they do quick and dirty jobs like this."
www.baltimoresun.com

Rising Gas Prices Lead to UMB Shuttle Service Cut
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - June 14

The rising cost of operating the shuttle bus service for students has led to a suspension of the summertime shuttle service while students, administrators, and the bus company meet to talk about what can be done in the future. Tricia OýNeill, JD, senior advisor to the vice president of academic affairs, was interviewed for the story.

Symptoms are Linked to Ovarian Cancer
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 14

The American Cancer Society, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists are urging women and clinicians to regard bloating, abdominal pain, eating difficulties, and urinary symptoms as possible early warning signs of ovarian cancer. ýI think we should be seeing a dramatic decrease in the death rate,ý said Neila Parrish, MS, CRNP, certified nurse practitioner at the University of Marylandýs Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. The need to pay attention to certain symptoms "is nothing new to gynecologic oncologists," said Dwight Im, MD, clinical assistant professor at the School. "We've known this for a long time. This is for primary care physicians."
www.baltimoresun.com

Could a Sense of Humor Fight Allergies?
LifeStyleExtra.com (UK) - June 14

Breastfeeding mothers with a sense of humor may help their babies fight skin allergies, according to a study in New Scientist. Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, who studies the effect of laughter on heart disease, said: "It would be good to investigate if 15 minutes of laughter a day can reduce allergies in mothers and infants in the long term."
www.lse.co.uk

Low-Tech Name Likely for Advancis
The Daily Record - June 14

Advancis Pharmaceutical Corp. of Germantown, Md., seems to be narrowing in on a new name for itself, with the likely candidate "MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals." Advancis has until June 30 to stop using its name after losing a patent infringement suit with French firm sanofi-aventis last year. James Astrachan, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law, said the loss of brand recognition after a name change can be devastating. "You build up all this goodwill," he said, "then tomorrow you have to change your name, and people are out there yelling, 'Advancis, where are you?'"

Reduced-Fee Legal Services Make Comeback
The Daily Record - June 14

For the many Marylanders who can't afford a lawyer for a divorce, a child custody battle, or even to defend themselves against eviction, an old idea is getting new traction: reduced-fee legal services. "What's happening instead is, in most cases, people are representing themselves," said Michael Millemann, JD, the Jacob A. France Professor of Public Interest Law at the School of Law and author of a recent report recommending the new services. Millemann's findings were presented Wednesday during a meeting at the annual meeting of the judiciary in Ocean City, Md., held in conjunction with the Maryland State Bar Association.

Rudnic Brings Bio Background to Tech Council of Maryland
The Gazette - June 13

As the new board chairman of the Tech Council of Maryland, Edward Rudnic, PhD, is no stranger to the local tech scene. He is an adjunct associate professor at the School of Pharmacy.
www.gazette.net

Terror War Legal Edifice Weakens
The Wall Street Journal - June 13

The Bush administration's effort to create a separate legal system for the war on terrorism may be foundering. Skeptical civilian and military courts have blocked the government's contention that to fight terrorism the president can invoke military powers that supersede traditional legal protections. The administration has "been hit on the back of the head repeatedly by the courts for this enemy-combatant" theory, says Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. "Clearly, this is going to evaporate when Bush leaves office."
online.wsj.com

Universities' Terror Warning
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - June 13

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed why the head of the FBI's Boston office is warning the regionýs top universities to be on the lookout for foreign spies or potential terrorists who might be trying to steal unclassified, yet sensitive, research.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Weak Dollar Sets Scene for Fraud
TheStreet.com - June 13

Scams involving foreign currency are becoming increasingly common over the past few years as the U.S. dollar has steadily declined against the euro, providing what seemed like a sure one-way bet. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, and the former head of trading and markets at the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said that the problem dates back to the creation of the CFTC in 1974, when it was barred from overseeing any off-exchange currency trading. "I don't think there was an intent to open the door to any of this fraudulent activity against retail investors," said Greenberger.
www.thestreet.com

Court Bars Removal of Arkansas Tobacco Case
The Daily Record - June 12

The Supreme Court ruled that Philip Morris Cos. Inc. cannot move a lawsuit by cigarette smokers into federal court. Robert Condlin, JD, LLM, professor at the School of Law, said the case is more interesting for what it says about the Supreme Court than for the result itself. He said that Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer have long been at odds over statutory interpretation, with Scalia examining just the text of a statute and Breyer looking at the statuteýs history and intent. Breyer won this round and even got Scalia to sign on to an opinion that heavily considered history and intent, Condlin said.

Court of Appeals Enemy Combatant Ruling
ABC World News Tonight - June 11

Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, commented on yesterday's ruling by a panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stating that the government can not order the military to hold a civilian in the United States indefinitely, even if that civilian might be a potential terrorist. This is in reference to the Al-Marri case. Greenberger said, "The court today told the president that his unilateral attempt to wage the war on terror goes way beyond that that the Constitution allows."

Evacuation Plans
WBFF-TV, 10 p.m. - June 11

In this cover story, Baltimore's evacuation plan is discussed. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, says that he doesnýt think any city or state in the country has been focused more on evacuation plans than Baltimore and Maryland. With that said, Greenberger says there are still "too many cars, too many people, too many people needing assistance with public transportation and too few arteries to get out of the city."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Treadmill Run Sidelines OýMalley
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 12

While running on a treadmill, Gov. Martin OýMalley suffered a stress fracture in his left tibia and will use crutches for four to six weeks. Experts say that tibial stress fractures are common among joggers, competitive athletes, and military recruits who spend a lot of time marching or jogging. "It's a microfracture through the bone, where strength of the bone just fails," said James Dreese, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Alleged Plot Talk Hyped, Some Say
The Nation News (Barbados) - June 10

When a U.S. Attorney described the alleged terror plot to blow up John F. Kennedy International Airport as ýone of the most chilling plots imaginable,ý which might have caused ýunthinkableý devastation, some law enforcement officials criticized the initial characterizations as questionable and over hyped. "I think they were correct to take this seriously," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. "But thereýs a pattern here of Justice Department attorneys overstating what they have. I think they feel under tremendous pressure to vindicate the elaborate counterterrorism structure they've created since Sept. 11, including the Patriot Act."
www.nationnews.com

Import Inspections Stress FDA Resources
The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.) - June 10

Contaminated pet food ingredients and toothpaste from China are a small part of an expanding flow of food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dietary supplements surging across U.S. borders with little if any government inspection. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), created as a domestic regulatory agency and charged with a wide portfolio of health-care responsibilities, is hard pressed, with its limited manpower and resources, to handle the consequences of globalization, which has caused the volume of regulated imports to double in just the past five years. "Given that they look at only a small fraction of what is coming in, you have to assume a lot gets through," said Michael Taylor, JD, professor at the School of Medicine and a former deputy FDA commissioner for policy.
www.nj.com

Lynchings' Legacy Examined in Book
The Chronicle Journal (Ontario, Canada) - June 10

Two lynchings, in 1931 and 1933, were the last recorded in Maryland, and it's unclear whether any witnesses to the events are still alive. But those eventsýand other incidents of racial violence in the Jim Crow era on the Eastern Shoreýstill affect the region, School of Law associate professor Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, argues in her book, On The Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the Twenty-first Century. "The wounds of white supremacy," Ifill writes, "still stand open and untreated."
www.chroniclejournal.com

Expert Advice on Lyme Disease
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 7

Although more than 30,000 people in the U.S. are infected with Lyme disease each year, Robert Edelman, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Traveler's Clinic, said most infections can be avoided or, if not, then treated. "Even with a tick that has been feeding on you for one day, your chance of getting Lyme disease is remote, because it takes two to three days of feeding to infect people," he said. "Besides, four out of five ticks are not infected."
www.baltimoresun.com

Researcher Appointed to Endowed Chair at the School of Nursing
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 7

Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, a professor at the School of Nursing, who was recently appointed to the Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Endowed Chair in Gerontology.
www.baltimoresun.com

How Did Tuberculosis Infected Man Leave Atlanta?
WTWP Radio, 1500 AM, 107.7 FM, 7 a.m. - June 7

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, talked about how two congressional committees held hearings Wednesday on the travels of Andrew Speaker, a 31-year-old Atlanta man with extensively drug resistant tuberculosis. His transatlantic trips last month sparked an international public health scare.

JFK Airport Plot
BBC Radio - June 7
WCBS Newsradio 880 - June 6

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the plot to attack John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Lynchings' Legacy Examined in Book
Diverse: Issues In Higher Education - June 6

Two lynchings, in 1931 and 1933, were the last recorded in Maryland, and it's unclear whether any witnesses to the events are still alive. But those eventsýand other incidents of racial violence in the Jim Crow era on the Eastern Shoreýstill affect the region, School of Law professor Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, argues in her book, On The Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the Twenty-first Century. "The wounds of white supremacy," Ifill writes, "still stand open and untreated."
www.diverseeducation.com

Md. Court Puts Privacy Limit on Warrantless Searches
The Associated Press - June 7
The Washington Times - June 7
The News Journal (Del.) - June 7

The state's highest court has invalidated the body search of a drug offender, effectively wiping out his conviction by ruling yesterday that police had not given him enough privacy when they checked a common drug-stashing location: between his buttocks. Andrew Levy, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law, said courts have to weigh the facts of a warrantless search to decide whether it fails to meet the standard for a reasonable search. "It is a balancing test," he said. "The majority thought the search could have been done more privately without any harm to the police function."
washingtontimes.com
www.delawareonline.com

Politics and Fear
Countdown with Keith Olbermann, 8 p.m., MSNBC-TV - June 6 - midnight on June 7

As reaction to the foiled JFK plot unfolds, politicians and others are commenting on the plot in its aftermath. Long Islandýs Newsday recently had a piece titled "Credibility of U.S. Terror Case Questioned" in which U.S. Attorney Roslynn Mauskopf is quoted as saying the JFK plot is ýone of the most chilling plots imaginable.ý Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, was quoted in Newsday on June 6 as saying that he thinks Mauskopf's "comments were over the top." Greenberger continues in Newsday to say, "It was a totally overstated characterization that doesn't comport with the facts." In Newsday, Greenberger also says he has no argument with police pursuing and stopping the alleged plotters.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

TB Patient: No One Said I Couldn't Travel
WJZ-TV - June 6

The globe-trotting tuberculosis patient, now in quarantine, insisted to Congress on Wednesday that doctors told him he wasnýt contagious and didn't order him to stay in the United States for treatmentýeven as health officials painted a picture of a man on the run. Harold Standiford, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said, "Potentially, we could be very vulnerable. Other diseases as well that are potentially spread by human to human contact," can be spread by scenarios like the Speaker case.
wjz.com

Alleged Plot Talk Hyped, Some Say
Newsday - June 6

When a U.S. Attorney described the alleged terror plot to blow up John F. Kennedy International Airport as "one of the most chilling plots imaginable," which might have caused "unthinkable" devastation, some law enforcement officials criticized the initial characterizations as questionable and overhyped. "I think they were correct to take this seriously," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. "But thereýs a pattern here of Justice Department attorneys overstating what they have. I think they feel under tremendous pressure to vindicate the elaborate counterterrorism structure they've created since Sept. 11, including the Patriot Act."
www.newsday.com

Arrest Tactics on Trial with Padilla
The Associated Press - May 26
StarTribune.com (Minneapolis/St. Paul) - May 26

The trial plays out with no fanfare. Yet there has never been a U.S. criminal defendant quite like suspected Al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla, the U.S. citizen on trial for allegedly joining a support cell for Islamic extremists. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a former Justice Department official, said Padilla is a symbol of the Bush administration's "circumventing of normal constitutional processes in the name of fighting terror. I think it is going to be a moral lesson in not trying to take shortcuts in trying to vindicate the war on terror," said Greenberger.
www.startribune.com

Best and Worst Drugs for Women: Part II
The New York Times Syndicate - May 29

New research is overturning everything doctors thought they knew about the medicines they prescribe to women. Women have a higher percentage of body fat than men, which affects how fast some drugs reach their organs. If you're in pain, said Anita Tarzian, PhD, RN, coordinator of the Maryland Healthcare Ethics Committee Network at the School of Law, calmly tell your doctor about your problem. "It's valid to get upsetýand you should be able to talk about it. But the downside is that the doctor may think youýre just anxious or depressed."
health.theledger.com

Libby Sentenced
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - June 6

The 30-month sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton on former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby was long but not unexpected. "I wasn't surprised at the sentence because he is known as a tough sentencer," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law, director of the Center for Health and Homeland, and former Department of Justice official.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

SEC's Atkins Finalist to Lead CFTC
Bloomberg News - May 29
Bloomberg.com - May 29

Paul Atkins, the senior Republican on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, is a finalist to lead the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said two people with knowledge of the matter. "He may face some hard questioning about his attitudes toward fraud and manipulation in these markets and how aggressive he will be," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland and the former head of trading and markets at the CFTC.
www.bloomberg.com

Competition at the Top
NJ.com from The (Trenton) Times - June 5

One of the least understood and most important factors in the price of energy, including crude oil, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil, diesel fuel, and electricity is the role played by investment banks and hedge funds that trade in unregulated over-the-counter derivatives that add incredible volatility to the market. School of Law Professor Michael Greenberger, JD, has written extensively about the need to stop this abuse.
www.nj.com

Drugmakers Woo Med Students
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 3

Medical student Clarence Lam marveled at the feast that a drug company sponsored this spring at the Inner Harbor's upscale Capital Grille. "They paid for everything," recalled Lam, 26, who attends the School of Medicine. "They even covered the wine." The University of Maryland, Baltimore and Johns Hopkins University have no comprehensive policies that strictly limit industry access to students, although officials at both said they are considering new rules. Nancy Lowitt, MD, MEd, associate dean for professional development, said the school is "very interested" in developing a policy. ýThe key,ý she said, ýis to figure out what relationships [with the industry] are valuable ones and which compromise our decisions.ý Sarah Sharfstein, 31, has been offered a variety of goodies, though she just finished her second year at UMB and has spent most of her time in the classroom. "Our professors don't need to disclose their financial relationships to us or their patients," she said. "So we don't know where they are coming from."
www.baltimoresun.com

ENABLE-MD Shuts Doors
The Daily Record - June 4
WJZ.com - June 4

ENABLE-MD, (Enhancing Neighborhood Action by Local Empowerment), an 18-year-old outreach program based at the School of Pharmacy, closed its doors Thursday after its organizers were unable to secure more funding, according to founder and director, Donald Fedder, DrPH, MPH, BSP, a professor at the School. The ENABLE-MD programýs seven employees have been laid off, including two community health workers, three workers employed through AmeriCorps, one social worker and its program manager, Sheila Curry, MS, who had been with the program since its beginning. Dean David A. Knapp, PhD, said in a written statement: "Dr. Donald Fedder and his staff have improved the health of many Baltimore residents. The program, supported through the years by funds from a variety of federal, state, and private sources, has simply run out of money."
www.mddailyrecord.com
wjz.com

Follow the Thread
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 5

A military judge on Guantanamo didn't even wait to get a request from the defense yesterday before tossing out the government's terrorism charges against a young Canadian Muslim held prisoner there for the past five years. Unlike an earlier kangaroo court at Guantanamo, that was given the boot by the Supreme Court, these tribunals at least have trained military judges running them, and it turns out that due process means something after all. "You now have adult supervision over these tribunals," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Health and Homeland Security and an expert in counterterrorism law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Goodwill Offers Jobs, Is Hunting Property
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 4

In the two years since it settled on this new course, Goodwill hasn't been able to find suitable property to lease or buy in Southwest Baltimore, even though there are vacancies in the area. Even in a neighborhood where many buildings are too decrepit to rehab, the group keeps running into owners who are convinced that big things are sure to happen soon, that values will rise if they hold on, because the University of Maryland, Baltimore is building a biotech park straddling 21223 and the next ZIP code.
www.baltimoresun.com

Guantanamo Ruling
WTOP Radio, 9:22 p.m. - June 4

Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discussed the ruling by two military judges yesterday dismissing charges against two men detained at Guantanamo Bay.

JFK Airport Plot
WTTG-TV, 10 p.m. - June 2

Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discussed the plot to attack John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Md. Court Puts Privacy Limit on Warrantless Searches
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 5

The state's highest court has invalidated the body search of a drug offender, effectively wiping out his conviction by ruling yesterday that police had not given him enough privacy when they checked a common drug-stashing location: between his buttocks. Andrew Levy, JD, a lawyer in private practice and adjunct professor at the School of Law, said courts have to weigh the facts of a warrantless search to decide whether it fails to meet the standard for a reasonable search. "It is a balancing test," he said. "The majority thought the search could have been done more privately without any harm to the police function."
www.baltimoresun.com

SEC's Atkins Tapped for Commodities Regulator
The Washington Post - May 30

Longtime securities regulator Paul Atkins is under serious consideration to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, (CFTC) according to two people briefed on the process. Atkins, a former corporate lawyer and accounting firm partner, has served as one of five members of the Security and Exchange Commission since 2002. His SEC term expires next year. Michael Greenberger, JD, a former CFTC official in the Clinton administration, the director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, said it was "terribly important for someone experienced to be at the helm" at a time when market analysts increasingly warn that bad bets on derivatives could lead to a market meltdown.
www.washingtonpost.com

Terror Plot at JFK
CNN, "Anderson Cooper 360," 11:07 p.m. ý June 4

New details emerged yesterday about the plot to set off a chain reaction of explosives at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Pipe lines were the target of the plot. While some experts say the pipe lines are well protected and are not our biggest worry, others say the Transportation Safety Board underestimates the threat, and not enough is being done. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, appeared on the broadcast and said, "It's a Potemkin village of the appearance of security and there is no real security being afforded the American people."

The American Doctor Now Has Foreign Roots
San Jose Mercury News - June 4
Concord (N.H.) Monitor - June 2

In the past 15 years, U.S. medicine has seen a huge influx of first- and second-generation immigrants. "We are seeing more and more kids of foreign-born parents, especially in the last eight to 10 years. I don't think there is any doubt about it," said Milford Foxwell Jr., MD, associate dean of admissions at the School of Medicine.
www.mercurynews.com
www.concordmonitor.com

The First Years
The Daily Record - June 4

"We're finding that a lot more students of both genders are asking questions about work-life balance: 'Am I really willing to make the sacrifices that would be necessary to achieve these 2,200-hour billables and higher?'" said Dana Morris, JD, assistant dean of career development at the School of Law. Newly minted Maryland law graduate Adam Kaplan said that when he was looking for his first law job, he wanted a salary where he could "live comfortably and be able to invest and not spend it all at once." But that wasn't his only consideration.

With Todayýs Tools, Doctors Could Have Saved Lincoln's Life
American Medical News - June 11

Abraham Lincoln probably would have had trouble expressing ideas, struggled with dyslexia, and experienced vision problems. But the nationýs 16th president might have survived an assassin's bullet to the head if today's medical technology had been available. "He would have had a long recovery," said Thomas Scalea, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and physician-in-chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. "Could he have been president again? Maybe."
www.ama-assn.org

At Med Schools, a New Degree of Diversity
The Washington Post - June 1

In the past 15 years, U.S. medicine has seen a huge influx of first- and second-generation immigrants. "We are seeing more and more kids of foreign-born parents, especially in the last eight to 10 years. I don't think there is any doubt about it," said Milford Foxwell Jr., MD, associate dean of admissions at the School of Medicine.
www.washingtonpost.com

Dental Lab Turning Dreams Into Smiles
The Daily Record - June 1

The Dental School already has hosted visitors from Australia, Japan, and Lithuania, said Gary Hack, DDS, an associate professor in the dental school. Four international dentists are visiting the School this week as part of the first Operation Smile trip to teach dentists to repair cleft palates. The international dentists trained with William Davidson, DMD, PhD, a professor and chair of orthodontics who has traveled for 16 years on Operation Smile missions. Davidson taught them on a typodontýa model of the palate and upper teethýfitted with a built-in cleft palate, a device that he and Hack developed and are discussing patenting.

Flurry of Action After Boy Dies of Neglected Teeth
The (Baltimore) Sun - June 1

Six-year-old Mychael Greene doesnýt like the look of the hooked tool that dentists use to scrape plaque from teeth, or the sour taste their latex-gloved hands leave in his mouth. But his mother, Shawn Greene, made sure her son opened wide during a recent checkup at the Dental School in Baltimore. Norman Tinanoff, DDS, MS, professor and chairman of Health Promotion and Policy, is pushing for improved oral health services. "It is unreasonable to expect a high number of dentists to participate in Medicaid when the rates do not cover overhead costs," he said in his May 2 testimony before a congressional subcommittee.
www.baltimoresun.com

How Did Tuberculosis Infected Man Leave Atlanta?
WVON Radio (Chicago) - June 1
KNX Radio (Los Angeles) - May 31

While health officials search for at least 107 airline passengers and crew members who may have been exposed to a potentially deadly form of tuberculosis, experts on Wednesday questioned how an Atlanta-area man was able to jet off on his honeymoon with the knowledge of government officials. "I think this is going to be a lesson learned nationwide of the importance of local and county health departments being the front line of protection for the rest of the population," said Michael Greenberger, JD, a School of Law professor and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Living in a Biotech World
Baltimore Business Journal - June 1

Darlene Dixon had been grieving her husbandýs death for just a few months when a noisy new neighborýthe fast-growing University of Maryland, Baltimoreýs biotechnology parkýmoved in and tried to force her to leave her West Baltimore rowhouse. While her house wasnýt part of the BioParkýs original plan, university officials, project developers, and even Dixon herself have said the situation has turned out for the best. Dixonýs home will remain on the property. The BioPark will grow around her. Jane Shaab, senior director of business development, said the community has been welcoming to the park, especially because of the improvements its campus police can bring to public safety.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

On the Way Up
The (Baltimore) Examiner - June 1

Bruce Stuart, PhD, professor and executive director of the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the School of Pharmacy, has been appointed to the federal Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.

Pictures of Law School Commencement Activities
The (Baltimore) Examiner - June 1

Photos of the School of Law commencement ceremonies include graduate Stephen Adler, Dawna Cobb, JD, assistant dean for student affairs, Kathleen Dachille, JD, assistant professor, and graduate Aileen Xenakis.

Release of Microbe Study Spurs Bioterror Worries
The Washington Post - June 1

Researchers in Germany reported yesterday that they had altered the DNA of a disease-causing bacterium to enable it to infect a species it cannot normally sicken. The work has biosecurity implications because it could, in theory, be applied in reverse, endowing a bacterium that causes a serious animal disease with an unprecedented ability to sicken people. "What this really points out is the difficulty of dealing with all these issues," said Claire Fraser-Liggett, PhD, director of the Institute for Genome Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who has participated in the development of standards for the publication of such research.
www.washingtonpost.com

Soothing Sensitive Teeth
Ivanhoe Broadcast News - June 1

Lyndsay Bare, a third-year dental student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore can relate to anyone with sensitive teeth. "I would bleach my teeth late at night, and then I'd wake up in the morning and there would be just this searing pain," Bare says. Now, a new ingredient in toothpaste, developed by dentists, called Novamin, can dramatically reduce teeth sensitivity. Gary Hack, DDS, an associate professor at the Dental School, says, "It's totally natural, it's non-toxic, and itýs providing the same minerals that your saliva has in the oral environment, just at a higher concentration."

Study: Docs Can Help Detect, Prevent Abuse
The Lancet - June 1
United Press International - May 31

Doctors play a key role in detecting signs of child abuse and neglect, according to a U.S. study released Thursday. "Measurement of child maltreatment is inherently difficult, since it is rarely seen directly by people outside the immediate family, and is often unreported," wrote the authors from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the University of Ottawa.
www.upi.com

The Destruction of Iraqi Health Care Infrastructure
CounterCurrents.org (India) - June 1
Uruknet.info (Italy) - May 31

Before Iraq suffered through an embargo and two wars with the United States starting in 1990, its health care system was considered one of the best in the Middle East. Iraq had well-trained physicians and modern facilities. Today, writes Adil Shamoo, PhD, professor in the School of Medicine, the health care system barely exists at all, with few health care workers and hospitals that are battlegrounds. The human suffering of the invaded nation is detrimental to our moral standing in the world.
uruknet.info