The Daily Barometer OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY • CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013 • VOLUME CXVI, NUMBER 44
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Sea of nature: the next cancer killer n
Sponge-like sea creatures called Tunicates could hold key to fighting, killing cancer
By Dacotah-Victoria Splichalova THE DAILY BAROMETER
CourtesY of Kerry McPhail
Tunicates (above) are sponge-like sea creatures that could fight and kill cancer cells. The molecular structure, “mandelalide,” is also shown above.
Power of collaboration n
Joint committee provides link between ASOSU Senate, House By Tori Hittner
THE DAILY BAROMETER
Associated Students of Oregon State University representative Saul Boulanger holds jurisdiction over all members of the congressional joint committee — a committee that contains only one member: himself. One person may seem like an inconsequential amount in the scheme of things, but Boulanger is quick to point out the power of an individual and the importance of the position. “The purpose of the joint committee is communication,” Boulanger said. “It helps maintain cohesion and awareness.” That task of linking the two legislative bodies makes the committee a small — but necessary — organization. As joint committee chair, Boulanger acts as a liaison between the House of Representatives and Senate. He attends each meeting and provides a synoptic report to the other legislative body. “It’s good to have the interaction between House and Senate,” Boulanger said. “Apart from maybe running into each other doing office hours or a joint meeting, which happens once a term, they don’t see each other that much.” Increased cooperation among members of Congress seems to be a recurring theme for ASOSU this year. Dual sponsorship recently made the resolution regarding the “OSU Divest” campaign a joint resolution. This means that the resolution is presented and supported by both legislative bodies. While the Joint Committee may encourage such actions, it does not See ASOSU | page 4
Kerry McPhail is on the hunt for the most powerful products in nature. Foraging the seas of Panama all the way to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, she brings marine organisms back to Oregon State University to unlock the compounds’ hidden power in the hopes of finding targets that shoot down cancer cells. McPhail, an associate professor of medicinal chemistry in the School of Pharmacy, is trying to find compounds in natural products that can help fight
cancer. Natural product chemists look for new chemical diversity in the same way that we think about looking for new biological diversity. As many as 70 percent of cancer drugs are derived from natural products, like coibamide — a molecule that comes from a by-product of bacteria found in waters around the Island of Coiba off the coast of Panama that attacks brain cancer cells. “When we refer to a natural product, we are really talking about a single pure compound, a substance that only comprises one-type of chemical compound, and those are very small molecules,” McPhail said. See CANCER | page 4
Greeks dance, swim, raise money for the blind n
Sorority to donate portion of event proceeds toward on-campus crosswalk for blind people By Courtney Gehring THE DAILY BAROMETER
For the first time ever, Delta Gamma will be donating a portion of its proceeds from the three-day event, Anchor Splash, toward putting in a crosswalk on campus for blind people in Corvallis. This crosswalk will have bars that go up and lights that flash when a blind person is crossing. If a driver does not see the blind student walking, they will hit the bars instead of the individual crossing the street. “We want to help out here in the community and see how our proceeds affect the community,” said Alex Scott, a senior studying business and member of Delta Gamma. Delta Gamma is working with the city of Corvallis to implement the crosswalk on campus, a process that will take several years and require around $20,000. The sorority began its annual philanthropy, Anchor
Splash, this week. The series of events is held to help Service for Sight and aid the blind. Money raised during its fundraiser goes to the Delta Gamma Foundation, which in turn donates the money to schools for the blind and aiding those who are blind. Worldwide, Delta Gamma has have been aiding the blind through its philanthropic activities since 1936. Since then, the sorority has opened four schools for the blind, made various large contributions to several organizations and logged more than 1 million service hours for Service for Sight. “Service for Sight means so much to everyone in Delta Gamma, and we love to do work for them,” said Shirley Morovich, a senior studying food sciences and member of Delta Gamma. On the Oregon State University campus, the Delta Gamma hosts Anchor Splash each fall in its quest to raise money for the blind. See SPLASH | page 4
Justin Quinn
Cody Davis performs the ending dance from the movie, “Napoleon Dynamite.”
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Provost, dean’s decision remains final n
School of EECS operations continue as college searches for new department head By Sean Bassinger THE DAILY BAROMETER
Oregon State University will continue plans to search for a new department head in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Throughout September and October, many staff and faculty in the School of EECS voiced their concerns regarding an administrative decision to not renew the contract of Terri Fiez. Sandra Woods, the dean of the College of Engineering, initially sent notice that Fiez’s last day as department head would be Sept. 30, the first day of fall term. In an effort to adhere with staff and faculty wishes, Woods extended Fiez’s end date to June 2014. However, many professors and students remained unsatisfied. On Nov. 6, Oregon State Provost Sabah Randhawa informed everyone in the College of Engineering that his decision to support Woods’ choice was final. “While we all respect and greatly appreciate the contributions that Dr. Fiez has made to EECS, as Provost and Executive Vice President, I support Dean Woods’ decision to initiate this transition and her judgment in building a well-functioning leadership team for the college,” Randhawa wrote in an email, which was released to the Barometer. “The decision to move to a new head of EECS will not be revisited.” Randhawa also mentioned the desire to cooperate with the School of EECS faculty and external industry partners as the transition progresses. Though the provost’s decision remains in support of Dean Woods, others are still not satisfied. Karti Mayaram, one EECS professor who signed the letter boycotting the search for a new head, said he and many others have not changed their minds. Though the search will continue, Mayaram emphasized his and other professors’ reluctance to participate. “I think that still stands,” Mayaram said. “I can’t see how this could be a final decision.” Mayaram also put emphasis on universities being a top-down organization where students, staff and faculty should facilitate such major decisions. A few EECS professors who wished to remain unnamed disagree with “the campaign to maintain Fiez,” according to Monday’s article in The Oregonian. Fiez confirmed that she will, in fact, hold a tenured position as a professor See EECS | page 4