9 9 9
twitter.com/UCO360
I III 1 111)1 N 1
UCO360.com
V()I( I (>1 I III IJNIVI I Y ()I ( I N I RAI ()I\ I All()MA.IN( I I 9()
In search of a cancer breakthrough Ryan Costello
immune system, when paired with the immunological agent, can use to specifically target other tumors. According to Chen, this therapy "Uses the tumor itself to develop an antitumor vaccine," inside the body. What makes this developing treatment unique to others is its potential to eradicate tumors in multiple places at once. Studies in Chen's research have shown that when local treatments are applied, the antigens from the original destroyed tumors can eliminate cancerous cells across the body over time. In one study, Chen's team applied the treatment to a tumor in a human subject's arm. Eight months later, the antigens from the initial treatment had cleared a tumor from the same subject's lung.
Ste' If liter
A UCO faculty member is in the midst of what may be groundbreaking cancer research on the campus. 2008 U.S. Professor of the Year and Assistant Dean of UCO's College of Math and Science, Dr. Wei R. Chen is studying the benefits of a combined laser technology, entitled 'laser immunotherapy' as a cancer treatment. Developed exclusively in Oklahoma, this new treatment approaches cancer using a method combing both a laser and an immunological agent. The agent is given first, which is aimed to stimulate the body's immune system. The laser then releases thermal energy, which breaks the cancerous cells apart. The destruction of a tumor's cells leads to the release of an antigen that actually kills other cancerous cells, which the body's
Photo by Vista Staff
Dr. Wei R. Chen, the 2008 U.S. Professor of the Year, is in the middle of cancer treatment reseach he calls "laser immunotherapy". Chen is also the Assistant Dean of UCO's College of Math and Science.
Rebuilding a school
Panel discusses violence
the village for more than two decades. He began Staff• Write/ the project in 2005. He Dr. Richard L. uses historically authentic Nostrand, David Ross Boyd materials and techniques Professor Emeritus in the to help rebuild and preDepartment of Geography serve their community. The latest project is the at _ the University of rebuilding of the schoolOklahoma will present house originally built in "Rebuilding El Cerrito's 1882, but burned in the Schoolhouse," on Nov. late `50s. With the help of at Pegasus Theater at 5:30 students and faculty from p.m. in the Liberal Arts universities in Oklahoma building. Nostrand is recognized and Texas, the project is internationally as an expert almost done. Faculty and on Spanish-American liv- students from University ing particularly in New of Oklahoma, Texas State Mexico along the U.S.- and UCO will be attending Mexico border. He will dis- reconstruction in spring. Nostrand plans to use cuss the history of his projthe schoolhouse as a cornects and the impact upon munity center, village El Cerrito's community. museum and field trip His current work focusheadquarters. The viles on the coordination lage has experienced rural and the reconstruction of depopulation and ecoa one-room adobe schoolhouse in El Cerrito, New nomic decline since World Mexico. An adobe home is War II. "It's very isolated," Dr. made out of dry mud and Photo by Laura Hoffert Doug Hurt, assistant prostraws. El Cerrito is a tiny Since the start of school, UCO has provided hand fessor of geography, said. Spanish-American village sanitizers around campus to prevents students, staff, 6o miles southeast of Santa "People that live there are faculty and visitors from catching the flu or HI NI. see SCHOOL, page 6 Fe. Nostrand has studied
lender de Leon
Flu awareness lenefar de Leon .s',„jf. I I riir,
The Transfer Leadership Council and the Wellness Center will host a free flu awareness and education program at • the Nigh University Center Ballroom A on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
Photo Provided
Last year's UCO school rebuilding team (left to right) Jeff Widener, Sharon Kelting, Josh Gibson, Traci Ferguson, Doug Hurt, Salena Etzler stands in front of the schoolhouse in El Cerrito, N.M.
Students and faculty are encouraged to attend, and learn how to take preventative measure against the flu. There will be free refreshments and door prizes offered at the event. "We want to bring awareness to UCO students and faculty about how to pre-• vent the flu," UCO Wellness Center, MPH Danielle Dill
DIOD YOU Mow 7 Mel Blanc, who played the voice of Bugs Bunny, was allergic to carrots. The tongue of a blue whale is as long as an elephant.
see CHEN , page 6
said. "We want students to take advantage of the campus and community resources." There are common flu symptoms that student and faculty need to be aware of such as fever, headache, muscle ache, chills, dry cough, runny nose and stomach symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. The Center of Disease Control reported this season would be the worst flu season, because of the HiNt also known as Swine flu spreading throughout the nation. CDC reports that the HtNiw can cause illness, hospitalization and/or death. CDC recommends see FLU , page 7
WEATHER TODAY
High: 73 ° Low: 54 ° SUNNY
TOMORROW
High: 77 ° Low: 55 ° WINDY
Tivanna Harris Stqff U/riter
24,105 domestic violence cases were reported to Oklahoma law enforce-
ment in 2006, and only 5o% percent of intimate violence incidents are reported to law enforcement (OSBI 2006 UCR). This is the reality of domestic violence here in the Oklahoma. UCO N.O.W (National Organization for Women) organized a Domestic violence panel lead by Becki Warner N.O.W president, to help with education and awareness of crimes against women. On the panel was Lieutenant Daimon Alexander ofthe Oklahoma City Police Department Domestic Violence unit, Marisabel Kremeier a program coordinator and prevention educator with the YWCA Oklahoma City, Deah Johnson a Women's History masters student
and Jennifer McLaughlin a sexual violence specialist from the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The panel discussed topics such as domestic violence, date rape, and stalking. We are told as young girls that if a boy hits you than he likes you. According to Mclaughlin, studies show that as early as fifth grade patterns are already set in, if someone is going to abuse they will. The panel agreed that it has become a cultural issue because of the way male-female relationships are looked at. Kremeier admitted that she goes into elementary schools to do prevention education. " We have to teach them what a healthy relationship is, some have never seen one." said Kremeier. The panel brought up the case of a 15 year old girl that was gang rape by see PANEL ,
page
7
Photo by Allison Rathgeber
The UCO National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) chapter recently held a panel to discusss the realities of domestic violence in Oklahoma.
TUNE INTO NEWSCENTRAL UCO's student-run newscast runs Monday through Thursday on Cox Digital Cable channel 125 in Edmond at 5:00 p.m.