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Friday, February 3, 2012 Issue 17

T H E

E D I T O R I A L L Y

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I N D E P E N D E N T

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Vol. 119 S T U D E N T

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Visiting professor discusses effects of fracking Blair Kuykendall Editor-in-Chief The water-diamond valuation paradox from Econ. 101 is back, only this time it’s water versus natural gas. Acclaimed expert on hydraulic fracturing, Rob Jackson, joined UT faculty and students for a discussion on “Shale Gas and Its Environmental Footprint” Thursday. Jackson is a professor of biology at Duke University, specializing in terrestrial ecosystems and biogeochemistry. Matt Murray, director of the Baker Center, welcomed the large crowd to the Toyota Auditorium, with rows of chairs extending into the hallway outside. “This environmental series has been a success because of its ability to pull in people from so many different disciplines,” Murray said. Theresa Lee, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, introduced Jackson. “(Jackson) has a long list of titles,” Lee said. “He is no stranger to our area, participating in events both here at UT and ORNL (Oak Ridge National Laboratory). His papers primarily explore the relationship between people and the earth. His research is very relevant to environmental issues, especially shale gas and its environmental impact.” Jackson currently heads the Center on Global Change and Duke’s Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry Laboratory at Duke University. He laid out his scientific purpose from the outset. “First of all, I don’t do shale gas research with an agenda,” he said. “My research team looks at problems, and what we can do to fix them. I would argue that’s the role of science.” Natural gas found in shale formations is rapidly becoming one of the most promising new forms of energy. Various extraction outfits are harnessing new cost-effective techniques to

increase natural gas production, but there is growing concern in the environmental community that these new techniques pose a grave threat to clean water and air reserves. Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” to access natural gas, is one of the most hotly debated issues in environmental circles today. A vast wealth of natural gas resources is waiting to be tapped, and corporations have already adopted fracking as a cost-effective means of achieving this goal. The EPA is currently playing catch-up, so conclusive findings on fracking’s impact are not expected until the end of this year. Jackson was called to address some of these growing issues. “I had worked for many years on groundwater, also studying what happens if carbon dioxide leaked into water sources,” Jackson said. “Studying the geology and chemistry of aquifers to build a framework, I saw a gap in data on a topic where a lot of emotion is involved.” He explained the growing desire to explore natural gas production. “There is a widespread presence of shale gas in many countries and continents around the world,” Jackson said. “Conventional fuel resources are dropping. We have to do more to get unconventional resources out of the ground. People have started talking about the U.S. becoming a gas exporter, but there has been a visceral response over threatened water resources. You have people living very near these wells.” Emotions definitely run high among citizens, even though forms of fracking have been in use for decades. Particularly upsetting now is the use of several controversial tactics together. “What’s new is the combination of the horizontal drilling and the hydraulic fracturing,” Jackson said. “The pressures are much higher than they have been in the past, but that’s essentially a primer on extracting shale gas.” Jackson conducted a study of the water quali-

ty of over 200 private water wells over the Marcellus formation in Pennsylvania. His team searched for stray gas and also the journey of waste waters from fracking sites. They attempted to develop geochemical and isotopic tools to achieve this goal. “Chemical variation that occurs in the groundwater we tested seems to be natural and unrelated to drilling,” Jackson said. “There is controversy over barium poisoning, but so far we don’t find any relationship between nearness to a well and barium concentrations within the water.” Some research findings on gas content, however, were disturbing. “We did find differences in gas concentrations. Methane concentrations in drinking water are found to be higher than near gas wells. There is more methane, ethane and propane in water within one kilometer of wells.” The scientists discovered that even though Pennsylvania is known for water with high methane content, the particular version of methane found in the drinking water was likely a result of human activity. In response, his team supports better casing standards for wells, new cementing standards and no residential zoning within 1,000 ft. of drill rigs. “In terms of fracking, it is possible that wells can leak,” Jackson said. “That’s why we are recommending refinforcing wells.” Jackson called for health studies to be conducted longitudinally on the effects of air quality and the impact of methane and brine exposure. “I’m not trying to close drilling down, but to understand where these problems come from and why,” Jackson said. “Where is our energy going to come from in the future?” Fracking firms are moving quickly, and experts like Jackson are scrambling to isolate threats before society is left with the consequences.

No. 8 Lady Vols fall to Gamecocks North Korea Patrick MacCoon Staff Writer Despite losing 40straight games to the No. 8 Lady Vols, the South Carolina women’s basketball team came into Thursday night’s contest with confidence and ended the losing streak with a 6460 upset victory in Thompson-Boling Arena. Senior guard Markeshia Grant was the answer for the Gamecocks (18-5, 7-3 SEC) on the night, scoring a game-high 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range. She was one of three Gamecocks to finish in double figures, along with La’Keisha Sutton (12) and Ieasia Walker (11). The Lady Vols (16-6, 72) finished with only two players in double-figures, senior forward Glory

Johnson’s 13 and freshman point guard Ariel Massengale’s 12. AllAmerican senior guard/forward Shekinna Stricklen finished with 8 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The loss also ended the Lady Vols’ 28-home game win-streak in SEC play, which dated back Feb. 14, 2008 when UT lost to LSU 78-62. “To say we didn’t play particularly well for 40 minutes tonight would be an understatement but you have to credit South Carolina for that,” said Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt. “They executed a great game plan from start to finish and showed it over and over for 40 minutes.” Despite a sluggish start the first five minutes of the game, in which Tennessee trailed 7-2, the Lady Vols

found their rhythm on the court. Massengale led an 8-0 UT run, which was capped by a Stricklen lay-up that put the Lady Vols up 17-13 with 8:46 left in the first half. The Gamecocks fought right back, as Grant and Walker went to work by combining for all 16 of USC’s points in the final seven minutes of the half. The solid shooting of the guards put South Carolina up 29-28 at halftime. “She (Grant) got off to a great start and that has been an Achilles heel to us this season letting star players put up big numbers against us,” said UT associate head coach Holly Warlick. “That’s been a focal point for us but obviously it hasn’t been big enough.” See BASKETBALL on Page 2

issues conditions The Associated Press

Ian Harmon • The Daily Beacon

Senior forward Glory Johnson attempts a lay-up against South Carolina on Feb. 2. The Lady Gamecocks upset Tennessee 6460, ending a 40-game losing streak to the Lady Vols.

Blood drive loses Vandy, vitality Justin Joo Staff Writer Although the Bleed Orange Blood Drive is almost over, the Medic Regional Blood Center is still in dire need of blood donations, especially after a surge in accidents over the weekend nearly drained its supply of blood. Christi Fightmaster, Medic’s director of public relations, said Medic currently has less than a day’s supply. Blood banks are generally expected to carry enough blood to last for seven to nine days. “It was kind of the perfect storm for us,” Fightmaster said. “With less than a one day supply, we’re managing day-to-day. It’s not where we want to be.” The blood drive has been taking place at UT for the past week. A Medic Bloodmobile will be at Neyland Stadium today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Today is the last day to donate blood on UT’s campus. While the urgency for blood encouraged the Knoxville community to make more donations, UT’s total donations have not increased. In fact, UT has donated less than the normal amount for this time of year. UT’s blood

donations usually make up about two-thirds of what Medic collects in this area. UT is not donating nearly that amount. Of the 300 pints received on Tuesday alone, only 80 came from UT, not even a third of the donations. “We’re definitely behind where we need to be,” Fightmaster said. The decrease in donations could partly be due to Vanderbilt University dropping out of the annual Bleed Orange Blood Drive Competition, which pits the universities against each other to see which school can donate the most blood. It was meant to coincide with the upcoming Lady Vols and Vanderbilt Commodores basketball game, which will be on Feb. 9. Although the competition has occurred for over 10 years, Fightmaster said that Vanderbilt decided not to participate at the last minute. “It just didn’t work out this year,” Fightmaster said. “The competition does really help. ... I think that everybody wants to give what they can for UT. And when you think UT is going to win something, I think that does increase participation.” But Fightmaster stressed that even though there is not a competition, the need for blood is just as great.

Despite this year’s low numbers, UT is still a good source of donations to Medic. Many students donate for the first time while at the university. Matt Rossman, a donor resource coordinator, estimated that 25 percent of UT’s donors are first-timers. “We do get a lot of new donors,” Rossman said. “We’ll get a lot of freshmen who maybe come from out of town donating with us.” Repeat donors are also greatly appreciated, Fightmaster said. “We are very thankful for their repeat donations,” Fightmaster said. “We measure our success by creating an environment where the donor wants to return.” It is recommended that donors eat before donating. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and have a picture ID. Donors will receive a $5 coupon to Moe’s Southwest Grill. The coupon giveaway is not restricted to UT; donating at any other Medic location will also get donors a coupon. More information on future donations, special gifts and donation sites can be found on Medic’s website www.medicblood.com. Medic also has a Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/medicblood and www.twitter.com/medicblood.

PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea on Thursday demanded several tough preconditions for resuming talks with rival South Korea, as it backed away from earlier vows to shun Seoul’s conservative leader in what could be a sign of conciliation. South Korea quickly called the demands made in a statement by the Policy Department of the North's powerful National Defense Commission “unreasonable.” But the timing of the statement, which follows comments Wednesday by a senior U.S. diplomat that Washington is open to diplomacy if Pyongyang improves ties with Seoul, and the change in tone after weeks of refusal to talk with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak could signal a willingness to ease tensions, analysts said. “If clear answers are given, dialogue will resume immediately, and the inter-Korean relations that have been moving toward complete destruction will improve,” Ri Son Kwon, a colonel working for the commission’s Policy Department, told The Associated Press in an interview. “The resumption of dialogue and the improvement of relations hinge completely on the willingness of the South’s government.” The North’s defense commission issued a list of nine conditions, including demands that South Korea apologize for failing to show proper respect to Kim Jong Il during the mourning period that followed the late leader’s Dec. 17 death. Among the other demands were that Seoul stop criticizing Pyongyang over two deadly 2010 attacks blamed on North Korea, and follow through on previous agreements that call

for South Korean investments in the North. The North also demanded an end to U.S.-South Korean military drills, which the allies hold regularly but that Pyongyang calls a rehearsal for war. A round of military exercises are to start later this month. South Korea has called for dialogue as new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un tries to consolidate power and extend his family dynasty into a third generation following his father Kim Jong Il’s death. But South Korea’s Unification Ministry released a statement Thursday saying it regrets the North’s “unreasonable claims as part of its propaganda at an important juncture for peace” and “does not feel the need to respond to these questions put forth by North Korea one by one.” Still, the North's statement is “a bit of an olive branch” when contrasted with its previous promises to ignore Seoul, said John Delury, an assistant professor at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of International Studies in South Korea. The North could be signaling that it understands a message relayed by Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, during a trip to Seoul this week, that Washington favors a diplomatic solution to a North Korean nuclear standoff, but only if Pyongyang improves ties with Seoul. Although Pyongyang has been reluctant to deal with Seoul, it has suggested a willingness to negotiate with the United States. But “the statement is meant primarily to pull the fig leaf off the South Korean government’s claims that it is open to dialogue,” Delury said.


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