BRIEFS

On the cover:

Shaka Smart is demonstrative on the sidelines as VCU takes on Old Dominion Saturday night.

Local & VCU National & International

VCU study says scrubs treated to resist MRSA less likely to be contaminated

A VCU study of surgical scrubs treated to resist MRSA showed the specially treated garments were less likely than regular scrubs worn by health care workers to be contaminated with staph bacteria.

The small study enrolled 32 health care workers, who wore specially-treated scrubs for four weeks, switched back to regular scrubs, then repeated the four-week-on, four-week-off regimen for 16 weeks.

The researchers didn’t find any differences in the levels of MRSA on employees’ skins. But they did find differences in MRSA contamination of the clothing they wore. In particular, when they took swabs from the clothing, they found less MRSA on the study scrubs’ leg cargo pocket and abdominal pockets when compared to regular scrubs.

The research was funded by Vestex Technologies, a company that makes antimicrobial garments in addition to other products. The researchers noted that the results cannot be broadly generalized because the study was small and took place in a single hospital unit.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Buddy’s to remain open in the Fan

Buddy’s Place, a popular longtime watering hole in Richmond’s Fan District, will stay open for at least another three years.

The announcement was made Wednesday evening in a joint statement by Mike Dealto, co-owner of the establishment, and Charlie Diradour, who owns the Buddy’s building at Stuart Avenue and North Robinson Street.

Earlier this week, it was unclear what would happen to Buddy’s. The 10-year lease on the building was to expire at the end of this year, and Diradour said Sunday that he and one of Buddy’s owners had discussed giving the property a facelift for more than a year but could not reach an agreement.

Diradour had wanted to make upgrades to the building that has been in his family since the 1930s.

“We’re going to let the lease run its natural course and end at the end of December,” he said Sunday.

The 36-year-old restaurant has a loyal following. More than 3,000 people supported the “Save Buddy’s” Facebook page.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Richmond finally breaks ground on a new jail

The city of Richmond on Friday broke ground on a $134.6 million jail to replace its overcrowded, overheated facility that was built in the 1960s.

The Virginia Board of Corrections approved the city’s plans to build a 1,032-bed facility in December, and construction is set to begin this month next to the existing jail on Fairfield Way. The new Justice Center is scheduled to open in 2014.

“The day has come for us to stop talking about building a Justice Center,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “Today … construction is about to begin.”

Speaking at the formal groundbreaking attended by about 100 people, Jones said there are projects he would have preferred to take on as mayor rather than work for two years to get a new jail.

The Richmond City Jail was built for 880 people but currently houses about 1,300. At times, it has been a temporary home for as many as 1,500. And the state board was concerned that, with 1,032 beds, the replacement jail would quickly be at capacity.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Apple starts selling interactive iPad textbooks

Apple Inc. on Thursday launched its attempt to make the iPad a replacement for a satchel full of textbooks by starting to sell electronic versions of a handful of standard high school books.

The electronic textbooks, which include “Biology” and “Environmental Science” from Pearson and “Algebra 1” and “Chemistry” from McGraw-Hill, contain videos and other interactive elements.

Forrester Research said e-books accounted for only 2.8 percent of the $8 billion U.S. textbook market in 2010.

The textbooks will cost $15 or less, said Phil Schiller, Apple’s head of marketing. He unveiled the books at an event at New York’s Guggenheim Museum. Schools will be able to buy the books for students and issue redemption codes to them, he said.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Pot-based prescription drug looks for FDA OK

A quarter-century after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first prescription drugs based on the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, additional medicines derived from or inspired by the cannabis plant itself could soon be making their way to pharmacy shelves, according to drug companies, small biotech firms and university scientists.

A British company, GW Pharma, is in advanced clinical trials for the world’s first pharmaceutical developed from raw marijuana instead of synthetic equivalents- a mouth spray it hopes to market in the U.S. as a treatment for cancer pain. And it hopes to see FDA approval by the end of 2013.

Sativex contains marijuana’s two best known components –delta 9-THC and cannabidiol – and already has been approved in Canada, New Zealand and eight European countries for a different usage, relieving muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis.

FDA approval would represent an important milestone in the nation’s often uneasy relationship with marijuana, which 16 states and the District of Columbia already allow residents to use legally with doctors’ recommendations.

Brief by the Associated Press

Cruise ship threatens marine paradise off Italy

Stone fortresses and watchtowers that centuries ago stood guard against marauding pirates loom above pristine waters threatened by a modern peril: fuel trapped within the capsized Costa Concordia luxury liner.

A half-million gallons (2,400 tons) of heavy fuel oil is in danger of leaking out and polluting some of the Mediterranean’s most unspoiled sea, where dolphins chase playfully after sailboats and fishermen’s catches are so prized that wholesalers come from across Italy to scoop up cod, lobster, scampi, swordfish and other delicacies.

Rough seas hindering divers’ search for bodies in the Concordia’s submerged section have also delayed the start of a pumping operation expected to last weeks to remove the fuel from the ship. Floating barriers aimed at containing any spillage now surround the vessel.

According to the Dutch salvage firm Smit, which has been contracted to remove the fuel, there are about a half million gallons (2,400 tons) of heavy fuel oil on board, as well as some 200 tons of diesel oil and smaller amounts of lubricants and other environmentally hazardous materials.

Brief by the Associated Press

AdAm Stern executive editor editor@commonwealthtimes.org 703-965-9811 mel KOBrAn managing editor managing@commonwealthtimes.org mechelle hAnKerSOn news editor news@commonwealthtimes.org

JIm SWInG Sports editor sports@commonwealthtimes.org nIcK BOnAdIeS Spectrum editor spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org

ShAne WAde Opinion editor opinion@commonwealthtimes.org chrIS cOnWAy Photography editor conwayc@vcu.edu emmA Breeden copy editor breedenep@vcu.edu mArleIGh culver Graphic designer commonwealthtimesgraphics@gmail.com yInG chenG Graphic designer commonwealthtimesgraphics@gmail.com hunter nye Graphic designer commonwealthtimesgraphics@gmail.com hAnnAh SWAnn Graphic designer commonwealthtimesgraphics@gmail.com

ShAnnOn lInfOrd Webmaster ctonline@commonwealthtimes.org

Andy KArStetter multimedia editor karstetterma@vcu.edu

JAcOB mcfAdden Advertising manager ctadvertising@gmail.com 804-828-6629 nelSOn W. JOhnSOn Associate Advertising representative ctadvertising@gmail.com 804-828-6629

Peter PAGAn and JOhn mcWhOrter Advertising Graphics Specialists ctadvertising@gmail.com 804-828-6629

GreG WeAtherfOrd Student media director goweatherfor@vcu.edu, 827-1975 lAuren KAtchuK Business manager 827-1642 mArK JeffrIeS Production manager mjeffriesvcu@gmail.com

The Commonwealth Times strives to be accurate in gathering news. If you think we have made an error, please call Executive Editor Adam Stern at 828-6516 or e-mail him at editor@commonwealthtimes.org. Corrections will appear on the Opinion page.

Limit one CT per person. Additional copies may be purchased through the Student Media Center for $1 a copy.

817 W. Broad St., P.O. Box 842010

Richmond, VA 23284-2010

In this section:

IHOP Express implements ID checks • 4 VCU students petition for better course availability • 4 ASPiRE program begins orientation process • 5