THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7A
Insect invaders pester scholarship hall's inhabitants
By Jessica Palimenio
jpalimenio@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Residents of Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall have noticed some uninvited guests recently.
Students living in the hall which opened in Fall 2000, said an infestation of ants and cockroaches had been getting progressively worse throughout the semester.
"It's not really gross, but it's not
sanitary, "Emily Davenport,
Atwood sophomore, said.
The bugs were found in the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom and pantry areas. Residents started keeping perishable foods, such as potatoes and onions, in plastic bins to protect them from the creatures.
"It's not really gross, but it's not sanitary."
Students also saw ants coming in through the sinks in the kitchen and in their rooms. The problem has prompted Anna Gregory, Independence junior,
Emily Davenport
Atwood sophmore
to come up with her own solution. Tape now covered the sinks so ants can't get in, she said.
Residents reported the infestation problem to the housing maintenance department.
"We did get rid of one type of ant and now we have another type, but steps are being taken to fix it,"Kristen Baranek, Overland Park senior and hall president, said.
Exterminators from the housing maintenance department have been treating common areas such as the laundry room and kitchen on a monthly basis.
Vince Avila, associate director of housing maintenance, said it
was not uncommon to see insects in warm damp areas such as the laundry room or in areas where food was kept.
Avila said that when the bugs were found in the bathrooms and in each room, the scholarship hall director and custodial and maintenance staff members inspected the areas. They discovered the ants were entering through gaps and cracks around the bathroom fixtures.
During spring break, maintenance workers patched the cracks around the toilets and bathtubs to keep the insects from entering.
The housing department is expecting this step to solve the problem.
"We haven't had any complaints, but students have only been back a few days," Avila said.
Mom's flight attendant job helps student fly for free
- Edited by Brandon Gay
By Megan Hickerson
mhickerson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Every face in the crowd and every name in the phonebook has a story behind it. Every week, Kansan writer Megan Hickerson tells the story of a randomly selected KU student.
Because of expenses, most college students can't afford to travel the globe. But this isn't a problem for Casey Meek, a sophomore from Baxter Springs.
Faces in the Crowd
Meek's mother has been a flight attendant since he was born.
Meek's entire family flies free, and their family friends get 75 percent off airline tickets.
Although her job demanded time, Meek said it didn't pose any problems when he was growing up.
"By the time I was old enough, she had so much seniority that everything worked out," Meek said.
Meek's first international flight was when he went to Norway when he was 10 years old. He said he had been too young then to have much appreciation for international travel, but the trip had sparked
his curiosity. Because Meek has visited more than 10 countries, he has been exposed to a wide range of foreign cultures.
His favorite trip was to Egypt, where he purchased two gold necklaces, which he never takes off. One has his name written in Arabic, the other in hieroglyphics.
"It was cool being in a Third World country," Meek said. "It was so fast paced, and the people in Cairo were so friendly."
"Casey did bring me back a cigar from Amsterdam," Sturgeon said. "I haven't smoked it yet. I'm saving it for graduation."
Tim Sturgeon, Olathe senior and Meek's roommate, said he also benefited from Meek's mom's job.
Joe Corcoran, a family friend, said Meek had become a more intellectual person because of his travel experiences.
"He gives more insight on things because he's so well-traveled," Corcoran, Dallas sophomore, said.
Meek's travel opportunities are running out. The 20-year-old can use American Airlines benefits until he turns 25 although he doesn't seem too concerned.
"I guess I'll just have to marry a flight attendant." he said.
Edited by Michelle Burhenn
Jared Soares/Kansan
Casey Meek, Baxter Springs sophomore, is a world traveler. Because his mother is a flight attendant, Meek gets free airline tickets
Pharmacy professor receives grant for continued research
Dan Nelson/Kansan
Ronald Borchardt, Solon E. Summerfield distinguished professor of pharmaceutical chemistry, is a researcher in the department of pharmaceutical chemistry. Borchardt received a $254,625 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to continue his research on developing pain medications with little or no risk of addiction.
By Amy Potter
aporter@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded the University of Kansas a grant of $254,625.
The research funds will assist Ronald Borchardt, Solon E. Summerfield distinguished professor of pharmaceutical chemistry, in examining cyclic prodrugs of opioid peptides for the next seven years. Prodrugs are chemical derivatives of a drug, which are designed to improve a specific property of the drug. Opioid peptides are naturally-occurring molecules that are produced in the brain. They bind to brain receptors to produce effects such as
pain relief.
Borchardt said he didn't think about his involvement in the discovery of a drug.
"I feel very good about what I have contributed in my career to thinking about how to better design drugs," he said.
"Even if these molecules are administered directly into the blood stream, they do not enter the brain because of their inability to cross the so-called blood-
For decades, chemists have tried to make a similar version of opioid peptides as potential drugs that could be used for pain relief, Borchardt said. Their structural features will not allow them to be absorbed in the blood after being administered orally.
brain barrier," he said.
Borchardt and his team of researchers are using prodrugs to disguise the opioid peptides so the body will allow access across the blood-brain barrier.
"We've really contributed to the general understanding of why these molecules are so poorly absorbed," said Borchardt. "Hopefully we're designing a better strategy for the future."
Bianca Liederer, Neumarkt, Germany graduate student, assists Borchardt in his research. She said opioid peptides had a broad range of potential clinical benefits.
"If you can get peptides that can be given in a tablet form instead of having an injection, it would be the safest and easiest
route of delivery," she said.
Cathy Thrasher, chief pharmacist at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said this kind of research could be beneficial in treating any kind of brain disease. Current drugs face difficulties with the blood-brain barrier.
"If what he does develops, we can use it for treatment," Thrasher said. "Some diseases all we can do is treat a symptom."
Thrasher said she looked forward to the end result of Borchardt's research but understood it would take time.
"It may be several years down the road before I see it in prescription form." Thrasher said.
- Edited by Andrew Ward
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