8A
Wednesdav, September 28. 1994
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Human embryo research under review
The Associated Press
BETHESDA, Md. — A federal panel recommended yesterday that the government end its ban on funding of human embryo research, saying very young embryos "do not have the same moral status as infants and children."
Opponents of the research immediately labeled the decision "ethically and morally bankrupt" and pledged to carry their resistance to the floor of Congress.
The 19-member committee of experts selected to advise the National Institutes of Health concluded that fertilized human eggs can be used for
federally funded scientific research within guidelines that limit how long an embryo can be kept alive, the sources of the sperm and egg, and the purposes for the study.
The panel would allow research only on embryos about 14 days or younger.
The action is only the first step in a process directed toward reversing a 15-year ban on federal financing of research using human embryos. A report of the committee will be reviewed in December by another NIH advisory panel, which will then make recommendations directly to NIH Director Harold Varnus.
Varmus, in turn, may draw up the final guidelines for NIH grants for embryo research. NIH officials said it will be at least six months before the agency could start funding research, but at least 70 scientists have indicated an interest in applying for grants
"The basic finding is that it is acceptable public policy to fund research on human embryos, but it should be subject to strict guidelines," said Patricia A. King, a law professor at Georgetown University and a co-chairwoman of the advisory panel.
She said a fundamental conclusion of the panel was that human embryos in the very early stages of development "do not have the same moral
status as infants and children."
King said the panel also concluded that significant and important medical benefits could be achieved by supporting research using human embryos. But, the committee members took pains to emphasize the special nature of such studies.
"An embryo merits significant respect as a developing form of human life," said Ronald M. Green, a professor of religion at Dartmouth College and a member of the panel. But, he said the majority committee concluded that this respect does not outweigh the potential benefits which arise from embryo research.
Republicans to wrest Congress from PACs
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — In the morning, more than 350 Republican House candidates solely signed a pledge to take back Congress from special interests. In the evening, they headed for a $5,000-a-table dinner to raise half a million dollars from Washington's money elite.
In the daytime ceremony on the Capitol steps, GOP incumbents, challengers and open-seat candidates filed past a table draped in red, white and blue to sign a "Contract with America" — a 10-point platform they
pledged to act on early next year, if voters elect a Republican House majority for the first time since 1954.
"Clinton is in such trouble with the American people that our job is to go out and offer a clear, positive alternative," said Rep. Newt Gingrich, R-Ga. "To say, look, we different."
But Tuesday night's gala at a downtown Washington hotel underscored a reality of modern politics: Democrats and Republicans alike depend on some of the same Washington lobbies for campaign money.
"We're not telling you we're Martians," Gingrich said. "I believe we
should have an obligation to raise money. It's perfectly legitimate."
A senior Republican official involved in planning the event said organizers were aware the fund-raiser would open them to charges of hypocrisy, and an internal debate about postponing it raged until several days ago.
As they arrived at the dinner, GOP candidates were greeted by a noisy band of about 100 protesters.
The protesters, who included some Democratic congressional staffers, carried signs with such gibes as "Newt is my shepherd, I shall not
think" and "Newt's contract on America — no to seniors, no to children, yes to special interests."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was sending a television crew to film GOP candidates going in, for possible use in Democratic campaign ads.
At the contract signing ceremony, Rep. Dick Arney, R-Retaxes, said Republicans are "united in the belief that the people's House must be wrested from the grip of special interest groups and handed back to the people."
Simpson jury pool shrinks
Developments Tuesday in the O.J. Simpson double-murder case;
O. J.'S SONG: O.J. Simpson explained to reporters that he sang "Memory" from the musical "Cats" on the first day of jury selection because he misses his children. "That song really gets to me because it says, 'touch me' and I can't touch my kids," he said.
SPEEDY TRIAL 222 people out of 446 have passed the hardship phase of jury selection. Superior Court Judge Lance Ito said people might be willing to serve despite the length of the three- to six-month trial because of the "hoopla factor" surrounding it. It wants 28 more potential jurors before he begins questioning them individually.
911 TAPE: An employee from the prosecutor's office interrupted jury selection to give defense attorneys two envelopes and a cassette tape. Deputy District Attorney Mar-
cla Clark asked, "Is that the 911 tape?" But before the employee could answer, reporters were told the leave.
ITO'S BURDEN: Ito said his "biggest burden" is getting a jury selected, and he wants as few distractions as possible. To that end, he delayed for a week an evidence-suppression hearing initially scheduled for Wednesday.
FUTURE SELECTION: Those making the first round of selection were told to fill out a 75-page questionnaire and return to court next month for in-person quizzing by the judge and lawyers. Although it has the right to bar attorneys from asking questions, he indicated Monday that he would allow limited queries from both sides.
CAMERABARRED: Angered that the faces from jurors in other cases have been shown on TV, in violation of the law. It ordered the removal of the pool camera.
Army to use coed combat training
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) —The Army tried it and top brass liked it. Now they're making a co-eed combat training program for raw recruits permanent.
Women and men will train together at Fort Jackson starting next month, after a successful experiment last
The goal is to have 120 men and 120 women in each of two units. The program will be expanded in late October and November. About 40,000 recruits receive basic training at Fort Jackson annually.
year, spokesman Rick Fulton said Tuesday.
U.S. recruits for NAFTA
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The Clinton administration is casting about for new members to its North American Free Trade Accord. What would be more natural than to invite Argentina, a mere 4,000 miles south of the border?
President Carlos Menem, in town yesterday for the 49th U.N. General Assembly, trumpeted the economic achievements of his country since he became president in 1989, saying Argentina's growth rate was third highest in the world behind China and Thailand and inflation just 3.5 percent this year.
There should be a free trade pact from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, on the southern tip of South America, Menem told 600 businessmen and international investors at the Americas Society.
Besides the United States, the NAFTA members are Canada and Mexico, a free-trade market of 370 million consumers.
Chile has drawn the U.S. administration's eye as a most-likely new entrant to NAFTA, due to its free-market economy, pro-democratic government and strong traditional ties to the United States.
Besides Chile, according to a draft paper prepared this summer by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the short-list for new members includes Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela — all in South America.
However, Venezuela is suffering severe economic, social and political problems, and Colombia has a drug-trafficking image that some U.S. lawmakers would be hard-pressed to ignore.
Democrats accuse Whitewater investigator of partiality
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The White House strutted its finery yesterday to fete Russia's president at a glittering black-tie dinner that nonetheless had the friendly flavor of two couples who call each other Bill, Hillary, Boris and Naina.
"I really feel good about being here."
Yeltsin declared in his toast in the regal State Dining Room. "I feel at home."
Clinton's toast was so glowing in its praise of the Russian leader as a defender of democracy that Yeltsin confessed, "I feel a little uncomfortable and embarrassed."
The night began more formally, with the two couples making the traditional stroll down the red-carpeted staircase of the Grand Foyer and a stiffly posed photograph. But the mood quickly warmed as the 130 guests worked their way through the receiving line, Vice President Al Gore leading off the lineup hopping along on his crutches.
Hollywood producer Steven Spielberg, pianist Van Cliburn, departing Disney president Jeffrey Katzenberg
and NBC anchor Tom Brokaw were among the glitterater illuminating only the second state dinner of the Clinton administration.
While black was the hands-down favorite among women's gowns, Mrs. Clinton enlivened the scene with a red chiffon Victoria Royal gown with rhinestone trim at the neck and sleeves.
Black women lack detection of breast cancer
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Black women are more than twice as likely as whites to die of breast cancer, in large part because their disease more often reaches an advanced stage before it is diagnosed, researchers reported.
The study also provided some evidence that cancerous tumors may be more aggressive in black women, but the researchers said the most important
conclusion to be drawn is that early screening for breast cancer is essential.
Part of the problem, the researchers said, is that because of poverty or other factors black women are less likely than white women to get to a doctor for early detection of cancer.
The study, published in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved more than 1,100 women, roughly split between blacks and whites, in Atlanta, New Orleans and
Oakland, Calif., who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1985 and 1986.
The researchers tracked deaths through 1990 and found that black women were 2.2 times as likely to die as white women. Forty percent of the higher death rate was blamed on cancer being more advanced when it was detected.
Jayhawker Yearbook 428 Kansas Union 864-3728
1995 HILLTOPPER
All nominees will receive an application.
Nominations must be turned in to 400 or 428 Kansas Union by October 6 at 5p.m.
Nomination forms available at 400 Kansas Union (OAC) or 428 Kansas Union (Jayhawker Office).
Who do you know that is an ... OUTSTANDING SENIOR?
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- Anyone may nominate an outstanding senior.
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