College shorts

Author: Nicole Lam

NEW SCHOOL PRESIDENT PRESSURED TO RESIGN

On April 10, police officers stormed the New School, a university in New York City, to arrest student protestors demanding the resignation of New School president Bob Kerrey. 200 protesters met in Union Square, and the protest culminated in a impromptu march to Kerrey's house.

By the end of the operation, 22 people were arrested, 19 of them on burglary, riot and criminal mischief charges. Two of the 19 were also charged with assault, and one with assault and grand larceny. The police also removed banners hung by the students at the site of the incident. The 22 were expected to be arraigned Friday night.

Some students had previously taken over the New School building for 30 hours in December to demand the resignation of their president because of his lack of a Ph.D and his political background.

"We're continuing to call for his resignation," junior Andy Folk said. "Students are sick of the top-down orders of Bob Kerrey."

New School has suspended all students involved in the protest.

- The Washington Square

WISCONSIN DEBATES IMMIGRANT FINANCIAL AID

Democratic state representative Pedro Colon recently introduced a bill allowing certain illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at the University of Wisconsin. According to budget documents, illegal residents would receive non-resident tuition remission if they have graduated from a Wisconsin high school, attended the high school for at least three years and can provide proof that they will apply for citizenship as soon as they are eligible to do so. Republican State Senator Tom Reynolds was the only person to speak against the bill.

"We have immigration laws in this country for a reason and someone who has chosen to violate those laws and is here in contravention of U.S. law ought not to be getting the benefits that we normally afford U.S. citizens," said Steve Kreiser, Reynolds's chief of staff. So far, 10 other states have laws permitting undocumented citizens who meet certain requirements to pay in-state tuition at public universities.

- The Daily Cardinal

UC BERKELEY EXAMINES SCIENCE OF WEIGHT LOSS

A study published by the University of California at Berkeley on March 20 discovered a way for scientists to control the metabolism of mice by disabling a gene. The mice tested converted 60 percent fewer carbohydrates to fatty acids in the liver compared to the mice in the control group.

When humans eat food, their blood glucose level increases and causes the insulin hormone to attach itself to a transcription factor protein. This protein then signals the glucose to convert into fatty acids in the liver. In this study, the researchers turned off this gene and the protein became inactive. As a result, the metabolization process never converted carbohydrates into fat.

Scientists are hopeful that this study could shed some light on the processes behind Type-1 diabetes. However, the researchers emphasized that the future aim is not to prevent people from gaining fat but to help them eat good carbohydrates.

"Although our research can help people eat more carbohydrates without the worry about gaining fat, our true intention is to let people enjoy all the good carbs such as fruit, vegetable, pasta," said Roger Fong, the lead author of the study. "The best way to control body weight is to eat less, limit carb intake, and have a balanced diet."

- Daily Californian