College Clips

By Sarah Alban

Published Oct. 9, 2007

University of Massachusetts bio class

to help kick the habit

Students not majoring in biology at the University of Massachusetts now have a unique option for gaining biology credits: learning how to quit smoking.

Professor Wilmore Webley, who teaches the Biology of Cancer and AIDS course that is offering the new anti-smoking component, is launching an outreach effort on campus to help students who want to quit smoking.

"I don't smoke, never smoked, but I've helped people kick bad habits," Webley said.

Webley made the lectures a permanent aspect of his course after reading data collected from a survey he gave to his students last spring. A smoking cessation group he put together, the Quit Smoking Support Group, will meet weekly and create a network among students who wish to kick the habit.

Strategies the group will use include setting timetables for students and addressing individual needs in finding the best method of quitting for each student.

— The Massachusetts Daily Collegian (University of Massachusetts)

Effects of national loan bill uncertain

Earlier this month, President George Bush passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which had received bipartisan Congressional support in both houses of Congress.

The new legislation came at a time when college costs are showing significant rising trends. Over the last five years, the average tuition at private four-year universities increased 27.8 percent, according to the College Board.

By 2012, the act will grant more than $20 billion in Pell Grants and cut student loan interest rates on need-based loans from 6.8 to 3.4 percent.

Some skeptics question the act's potential effectiveness and point out that tuition rates might continue to rise, in which case an increase in Pell Grants will serve only as a temporary solution.

— The Pitt News

(University of Pittsburgh)

Police arrest alleged MySpace steroid dealers

Last Monday, 120 MySpace.com users were arrested in the biggest steroid-selling bust in American history.

Out of the 120 users arrested, four men were charged, accused of buying Chinese steroid powder, producing steroids in home laboratories and selling them off MySpace profiles.

"Of particular concern to us is obviously the use of profiles on MySpace.com, which gives us concern that this might in fact be a way to market to minors or children," said Kevin O'Connor, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut. "Some of the methods that we've uncovered in this investigation lead us to conclude that it may not just be adults that are being marketed to."

The four men indicted face charges of a maximum 15 years imprisonment and a fine up to $750,000.

— The Daily Vidette (Illinois State University)