What is Project: TEAM? (6)
JACK LUKOW
Penn State scientists
have found a possible cure
for leukemia, and its name is
Delta-12-prostaglandin J3 -
an unwieldy name for a
promising substance. The
compound, which has been
derived from fish oil, has
been proven to eliminate leu-
kemia stem cells from lab
rats in a test conducted by
Penn State scientists Sandeep
Prabhu and Robert Paulson.
Leukemia is a cancer of the
bones and the blood, and
more than 30,000 people are
diagnosed with it every year.
However, this new com-
pound not only eliminates
leukemia, but could also pos-
sibly eradicate cancer caus-
ing stem cells throughout the
body. The discovery is mark-
edly important not only due
to its ability to cure cancer,
but at minimal side effects as
well. Compared with modern
chemotherapy, this would be
a saving grace to many weak
cancer patients.
Another major upside
to this possible miracle drug
is that it actually eliminates
the leukemia, where other
methods only suppress and
minimize it. By recognizing
the damaged DNA, the cause
of cancer, it
stops the cell
from repro-
ducing and eventually kills
off the entire cancerous tu-
mor. The complete elimina-
tion does not just buy the
patient more time, but solves
the problem completely.
Who are these scien-
tists that discovered this?
Prabhu is the associate pro-
fessor of immunology and
molecular toxicology, and
Paulson is an associate pro-
fessor of veterinary and bio-
medical sciences. Prabhu is a
specialist in fish oil, and
Paulson in leukemia. One
can understand how they
came to their conclusion,
D12-PGJ3. The compound is
specifically found in the
Omega-3 fatty acids, and has
been theorized to eradicate
cancer, but has never been
tested before now. The tests
have been very successful at
curing mice of leukemia thus
far and will be tested soon on
mice in more advanced stag-
es of cancer, as well as on
human tissue. Eventually the
scientists hope to progress
into full human testing and
researching other cancer re-
lated uses of the compound.
D12-PGJ3: Remem-
ber the name. It just might
save your life someday.
LACEY LAPP
The Student Govern-
ment Association will be
holding its online elections
from March 27 to March 29.
Students will have the ability
to vote for candidates running
for president, vice president,
and communications coordi-
nator. This year’s candidates
for SGA President are fresh-
men Jalon Alexander and
John Shaffer.
Jalon is currently ma-
joring in Liberal Arts, but
plans to switch to Letters,
Arts and Sciences. After
graduating, Jalon wants to
practice constitutional law
my staff, my running-mate
Maima, and my opponent
Philadelphia. Jalon adds, “I
sincerely hope and wish for
the best to all students here.
Thank you all so much for
allowing me into your lives
and expressing your concerns
and accomplishments to me.”
John is double major-
ing in Political Science and
English. After college, he
plans to practice law in New
York City. “I'd like to ex-
press my upmost gratitude to
of this process, learning stu-
dents’ concerns and address-
ing students’ issues.”
Current SGA Presi-
dent Coty Covert shares his
input on the election, as well
as reflects upon his time as
president. Coty was elected
president last March, and
hopes that he has “inspired
students to realize the power
that they have.” Coty had
many goals, and was able to
accomplish several of them.
“I feel it’s the mark of a good
administration if they leave
work to be done,” Coty ex-
plains.
Coty regrets not
reaching out to students earli-
er in his administration, but
has been trying to do more
towards the end with differ-
ent activities. He also encour-
ages students to attend execu-
tive board and senate meet-
ings.
Coty feels that a good
president “has to advocate for
students” and he was a good
president because, as he says,
“I actually care about stu-
dents and understand their
needs and wants.” He feels
that both the candidates run-
ning for SGA President are
“more than capable and will-
ing.” Coty also offers some
words of advice, stating, “No
matter what you do, remem-
ber that at the end of the day,
you are advocating for the
students of Penn State Mont
Alto, and that’s what most
important.” i
(Q&A segment on page 2)
MICHAEL GARRETT
Penn State has recent-
ly come under public scrutiny
and pressure in regards to its
relationship with the Pennsyl-
vania Right-To-Know Law,
which requires state-funded
institutions to make their fi-
nancial records available to
the public. Currently, Penn
State is funded through a com-
bination of taxpayer money
and privately raised funds and
is listed among a group of uni-
versities called “state-related
institutions.” This makes them
exempt from a large majority
of the law’s stipulations.
Governor Tom Cor-
bett has recently been pushing
for full compliance with the
Right-To-Know law from
Penn State and the other state-
related universities, with little
success. Penn State, and the
rest of the state-related univer-
sities, has thus far refused to
officially comply, leading to
the looming possibility of
State funding being pulled
from the University.
(Continued on page 3)