Headlines @ U.Va.

Warren: Let Hinckley Visit
For the past decade, John W. Hinckley Jr. has shown no symptoms of the psychosis and depression that landed him in a mental hospital for attempted murder back in 1981. Normally, that would mean he would be allowed to begin re-entering society. But because he attempted to kill President Reagan, his case is more controversial. Janet Warren, a professor of clinical psychiatric medicine and associate director of U.Va.’s Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy, argues that Hinckley should be treated as any less-notorious prisoner-patient, and be granted unsupervised visits with his parents.
(Washington Post, Aug. 27)

Mann: Temperature’s Rising
It’s one of the hottest public battles in science: Are humans warming the Earth’s climate or not? The latest salvo comes from U.Va.’s environmental sciences department, where Michael Mann and a British colleague have published study results suggesting that the Northern Hemisphere is hotter now than at any time in the past 1,000 years. Using polar ice cores and tree rings, they conclude that the Earth has undergone what is usually a century’s worth of warming in the past two decades. (BBC News Online, Sept. 1)

Dalai Lama’s Message has widespread Appeal
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather and listen attentively Sept. 21 when the Dalai Lama visits New York’s Central Park. Although he leads just one of several Buddhist strains, many regard him as something of a spiritual superstar. Religious studies professor Jeffrey Hopkins, a former interpreter for the Dalai Lama, says the adulation is deserved. “His message is simple: The importance of kindness and compassion. It is a message that is relevant not to just believers in religion, but nonbelievers. ... At a time when people are pursuing money, position, power, it’s an inspiring message, one that comes through in the expression of his character.” (Westchester, N.Y. Journal-News, Sept. 1)

Turkheimer Study: Nurture Trumps Nature
Psychology professor Eric Turkheimer has waded into another political fray. At a time when politicians are questioning the value of early childhood assistance programs, such as Head Start, Turkheimer led a study that finds that children with similar genetic profiles, raised in different socioeconomic environments, will score differently on IQ tests and other measures of cognitive performance. Simply put: In conditions of poverty, environmental deficits overwhelm genetic potential. Theoretically, programs aimed at addressing environmental factors could be effective, the researchers say. (Washington Post, Sept. 2)