Progress Report

PASS: Athens City Council should pass an ordinance that would require landlords to provide greater fire protection in the form of increased smoke detector standards. The current code requires only one nine-volt battery-operated device in each dwelling, but this does not provide nearly enough coverage for multi-room apartments. The proposed code would require several more smoke detectors throughout dwellings and in common areas such as stairwells, living rooms and basements. Also, the new smoke detectors would be linked to each building’s AC power, eliminating the danger that old batteries could wear out without being replaced. If passed, the ordinance might cause landlords to raise rents, but tenants would be safer and should pay without complaint. In a town such as Athens, with barely enough fire coverage, any way that residents can be made safer should be encouraged.

PASS: Bravo to Ohio University professors who developed a treatment for the hormone disorder acromegaly, a rare disease that can cause organ enlargement, heart disease and blindness. John Kopchick, Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar and professor of molecular and cellular biology, along with a team of OU scientists, were recognized last week for their work to produce Samovert, the first drug of its kind. Kopchick’s work is the result of 20 years of research into muscle growth hormones, fats and bones. In addition to helping patients across the world, all of whom could potentially benefit from the treatment, OU is now recognized as the site of groundbreaking research into this disease. The discovery will garner not only prestige but also may allow the university to attract scientists from elsewhere in the nation or from other countries.

PASS: Ohio high school students now have a valuable tool to help them decide where they would like to attend college. American Education Services, an organization that focuses on helping students and families across the United States, launched a new Web site called Ohio Mentor (http://www.ohiomentor.com) that gives students information about selecting the right school, applying for financial aid and even deciding on a career. Students’ last years of high school are often marred by stress or confusion about deciding on colleges. In addition to the strain associated with leaving home and saying goodbye to friends, they must worry about grades, standardized tests and entrance exams. The Ohio Mentor website will make the process much easier and no doubt earn the gratitude of thousands of Ohio students.