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Igor Kukelyanksy
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
04.29.08
At the start of summer, Americans
begin to shed their pasty dry winter
skin for that shimmering bronze glow.
In their quest for the “ideal glow,”
many turn to artifi cial indoor tanning
to build a “base tan” to further infuse
their skin cells with melanin.
With an annual customer base of 28
million Americans, the two billion dollar-a-year
tanning industry expanding
rapidly. Indoor tanning is especially
popular among adolescents and young
adults aged 18-30.
Despite the lobbying efforts by state
and federal physician groups, the FDA
has placed minimal regulations on the
tanning industry. Thus, the tanning
industry has been able to grow and
prosper. The unrestricted and accelerated
growth of the tanning industry
combined with a paucity of studies
concerning the long-term effects may
spell disastrous consequences for the
future.
Melanin is a pigment that is released
in response to ultraviolet radiation exposure
in order to protect the nuclear
DNA within a cell. The ionizing radiation
of UV light can wreak havoc on
a cell’s DNA and produce harmful genetic
mutations that manifest as malignant
skin cancers. However, the innate
safeguard afforded by melanin is not
completely effective and high levels of
ultraviolet radiation can still penetrate
into the nucleus.
The tanning industry has vigorously
touted the perceived health benefi ts of
UV radiation exposure. UV light is an
essential ingredient in the synthesis of
endogenous vitamin D by the body.
Although vitamin D can be obtained
from a variety of foods, such as fi sh or
milk, the body is especially adept at
producing large quantities of vitamin
D when exposed to sunlight. It is for
this reason that ethnic groups with
large amounts of melanin pigmentation,
such as those who live near the
equator, have a lower incidence of malignant
carcinomas but a higher incidence
of vitamin D defi ciency. Recent
studies have shown that vitamin D has
signifi cant anti-cancer properties and
can ward off debilitating conditions
such as osteoporosis.
The tanning industry has alleged
that indoor tanning stimulates vitamin
D synthesis while controlling the
amount of UV exposure. In addition,
tanning salons have argued that indoor
tanning beds are safer than typical
sun exposure because they limit the
amount of UVB (notoriously known as
the “burning ray") exposure, which is
generally unpredictable with sunlight.
However, a study of salons in North
Carolina revealed that the average
tanning salon exceeded FDA recommended
levels of UV exposure by 95
percent. Furthermore, the tanning industry
has repeatedly stated that since
indoor tanning is more controlled, a
person can reduce their risk of burning.
However, studies have shown that
melanin synthesis is induced by DNA
damage. In other words, the act of tanning
is essentially a response to DNA
damage.
Physician groups have staunchly
opposed the salubrious claims by the
tanning industry with a multitude
of studies. A 1994 study of Swedish
women aged 18-30 who frequented
a tanning salon 10 or more times per
year increased their risk of melanoma
seven-fold compared to woman who
never frequented tanning salons.
Furthermore, a Dartmouth Medical
School study found that those who
use tanning beds increase their risk
for squamous cell carcinoma by 2.5
times and basal cell carcinoma by 1.5
times. According to The Skin Cancer
Foundation, people who have participated
in 10 or more full-body tanning
sessions have the same level of skin-repairing
proteins typically seen in sundamaged
skin, thus weakening the argument
stating that tanning beds emit
less damaging ultraviolet radiation.
Although physicians agree that vitamin
D can have potentially life-saving
qualities, they urge patients to obtain it
through less damaging methods.
Despite the consensus in the scientifi
c world concerning the benefi ts of
vitamin D, there remains some disagreement
upon the minimum amount
needed to see signifi cant reduction in
cancer and the best method to obtain
it. While the current RDA (recommend
daily allowance) of vitamin D as set
forth by the FDA is 200 international
units per day up to age 50, some scientists
believe somewhere between 1,000
IU’s to 1,500 IU’s per day are necessary
The RetrIever Weekly
The Bronze Effect: Americans turn to indoor tanning
Changes reduce footprint of
PAHF building in planning stage
Elizabeth Silberholz
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Some signifi cant changes have been
made to plans for the $1.4 million Performing
Arts and Humanities Facility
(PAHF) since last year’s community forum.
Most notably, the building’s footprint
has been reduced and the facility
might become environmentally certifi ed.
The project is slightly behind schedule
following a signifi cant fl oor plan reduction.
To get back on schedule, the architectural
team has been asked to shorten
upcoming project phases, according to
Joe Rexing, UMBC’s Associate Director
of Planning and Construction Services.
However, he said, “The project is progressing
well.”
Though the governor’s proposed budget
includes multiple installments of the
$1.4 million, UMBC has not seen any
money yet.
The building will be constructed
in two phases because of this funding
method. One of the architects on the
project said: “It is a long and complex
[construction] schedule.”
Environmental Dedication
Since Grimm & Parker Architects
are dedicated to environmental design,
they currently plan to have the building
Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) certifi ed. As of last year’s
community forum, this was not a level
of environmental commitment that the
architects were considering.
If funding is available, Rexing indicated
that the university will seek a silver
LEED certifi cation level.
Some of the building’s environmental
features include natural lighting, a cistern
to collect runoff, and a greenway complete
with smaller outdoor areas which
can be used for relaxing or teaching.
Active Interior
The architect’s plan for the building is
that it will “celebrate innovation right at
the leading edge of campus.” The PAHF’s
central spine will run parallel to Academic
Row. The building’s two performing
areas will be located at opposite ends
of this spine, while the Drescher Center
overlooks the building’s interior from the
second fl oor.
Since the architects “have a real concern
with…dead lobby syndrome,” each
space will be given multiple uses to “activate”
it.
The architects are currently working
with the departments of Ancient Studies,
Dance, English, Music, Philosophy,
and Theatre as well the three centers that
will be housed in the PAHF to discuss
each group’s placement in the building
and help them understand their planned
spaces.
The English department, due to its
large size, will be split over two fl oors.
Rexing said that they are “working
closely with the architects to create the
ideal setting for their large department.”
He pointed out that departments such
as the biology, chemistry, and physics
span multiple fl oors or even fi ll an entire
building.
English department chair Jessica Berman
was disappointed that the department
has been divided in the latest fl oor
plans. However, she noted, “The architects…have
worked with me on developing
ways to create department spaces
that build community. We will have an
open stairway between our fl oors which
will encourage faculty and students to
move up and down, and other areas
where we can gather.” Berman was hopeful
that these plans will work out. “It certainly
will be better than the space now,”
she said.
The PAHF will also have many general-use
classrooms, conference rooms,
and even a café area on the fi rst fl oor.
Parking Problems
The PAHF is charted to be built where
parking lots 16 and 9 currently stand.
Grimm & Parker architects commented
that building on parking lots is part of a
university’s natural growth.
UMBC is currently investigating ways
to replace the two displaced parking areas.
“A parking planning study is currently
underway to assess parking needs and
to recommend solutions," Rexing said.
"Numerous student groups supported
this study effort by participating in an allday
survey to count parked cars across
campus.”
It has been recommended that the
Fine Arts building be renovated after
the PAHF is built. The building would
unite scattered parts of the College of
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences to
become the Global and Cultural Studies
building.
Learn more about the PAHF at umbc.
edu/pahf.
Elizabeth Silberholz can be
reached for comment at esilberholz@retrieverweekly.com.
> from ELECTION[1]
the SGA. Still, Gilmore admits that
there is work to be done in getting
students to come out to the polls.
“It’s a big challenge,” Gilmore said.
“Students don’t think it’s a worthwhile
investment [to vote]. People
ask ‘why will you be different?’”
Part of the problem in getting students
to believe their vote matters
is the feeling among some that the
election is a popularity contest. Going
back to the 2004 SGA elections,
Gilmore is the fi fth consecutive member
of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity to
be elected president, after Dom Cirincione,
Jordan Hadfi eld (twice), and
Lagorio. Carrie Mann, who inherited
the presidency in January 2007 after
Hadfi eld resigned mid-year, is the
only exception to the Pi Kappa Phi
trend. According to Gilmore, however,
the recent winning streak for
his fraternity is coincidence, and the
election is “more about being wellconnected
than being popular.”
“I’ve been involved with the SGA
since my freshman year. For the most
part, people voted for me because
they’ve seen me around,” Gilmore,
who is closing out his term as the
Speaker of the Senate, said. “Campaigning
starts when you fi rst get to
UMBC. I’ve been involved, and I’ve
contacted as many student organizations
as possible. I introduce myself,
and it’s more than just an e-mail. It’s
a real person in front of you.”
Visibility and a track record,
Gilmore says, is what gave him the
victory – not his popularity.
“Ultimately, we had a good bal-
to signifi cantly reduce cancer risk.
Although vitamin D can be obtained
from foods such as fi sh, leafy greens,
and fortifi ed milk, the quantities recommended
by scientists are diffi cult to
obtain through diet alone. Vitamin D-3
supplement pills are available but may
cause a dangerous buildup of calcium
in the body if more than 2,000 IU’s a
day are consumed.
To promote the anti-cancer benefi ts
of vitamin D without subverting health
warnings about unprotected sun exposure,
some scientists have proposed a
level of “safe” sun exposure for 15 minutes
a day without sunscreen, which
blocks the UV light needed for vitamin
D synthesis. Those with a darker pigmentation
should expose themselves
for a little longer to compensate for
the degree of UV blocked by the melanin.
Nevertheless, the jury is still out
on this one and all scientifi c evidence
should be evaluated with scrutiny.
Igor Kukelyanksy can be reached for
comment at ikukelyansky@gmail.com.
Gilmore, Elegbe
win SGA election
ance,” Gilmore said. “We [he and
running mate Tokunbo “Toks”
Elegbe] didn’t just rely on people we
knew.”
Though some may be dismayed
that the new SGA president was
chosen by less than a quarter of the
undergraduate enrollment at UMBC,
Lagorio says that Gilmore is the right
man for the job.
“You can’t make everybody happy,
but you have to make the right decisions,”
Lagorio said. “Steve is good at
that. He knows how to do what’s best
for the most people.”
Gilmore will take his new post on
May 15 at 5:01 p.m., but work starts
now for the president-elect as he prepares
to take the SGA reigns for the
2008-09 academic year.
“I’ll start getting in contact with
the people elected,” Gilmore said,
stressing the importance of getting
the new SGA on the same page. “The
ball is already rolling.”
According to the University of
Maryland, College Park’s student
newspaper, UMBC is not the only
school that has diffi culty getting students
to vote. A report in The Diamondback
states that only 15.3 percent
of the student body in College
Park voted in the most recent SGA
elections, in which president-elect
Jonathan Sachs received only 1,855
votes. According to collegeboard.com,
UMCP enrolls 25,813 undergraduate
students.
Alexander Pyles can be reached
for comment at apyles@
retrieverweekly.com.