Words In The News - Surgeon General, Nationl Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences explained - Brief Article

Current Events, Feb 2, 2001

Below ore some key words used in this issue of Current Events. Knowing their meanings will be helpful in understanding recent news events.

Surgeon General (page 2). The Surgeon General of the United States is the nation's chief health adviser and spokesperson on matters of public health. In 1870, Congress created the position, and the next year Dr. John Woodworth became the first Surgeon General (originally called the Supervising Surgeon). In the beginning, the position was intended to provide health care mainly to American sailors. During the early 1900s however, the position eventually evolved into a more general role of serving the nation's public health.

Today, the Surgeon General has many responsibilities which include: protecting and advancing the health of the nation, advocating for disease prevention and health promotion, and advising the U.S. president on the full range of health issues facing the nation. The Surgeon General is appointed by the U.S. president with the consent of the Senate. David Satcher is the 16th Surgeon General and the first African American man to hold the position.

National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) (page 3). Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences is also known as the Recording Academy. This organization is dedicated to "improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its makers." approximately 17,000 members belong to the Recording Academy. The Recording Academy represents musicians, producers, and other music professionals on relevant issues such as record piracy and censorship concerns. The Academy also works to promote music education throughout the United States.

The Recording Academy is most famous for its organization and presentation of the annual Grammy Awards, the industry's highest honors. The Grammy Awards are given each year for excellence in the recording arts and sciences. The awards are voted on by Academy members, who are music professionals.