Chris Lotten
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 40
Monday, March 3, 2014
Seasonal slump UHS sees increase in SAD symptoms on campus following long, harsh winter Morgan Krause Herald Contributor This year’s polar vortex has left many in a bit of a seasonal slump, but for some these persistent feelings of the “winter blues” may be linked to a deeper disorder. Students and faculty alike may be experiencing symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Janet Billerbeck, University Health Services senior counselor, said it is common for most people to feel changes in mood as winter rolls around. Billerbeck said UHS has seen a slight increase in the number of students presenting symptoms of SAD due to the especially long and harsh winter this year. “It is normal to feel
like sleeping a little more, to have lower energy or to feel like you want to hibernate,” Billerbeck said. “As long as it doesn’t get in the way of getting your work done, it’s perfectly normal.” Billerbeck said those affected by winter weather can be categorized into three groups: those with the slight but non-imperative changes in mood or “winter blues,” those with year-round depression who experience worsening symptoms in winter months and those who suffer exclusively from SAD. SAD is defined as a recurrent form of depression that occurs primarily in winter months. Symptoms of SAD
include a lower mood, feeling down, loss of interest or pleasure in things usually enjoyed, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, weight gain, sleep disturbance and a sense of hopelessness, UW Health Psychologist Shilagh Mirgain said. “Because of the shortened daylight hours during the fall and winter, our body generates less vitamin D3,” Mirgain said. “Shortened daylight often disrupts our circadian rhythm.” Mirgain said SAD affects about 4 to 6 percent of the U.S. population and is more prevalent in northern climates. She said it is most commonly found in younger people, who are between 18 and 30, and women are at
a greater risk of being affected than men. Though a concrete diagnosis of SAD requires a recurrence of depression-like symptoms over several years and is less common than most other depressive disorder diagnoses, UHS does see a higher rate of “winter blues” concerns during the winter months, Billerbeck said. “To assess whether one is experiencing SAD or not we would look at a pattern over at least a few years,” Billerbeck said. “This helps to see that not only is it occurring this winter, but there is a pattern in the past as well.” Mirgain said if students cannot get out of winter it is best to get into it. She
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UW Schools face nursing scarcity Fifty to 80 percent of qualified students denied admission due to faculty shortage Austin Grade Herald Contributor Several University of Wisconsin System schools, including UW-Madison, have been forced to limit the number of students admitted into nursing programs because of a shortage in staff. Fifty to 80 percent of qualified students who apply to nursing schools at four UW System schools are denied admission because of insufficient qualified nursing faculty to teach them, according to a UW School of Nursing statement. The retirement of some professors has caused concern regarding the
faculty positions within the school, Linda Young, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at UW-Eau Claire, said. This is an issue because it is already difficult enough for students to gain admission to the school because of the staff scarcity, she said. Daniel Kleytman, a UW freshman applying to the nursing school, said the shortage had not changed his outlook on his career path. “I think that this shortage poses a slight problem for Madison because in the past we were known for our excellent programs in the pre-health field,” Kleytman said. “I still believe it is a very
good field to go into, and I feel that I will benefit greatly from it regardless of the shortage.” According to the statement, the UW School of Nursing is offering new fellowship and loan forgiveness programs to encourage nurses to pursue doctoral degrees or training and assume nurse educator positions in Wisconsin. Postdoctoral fellowships will also be supported with the benefits of beginning a three-year teaching commitment at a UW System nursing program, Young said. Additionally the statement said the Nurses
for Wisconsin Initiative, a $3.2 million grant, funded through a UW System incentive grant program, seeks to rapidly develop more nursing educators at UW-Milwaukee, UWMadison, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Oshkosh. “This collaborative initiative to invest in nurse educators is an important first step in meeting the need to enroll more nursing students for Wisconsin,” Young said. According to the Wisconsin Center for Nursing, the current average age of Wisconsin nursing
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NAACP seeks county charter Plans remain in early stages; discussions on racial inequity continue in community Alex Arriaga Print City Editor Despite the suspension of the NAACP Madison chapter for unknown reasons, community members are gathering to push for the creation of a Dane County chapter. Gwen Jones, interim chair for the Dane County chapter of the NAACP, said the idea began when a group of community members were discussing the Race to Equity report. She said they were surprised that a county that has a reputation for being progressive would be so behind in so many indicators of racial equity. Jones said they realized that various organizations work on different facets of the problem, but no large overarching group works on the issue as a whole. The group contacted the NAACP, and Jones said they were enthusiastic about the idea because it would expand the jurisdiction of the branch. To establish a branch, they needed to collect 100 names, Jones said, and, as of now, have collected 184 names. Plans for the Dane County chapter are still in the early stages, and Jones said once the names are sent in and they receive a letter of acknowledgment, the county chapter can begin as an official branch. Upon receiving the charter they will hold elections in May, she said. “The more people you have
that are actively involved, that’s what will make it a success,” Jones said. “The community is ready.” The Dane County chapter of the NAACP would focus on the same things the organization focuses on nationally such as social justice, economic development and education, Jones said. Jones said the NAACP would plan on collaborating with other organizations in the area to work on the issues. Many community members who have committed themselves to being involved with the NAACP are already involved in other organizations who also seek to solve racial disparities, she said. “When you see that you have the opportunity to build a synergy across organizations, that’s just the right thing to do,” Jones said. The NAACP would also have a strong youth leadership program for high school and undergraduate college-aged community members, Jones said. They have plans to reach out to University of Wisconsin and Madison Area Technical College students as well as other youth in the community, she said. Jones said the NAACP has always been a multi-ethic organization and the Dane County chapter will be set up in the same way. “It is not just a black issue,” Jones said. “The needs of
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Controversy continues over Judge Doyle Square Hoteliers oppose portion of project, say competition is unfair to business Alex Arriaga Print City Editor Controversy over the hotel portion of the Judge Doyle Square project continues as Madison hoteliers speak out against unfair competition and City Council members consider amendments for living wages. Deb Archer, president and CEO of the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she thinks the hotel would complement the Monona Terrace and serve Madison’s tourist industry. “Judge Doyle Square is something that will transform our downtown
like Monona Terrace. Tourism is an important drive for our community,” Archer said. The Visitors Bureau can bring optimal business to the community by having this hotel, Archer said. The project is a piece of the puzzle that has been missing since the Monona Terrace was built, she said. Stephen Zanoni, CEO of the Madison Concourse Hotel, spoke against the hotel and said he was concerned that a subsidized downtown hotel of similar size to the Concourse would significantly impact business. “I am extremely concerned about this project and the impact it can have on our hotel,” Zanoni said. “We bring in over 90 conventions and conferences to Madison each year.” Another point of
controversy centered around the living wage for the hotel’s employees. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said because the project is receiving city financial assistance through tax incremental financing, city officials proposed an amendment to the project to require employees to be paid a living wage. The living wage is like minimum wage but is geared more toward what the consumer price index is, Verveer said. Under this amendment, all hotel employees at the lowest end of the pay spectrum would be paid whatever the living wage is set to at the time, he said. Currently the living wage for the City of Madison is $12.45 an hour, he said. Verveer said he has thought about various
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Photo Courtesy of JDS Development The project involves renovating the Madison Municipal Building into a hotel that would have around 308 rooms.
© 2014 BADGER HERALD