The Black & Magenta
Vol. 119, Issue 28 May 4, 2015
Kathryn Kellar, Editor-in-Chief
Lang asks “what’s next” after suppressing cancer Christine Holmes News & Managing Editor Muskingum University Assistant Director of Public Relations Rod Lang became one of 1,660,290 individuals estimated by the American Cancer Society to receive the devastating news of being diagnosed with cancer in Oct. 2013. Lang went to his family doctor during the summer of 2013 with complaints of excessive fatigue. The result of his blood test indicated there was something more incorrect than normal with Lang, so he was referred to a hematologist and oncologist in Canton, Ohio. After a bone marrow biopsy, Lang was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Multiple Myeloma is an incurable form of cancer that originates in the bone marrow. “It is very dangerous in the sense that it can spread because it’s in your
bone marrow and it’s in your blood,” said Lang. When Lang learned of his diagnosis, he knew he had a choice to make. “You have to decide how you’re going to approach your life when you learn something like this,” said Lang. He had to choose his mindset throughout his treatments. “I just decided that it was better for me and everybody in my life to just, in a strange way, act like it wasn’t there.” Lang said he is more than willing to talk about his condition, but as far as day-to-day activities go, he prefers to approach them as if nothing unusual is happening in his life. According to Lang, the support from family, friends and everyone at Muskingum made all the difference in the world for him. His colleagues accepted his request to pretend nothing was wrong, and so Lang continued to work as usual. He began weekly, and sometimes
bi-weekly chemotherapy shortly after his diagnosis, still managing to make it to work following his Thursday treatments. “For some people, chemotherapy is really debilitating, I mean really makes them catastrophically ill, and that was not the case with me,” said Lang. “That’s just dumb luck.” Lang said doctors encourage recipients of chemotherapy to stay as active as possible because sitting around leads to weakness, which makes it harder to get better. However, Multiple Myeloma can make it difficult to be active with the fatigue it causes. “You’re not even sick as much as you are unbelievably tired,” said Lang. “That makes life a little tricky sometimes.”
The body was sent to the Licking County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy, which was performed around 2 p.m. Friday, April 24. The Muskingum County Coroner’s Office is handling the results. Under the Ohio Revised Code, a parent is able to voluntarily deliver a child who is 72 hours old or younger to peace officers, hospital employees, and any medical service worker on behalf of the emergency medical service the worker’s employer. The Safe Haven law grants immunity to the parent from prosecution. According to New Concord Fire Chief Brent Gates, a baby can even be taken to the Wellness Center, New Concord Police Department, and University Police. However, he said a hospital or fire department is a better choice. Gates said even though the Safe Haven law is meant for newborns, medics are trained not to hesitate to take a person of any age. “If a mother tries to give you a four-
year-old, you take it,” said Gates. He said the New Concord Fire Department has never had a baby dropped off to them, but they have taken care of a senior citizen. Several months ago, the New Concord Fire Department went in depth with how to handle situations when babies are delivered to their door for EMT re-certification. According to Gates, members of the fire department are told to obtain as much information about the baby before getting him or her to a hospital where they are then taken into the care of Social Services. Gates said he has been approached by several amenities requesting to spread awareness of the Baby Safe Haven law. As willing as he is to participate in such a program, Gates doesn’t believe it’s the proper “time to start preaching, [but] time to show compassion.” Instead, Gates said the beginning of the next school year might be a better time to teach people about the Safe Haven law.
ROD LANG, continued on Page 2
Christine Holmes/Black & Magenta Rod Lang, Assistant Director of Public Relations, returns to Muskingum University’s campus in April 2015 after a two month medical leave.
Death of newborn could have been avoided Christine Holmes/Black & Magenta Christine Holmes News & Managing Editor The newborn found dead at 125 Lakeside Drive on Muskingum University’s campus died of asphyxiation, according to Muskingum County Coroner Charles Feicht. Feicht confirms the baby was alive before being placed in a tightly knotted trash bag. He says the mother, whose name had not yet been released, was near full term pregnancy, an estimated 38 weeks when she gave birth to the baby girl. The trash bag was found outside the university-owned house occupied by the Delta Gamma Theta sorority around 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.
T H E B L A C K & M A G E N TA
Sara Abel, a resident of McConnelsville, Ohio, is a mother of one, but she became infertile after the birth of her son. She is currently working with adoption agencies and said there are many parents who would have loved to care for the child found at Muskingum University. “There are too many options this day and age for this to be happening,” said Abel. She wants women to know that there are choices for every circumstance and they should never feel scared or alone. “I am sure there is great on-campus counseling for situations like this,” said Abel. “I am hoping, by this happening for a second time, they will step up and let [women] know they have a choice.” The first time a baby was found dead at Muskingum University was in 2002 when the at the time 21-year-old Jennifer Bryant gave birth to her son at a university-owned house also on Lakeside Dr. The baby was found dead in a dumpster behind the residence.
Alumni Weekend
Heart Walk remembers professor
Muskingum Softball
Muskie alumni of the Long Magenta Line to come back for weekend.
Muskingum University’s Greek Council hosts heart walk to remember beloved Visiting Assistant Professor.
Lady Muskies fall before OAC Championship, ending their season.
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