The Rotunda Volume 79, Number 11
February 23, 2000
Taking Seattle by Storm Since 1920
Meningitis Cases Reported Library to Continue MELISSA GILL Editor-in-Chief During the past week, the University of Richmond recorded its third case of bacterial meningitis in three months and the second in two weeks when Benjamin Tengwall, a freshman from Arnold, MD, was diagnosed and the other two students, including one who was hospitalized early last week, have recovered. College freshmen who live in dormitories are at higher risk for the bacterial infection (freshmen are five to six times more likely to catch it). Meningitis strikes about 3,000 people a year, including about 60 in Virginia, and kills more than 10 percent of those, according to federal health officials. The particular type of bacterium causing the UR outbreak is serogroup C. It has been Angered as causing an increasing number of outbreaks since the early 1990s, especially on college campuses. That puts young college students on the list of those at greater risk for meningitis, which includes infants and young children, refugees, military per-
sonnel, and household contacts of into bright lights, confusion and infected individuals. College stu- sleepiness. Early diagnosis and dents are at greater risk in part treatment with antibiotics are critibecause of the close quarters they cal. The bacteria spread through share. In addition, the students frequently suffer upper respira- the exchange of respiratory and tory infections, such as colds and throat secretions, such as coughflu, which weaken their immune ing, kissing, sharing drinks, food, systems. Smoking cigarettes, utensils, toothbrushes, or cigabinge drinking and bar hopping rettes. Meningitis is not as contagious as colds or flu and does not also increase the risk. Meningitis is an infection spread through casual contact. of the fluid of a person's spinal The bacteria do not survive outcord and the fluid that surrounds side the body, so contact through the brain, caused by a virus or sharing bathrooms or touching bacterium. Viral meningitis is common items or environmental generally less severe and doesn't surfaces does not spread the disrequire special treatment, while ease. Longwood College has cobacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain operation/consultation with the damage, hearing loss, and learn- public health department and the Menomune vaccine is available ing disability. The leading causes of bac- on Tuesdays 1 -3pm. You may call terial meningitis are Streptococ- 392-8187 to arrange for immunicus pneumoniae and N. zation. It is especially recommeningitidis. It typically strikes mended for freshmen residential in late winter to early spring. The students, although any student infection is marked by high fe- may receive it. Thank you to Pom Higgins ver, headache, and stiff neck, symptoms that can develop in Student Health for all of the inwithin hours or a few days. Other formation. Also, parts of this arsymptoms may include nausea, ticle were taken from the Richvomiting, discomfort looking mond Times-Dispatch.
Headlines of the Week CHRIS STANTON Staff Writer WORLD HEADLINES 1. Deaths reported as Christians, Muslims clash in northern Nigerian city 2. Avalanches in Swiss and Italian Alps kill at least four 3. KFOR troops, ethnic Albanians clash at Mitrovica bridge 4. Tree bark yields two possible AIDS treatments 5. U.S. ties foiled New Year's bomb plot to bin Laden U.S. HEADLINES 6. Flooding kills 5 in Kentucky, West Virginia 7. Urban youths' use of guns likened to contagious disease 8. Shuttle crew manages to secure balky mast 9 PEANUTS creator dies of heart attack 10.2 weapons incinerator workers exposed to nerve agent in Utah Once again, the headlines are in thanks to CNN and their website CNN.com.
"Battle of the Books" PRESSRELEASE This year the Library initiated a "Battle of the Books" in which our staff selected and purchased leisure books for the Longwood community. Readers determined the "best" books by the number of times they checked them out and reviewed contest books to compete for Library prize drawings. We are pleased to announce that there are 2 winners, Celeste Smith and Judy Hines Metcarf. Now the student battle begins! The library invites students to vie for the winning book(s) and compete for prizes for the Fall 2000 semester. Students who choose to participate will submit their suggestion via the "request a book form" on the library's home page. If we don't own it, then we'll buy it, and the fall battle wiH begin. There will be prizes for the books that circulate the most and prize drawings for
people who review the contest books. So put on your bank gear, suggest a book, and get your friends to read and review great books to win prizes. Sign up soon, the library can only honor a limited number of requests. Look for further updates in your email and The Rotunda. To enter: Go to http:// web.Iwc.edu/administrative/library/librefrm.htm, click on Reccommend a Book for the Collection, and fill out the form. Please type student battle book in the helpful information box. Contest Stipulations: you must be a student who plans to return to Longwood for the Fall 2000 semester. Sorry, graduating seniors are not eligible. The library reserves the right to not order suggested books that do not comply with its collection development policies. You may access this policy at web.lwc.edu/administrative/library/colrpol.htm.
Multicultural Advising Committee to Sponsor Trip to Washington D.C. MELISSA GILL Editor m-Chief The Multicultural Advising [Committee will be sponsoring a Diversity bus tour to Washington DC. on March 25. There will be 43 seats open to students who are interested in taking the trip. The trip will include stops at the Islamic Center, The Holocaust Museum, a lunch stop at the Adams Morgan Community, and the African and Asian Art Museum Complex. There may also be other sites visited, but they are not confinned yet Lonnie Calhoun, the Director of Multicultural Affairs, said that the purpose of the trip to bring awareness of other |cultures. He also hoped that stuwould "participate in and
organize programs promoting a 'Diversity' or 'Multicultural' theme as an individual within his/ her Residence Hall and in collaboration with other individuals, groups or organizations within the campus community." Any interested students should contact Lonnie Calhoun via email at Icalhoun速 Iongwood.lwc.eda. On April 3-7, theMulticul tural Advising Committee will also be sponsoring Diversity Days. There will be a new theme each day. For example, Thursday will be International Day. There will also be guest speakers and activities open to all students during these days. There will be more information coming concerning these events.