the
Herald By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
VOLUME CXXXI ISSUE 16
GENEVA, NY
Bed Bugs Crushed, For Now By Tim Hollinger ’11 Opinions Editor A global resurgence of bedbugs has reached HWS; four dorm rooms were effectively treated in the fall of 2009 and one this semester. Presently there are no active cases, yet other area colleges are scrambling to fight infestations and the virulent spread of the bloodsucking insects has HWS staff keeping their eyes peeled. JRP, Hale, Durfee and Comstock all had dorm rooms infested during the fall semester; there where ten suspected causes, but only five infestations, with the first case appearing in September. In one instance cross-contamination, where bugs may have spread from one student’s room to another’s, is suspected, but that too has been contained. Bedbugs are small, just under of ¼ inch long, and brown; they feed on warm blooded animals, notably people. As they withdraw blood, they inject saliva that contains anticoagulants and anesthetics that often cause an itchy rash. Bedbugs have never been shown to be effective at transmitting diseases, but the severity of reaction to the bites varies. “It was awful…I slept in spandex every night to stop them from biting,” said one William Smith Sophomore whose room fell prey
to the bugs, “ for a long time I thought I was getting spider bites.” A decade ago bedbugs infestations where almost unheard of, the pesky bugs had been all but eradicated by pesticides like DDT. In the early 2000’s entomologists noted a reassurance of the bugs in London and New York. By the middle of the decade the bugs, aided by global travel, had spread across the United States as well as worldwide; they are now being found in high-end hotels, apartment complexes, hospitals and yes-- even college residence halls. “U.S. college campuses are really the perfect setting,” Photo courtesy of: www.bedbugbusters.co.uk noted entomologist Richard Cooper said. “We have large Parents were not kidding when they said “Don’t Let the Bed Bugs numbers of students coming Bite.” However, HWS has effectively combated the problem so far from all over the country and, and does not expect further infestations during the semester. in fact, all over the world every semester, and it’s inevitable that in NYC had to shut down an entire Bedbugs can survive in somebody is going to bring bugs building in September because of freezing temperatures, but heating with them. And once the bugs are a widespread infestation, leading them to 114 degrees Fahrenheit introduced, they can rapidly spread some to speculate that bedbugs for fourteen minutes will kill them. because of all the interactions were hot on the heels of the H1N1 Infested clothing can be run through students have visiting each other’s virus as the next college pandemic. a dryer to kill the bugs; however, rooms.” To date such fears have not be it is often difficult to get the bugs Cornell, The University of realized as colleges have found out of a room as they will nestle in Rochester, and Syracuse have all effective ways to exterminate the BUGS continued on Page 2 experienced outbreaks. John Jay bugs.
Tanner Joins HWS for Debate on Health Care By Rebecca Dennee ’10 Campus Happenings Editor
Photo courtesy of: /www.collaborativeconsultingalliance.com
CAB Collaborates with Students By Jennifer Hollander ’10 Herald Contributor Last Wednesday in Scandling Center CAB held an open meeting where students could express concerns or complaints. Surprisingly, there were very few complaints. Constrictive criticism and advice was offered instead. The President of CAB, Joanna Vinick, and her executive board listened carefully to the suggestions made by other students. She began by explaining that CAB had been formed in 2004; it is not as old as many students perceive it to be. Because CAB-or any other student group-
Campus Happenings I dea lis m N o t Fascism W S C & H S G Update S pr i n g P r es id ent’s For um Never Too Late to Get Involved
is not allowed to serve alcohol at parties, it has been assumed to only be for non-drinkers. Joanna told those in attendance that the reason alcohol could not be served was due to school policy. The purpose of the meeting was to increase transparency towards the students. They understand it is impossible to make everyone love CAB, but they are willing to try. One point that was brought up early and emphasized was CAB’s lack of advertising on campus. CAB continued on Page 2
A&E
Michael Tanner of the CATO Institute will be speaking in the Geneva Room on Wednesday February 10 as part of the President’s Forum Series. Tanner is part one of a two part series on the health care debate and will provide students with the conservative view; part two given by Howard Dean will provide the liberal view later in the semester. Tanner’s main focus of research as part of the Washington, DC based think tank is on domestic policies with emphasis on health care reform, social welfare policy, and Social Security. Author of several books, Tanner’s most recent published in 2007 entitled “Leviathan on the Right: How Big-Government Conservatism Brought Down the Republican Revolution” looks at the demise of the Republican Party as it has shifted to big government and undermined the conservative values. He has published three other books, “Healthy Competition: What’s Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It” (Second Edition, 2007), “The Poverty of
Opinions
“Pugilist Specialist” Review Students vs. Student Athletes: Absent But Still Responsible Kombit Kr e y ol O pe n M i c Clair e L ync h a t t he Smi t h Up in th e Ai r: 4 /5 St a rs
Herons Are Car nivores, Too Senior Year Bucket List
Photo courtesy of: www.cato.org
Welfare: Helping Others in Civil Society” (2003), and “A New Deal for Social Security” (1998), and has been seen in many newspapers nationwide. The President’s Forum series on the health care debate will bring the hot topic issue of Washington to Geneva and provide students with a chance to share their own views. TANNER continued on Page 4
Sports W S B as k e t b al l t o Au s t i n “ S t an d U p Fo r Pe ace ” U p co m i n g G am e s