Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007
C a b r i n i
C o l l e g e
The Loquitur Y o u S p e a k, W e L i s t e n
www.theLoquitur.com
Radnor, Pa.
WHAT’S INSIDE
Vol XLVIII, Issue 14
Hospitals: not always the cure BRITTANY LIBERATORE NEWS EDITOR
BCL722@CABRINI.EDU
Perspectives State of the Union Page 6
Features Groundhog Day Page 9
A&E Pop Culture Quiz Page 10
Sports Barry Bonds Page 15
Ninety thousand Americans a year die from infections that they picked up from unsanitary hospitals, according to the AARP Bulletin. Hospital infections have become the eighth leading cause of death in this country. Hospitals have become a major source of infection. One out of 20 people who enter a U.S. hospital leaves with more than just a visit with a sick friend or a successful surgery; they sometimes receive an added bonus, an infection. Not every hospital infection is fatal. However, the infections have the ability to halt recovery and some require another stay in the hospital for medical care, which may include intravenous antibiotics or surgery. “I’m outraged by this,” Justina Johnson, a junior English and communication major, said. Johnson, like many people, has loved ones who are in the hospital and after learning about the number of people who fall ill to hospital infections she was concerned. Johnson said, “When you go to a hospital you are supposed to be safe; it’s supposed to be the most sanitary place.” In Pennsylvania approximately 19,000 hospital infections were acquired during 2005. This is a 63 percent increase from the 11,600 cases of infection in 2004, according to a report by the
STACEY TURNBULL/COPY EDITOR
In Pennsylvania hospitals, including Bryn Mawr Hospital (picture above), there were 19,000 hospital acquired infections during 2005. Pennsylvania is the first state to gather infection data from hospitals throughout the state.
Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. Pennsylvania has become the first state to gather this infection data from the hospitals throughout the state. “I guess that sometimes things don’t get cleaned properly and some hospitals are understaffed so things just don’t get done,” Bernadette Dolan, a sophomore business major, said. Dolan, although aware that people do
acquire infections from hospitals, was surprised to learn how extreme the situation was. Although there is an increase in the amount of hospitals that are recognizing the problem of infection and working to decrease the percentage of people who fall ill, it is harder as the time passes because more and more illnesses have become resistant to antibiotics. In 2004, 63 percent of staph germs were resistant to drugs, an
extremely large increase compared to the mere two percent that had developed a resistance in 1974, according to the AARP Bulletin. Over time there has been an increased awareness about hospital infections. The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths is a nonprofit organization, whose main
HOSPITALS, page 3
Expensive schools appeal to masses STACEY TURNBULL COPY EDITOR
STT722@CABRINI.EDU
The price of a higher education is rising more and more every year. While some complain about rising costs, in fact, most parents and students have the attitude, “the more expensive, the better.” When looking at the price of schools, parents and future college freshmen are not looking so much at the curriculum and the quality of the classes, they are looking at the price and they often assume that the school has a high quality because of a high price. The average tuition at private and nonprofit four-year-colleges has risen 81 percent between 1993 and 2004 according to The New York Times.
CHARLIE GRUGAN/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
“I think you can get a good education anywhere you go – no matter the price,” Marissa Dragani, a freshman undeclared major, said. The average cost of tuition, fees, room and board at private colleges is now $30,367 accord-
ing to The New York Times. Private colleges and university’s tuition can span from $30,000 up to $49,000, which is the price of George Washington University in Washington D.C. Along with this high full price come many scholarships and “red
tag sales.” Some students only have to pay a fraction of the full price. Colleges want their enrollment to increase and the way to
COLLEGES, page 3