Technician
friday september
11
2009
Raleigh, North Carolina
Health Services has diagnosed 196 H1N1 cases Center, organizations look to inform students, keep virus from spreading Adair-Hayes Crane Correspondent
In the first three weeks of school, the Student Health Center diagnosed 196 cases of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the “swine flu.” The virus is a strain of influenza that affects people mainly under the age of 25. According to the Medical Director of Student Health Services, Dr. Mary Bengtson, the virus can spread by traveling six feet or more through the air or by direct contact. “People need to know the symptoms, how it is spread and what to do if they are well or sick,” Bengtson said. The Student Health Center is taking many steps toward preventing the virus from spreading. One of those steps is posting advertisements throughout campus to make students aware of the symptoms and how to keep from becoming infected. The Health Center said symptoms of H1N1 may include a
fever of more than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, aches, headache, stuffy nose, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. Students are also being more cautious by taking steps toward preventing the spread of H1N1. Allie Heafner, a junior majoring in social work, is staying healthy by washing her hands as much as possible and carrying hand sanitizer. “I’m worried because a few girls in my sorority have had it and we’re together all the time preparing for rush,” Heafner said. “I was worried recruitment would be postponed.” Greek Life organizations are also taking precautions against H1N1. To prepare for recruitment the Panhellenic Council has instructed sororities to clean their houses. There will also be hand sanitizer at each house before and after every round of recruitment. “We are strongly discouraging physical contact such as handshaking, something you would normally see at rush,” John Mountz, director of Greek Life said. The Health Center strongly discourages students from going to class, work, or social events if they show
How to receive a ‘Get-Well Meal Kit’: University Dining will provide a kit to students under self-quarantine due to flu-like symptoms in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus. Students on a meal plan can request a kit free of charge. Students not on a meal plan will be billed $15.
Sprite, saltine crackers, snack crackers, applesauce and oatmeal. Students who want to request a kit should go to www.ncsudining.com and look for the link to the “Get-Well Meal Kit.” They will be instructed to complete a form. Once they have submitted the form, they will receive a response to print and submit to their residence adviser, residence director or area director for signature. A friend or roommate can pick up the kit at the campus C-Store requested on the form.
The kit includes items recommended by N.C. State Health Services to aid recovery, including soup, Powerade,
symptoms of the flu. “Faculty have been advised by the Provost to excuse absences and not expect sick students to attend classes, and sick students have been advised to not attend classes, the dining hall or events where they can expose others, for at least 24 hours after their fever returns to normal,” Jerry Barker, director of Student Health Services said. Bengtson encourages students to
Source: University Dining
get the regular influenza vaccine as soon as it is available and to look for updates on an H1N1 vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine will likely be a two-shot series and will be given to priority groups first. “As long as the flu is in the community take the precautions,” Bengtson said.
Through Sarah’s lens
Remembering fallen heroes, eight years later
New law prohibits obstructive Bookstores stop sales, Alumni Association awaits ruling Jessica Neville Staff Writer
The North Carolina legislature recently passed a bill prohibiting license plate frames that obscure the state name or the year/month insurance sticker on the license plate. This bill was introduced after concerns were raised by police officers that had trouble reading important information because of license plate frames. Governor Bev Perdue signed the bill into law Aug. 8. The bill also includes funds for a study by the legislative transportation oversight committee and the revenue laws committee of club and organization license plate frames. The General Assembly wants to limit the amount of license plate frames used in advertising by requiring that an organization having 300 license plates in use to have authorization. Police Captain Jon Barnwell said there are three main problems police officers have with license plate frames. “Frames with plexi-glass covers that reflect light make the license plates hard to read, especially by traffic cameras,” Barnwell said. “Tinted frames create the same problem. The main issue I have, however, is with frames that cover insurance stickers. We need to see the sticker in order to determine the authenticity of the car.” Assistant Director of the Merchandise Division of University Bookstores Bill Blades said the news disappoints him. “We are exploring options, but right now it looks like the license plate frame business in North Carolina is a thing of the past,” said Blades. “This is unfortunate because N.C. State brand license plate frames were a top seller for our bookstores.” The University bookstores are selling their remaining frames at 50% off. A sign is posted by the frames notifying students of the recent legislation. “Nobody will take the frames back now,” Blades said. “But out-of-state students and parents may buy them.” The Alumni Association has also been affected by the legislation. Director of Communications and Marketing for the Alumni Association Jeannie Norris said the license plate frames were given to members based on the length of their membership.
LICENSES continued page 3
photo By sarah tudor
T
he Committee for a Better University and the College Republicans work together to create a memorial to remember 9/11. Patrick Lawson, senior in political science, places flags in the ground to represent the American lives lost. “It was very organic the way it all came together, everyone here are volunteers and were enthused about being here at 10 o’clock at night,” Lawson said. A group of students stayed over night to guard the memorial, they will be out all day handing out ribbons, and allowing students to stop by and write letters for the troops.
insidetechnician
Bottle ban aimed at increasing recycling Throwing soda bottles in trash will soon be illegal Philip Meilleur Correspondent
It will be against the law to throw away recyclable plastic containers beginning Oct. 1. The ban was passed in 2005 and also includes oil filters and wooden pallets. Other banned items on the original bill include yard waste, aluminum cans, tires, antifreeze and used oil. According to the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance Act, in North Carolina only 18 percent of recyclable plastic bottles are recycled, but 95 percent of residents have access to plastic bottle recycling programs. DPPEA said the bill is a way to encourage people to recycle materials instead of sending them to a landfill. Actual enforcement of the bill will
be carried out at disposal facilities and containers “that have a neck smaller than the body of the container, and transfer stations. “It is unlikely that enforcement will that accept a screw top, snap cap or take place at individual businesses other closure.” This does not include yogurt containers, or other generating buckets, plastic confacilities,” Diana tainers used to hold Kees, director of the oils or pesticides, or Office of Public Afsimilar items. fairs, said in a press In a press release release. given by the N.C. Tom Rhodes, an Department of Enenvironmental spevironment and Natcialist with the DPural Resources this PEA, said that “it’s August, the DENR the landfill inspecTom Rhodes, an environmental encouraged people tor’s responsibility specialist with DPPEA to help initiate recyto ensure that plastic cling efforts. bottles aren’t going “Recycling is a into the landfills.” Rhodes said that this ban should proven job creator in North Caromake sure the materials don’t go lina,” Dee Freeman, secretary of into landfills. “We want to make sure DENR, said. “If we do our best to recycle the people are not putting bottles in the newly banned materials, we will not landfill,” he said. According to the bill, bottles are only grow businesses in the state, but
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“We want to make sure people are not putting bottles in the landfill.”
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Bottle ban quick facts • • •
Law goes into effect Oct. 1 Plastics with numbers 1-7 in the triangle icon are recyclable For information on where to drop off recyclable materials, visit www. raleighnc.gov/dropoff
When disaster strikes, be prepared See page 6.
Source: www.p2pays.org/ BannedMaterials/index.asp
also protect disposal capacity, recover valuable resources, save energy and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Freeman said. The N.C. State University Waste Reduction and Recycling Department encourages residents
BOTTLES continued page 3
Like father, like son See page 8.
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