Technician
wednesday september
23 2009
Raleigh, North Carolina
Chair warns this year’s Pack Howl act may not impress Budget cuts affect committee’s entertainment plans
Compton said the committee hopes to offer a large performance made up by local bands, but hopes students will bear with the committee as it operates Joanna Banegas on a shoestring budget. Staff Writer “We hope the students will underHomecoming’s Pack Howl concert stand it’s been a tough year for everyhas featured such starlets as Ludacris, one,” Compton said. “The concert Chris Daughtry Common and Nerd won’t be going away, it’s just a matter of how big the in year’s past, but name of the act the Homecomwill be.” ing commit tee Compton said will not be able to t he commit tee bring a headlining is spending less performer due to money than it did the University’s in the past, adding budget cuts. Homecoming Chair Adam Compton Adam Comp- on the committees work to make the donors aren’t contributing as much ton, Homecomweek a success despite budget cuts money as last year. ing chair, said “We’re still trythe committee is trying to figure out how to make the ing to work with the budget and addiperformance impressive on a limited tional money to get to the best results that will draw students the most,” budget. “The only difference the students Compton said. “I hope more students will see is that the name of the act will get out there and be involved in wont be as big as in past years,” Comp- the week long activities during Homecoming week. “ ton said.
“We’re still trying to work with the budget.”
see page 3 for more on homecoming 2009.
dreier carr/Technician archive photo
Kylie Kenworthy, a senior in communication media, paints a window at El Rodeo as part of Paint the Town Red along Hillsborough Street for the start of Homecoming 2008.
H1N1 prevention, vaccine remain hot topics on campus Health Center aims to inform, prevent Health officials want students to be safe, prevent spread of virus
CDC: 3.4 million vaccine doses available soon
Jasmine Willis
Health officials expect vaccine to be effective
Staff Writer
With an inf lux of students with flu-like symptoms visiting the Health Center, health officials are faced with finding ways to limit the spread of the virus. As soon as students displaying flu-like symptoms walk in, they are confronted with numerous sanitizing stations to prevent the spread of any bacteria. Medical Director and Laboratory Director Dr. Mary Bengtson wants students to be completely aware of the symptoms of H1N1 and how to treat it. Students who are not aware of the symptoms could be at risk of catching H1N1. “Flu is sometimes diagnosed based on symptoms without any lab test,” Bengtson said. Depending on the doctor or nurse’s judgement, any one with similar symptoms of H1N1 could be diagnosed as positive or negative. “There is no guarantee the test will be positive,” Bengtson said. “Even if a person is sick with the flu.” Some students have comparable symptoms that appear to be H1N1,
Arth Pandya Correspondent
Erica heller/Technician
While H1N1 spreads significantly each day, more students are going to greater measures to protect themselves. Caitlyn Alberts, a freshman in First Year College, and Ellen Zeigler, a freshman in biology, wear masks while waiting to get checked out at the Student Health Center. “We are just wearing the masks for prevention so we don’t pick up the virus,” Alberts said. Many students requests masks when they walk in the center to lower their chances of catching the virus.
and are misdiagnosed. Annie Kilroy, a freshman majoring in psychology, recently visited the Student Health Center. There they supposedly detected swine f lu and prompted the student to go home and take over-the-counter drugs.
H1N1 continued page 3
Dining offers meal kits:
For bed-ridden sick students, the dining halls offer “get-well meal kits.” More information is available at ncsu. edu/dining. Source: ncsu.edu/dining
More than 3 million doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine will be available beginning in early October, according to Dr. Jay Butler, who heads the 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Task Force at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “All of that vaccine is the inhalable vaccine,” he said. The arrival of the vaccine approval comes at a critical time, as flu activity is increasing nationwide, with cases found in all 50 states. Nearly 5,000 cases have been diagnosed on college campuses alone. Because the H1N1 flu virus has not mutated into a new strain from its earlier version, health officials are expecting the vaccine to effective. The shipment of 3.4 million doses are the first of 195 million doses the U.S. government has purchased from five vaccine manufacturers. The Food and Drug Administra-
Class ring sales up despite economy issues Students delay buying until later in college, but sales remain steady David Malpass Correspondent
Class ring sales have increased from last fall, according to Mike Merritt, regional manager of Balfour. Balfour handcrafts class rings for students who have completed at least 60 hours of coursework at the University. “Last fall, our nationwide sales were down 30 percent or more, while N.C. State’s only dropped 5 percent. This fall, sales at State are actually up 20 percent from last year.” Merritt, who has been selling the official University
rings for five years, said “N.C. State is in the top 12 in the entire country in buying class rings.” Merritt said he attributes the increase to high expectations for this year’s football team and a great sense of loyalty to the University. Balfour also offers a lifetime warranty, as well as a “wear as you pay” plan. The student pays a minimum deposit of 20 percent of the total cost by credit card, and the remaining balance is divided into up to six equal payments. Merritt declined to release exact data but said Balfour sold about 1,000 rings last year which range from $305 to $1095. Merritt said students are waiting longer to buy their rings than in the
HOw to stay well: The CDC advises the public to take preventative measures to make sure their chance of getting sick remains low. Students are encouraged to take part in handwashing with soap and water, sneezing into a tissue or sleeve instead of hands, and, most importantly, staying home if sick. Source: Center for Disease control and prevention
tion approved and licensed the H1N1 vaccine from four of the manufacturers. Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis and CSL Limited will manufacture flu shots, and MedImmune will manufacture the inhalable vaccine. GlaxoSmithkline — located in Research Triangle Park — is also producing an injectable flu vaccine, but is still awaiting approval from the FDA. FDA licensure means the government has certified the vaccine is made properly and meets specific manufacturing and quality standards. Health officials with the CDC have encouraged those most vulnerable
CDC continued page 3
insidetechnician
Want a ring? Rings are available for order in the Bookstore until Oct. 7, when all orders placed will undergo a six-week process involving over 65 people handcrafting each ring. The rings then spend the night in the belltower before Students who purchased a ring receive them at the new Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center on December 6 during the traditional Ring Ceremony. Source: Barfour
past, which could have to do with the economy. “As soon as a student had junior status, they would order immediately.” Merritt said. “We’ve definitely noticed that students are waiting longer until
they’re seniors. Seniors want the ring on their hand for job inter-
RINGS continued page 3
Students stay silent on health care See page 5.
viewpoint campus & capital classifieds sports
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