Tuesday March 8, 2011
Weekly Weather Tuesday High Low
74 56
Mostly Sunny
Wednesday High Low
75 58
Mostly Sunny
Thursday High Low
75 55
40% Rain
Friday High Low
67 47
Mostly Sunny
Friday Night Laughs Touch-N-Go Productions presents comedians Kyle Dunnigan and John Bush for Friday Night Laughs. Dunnigan and Bush will be on stage at 8 p.m. on Friday night in the Student Center. For more information on future events or getting involved with Touch-N-Go, visit their website at touch-n-go.org.
EaglesFM Open Mic April Fools Event EaglesFM is following in the spirit of April Fools Day by presenting musician jamming on the Flight Deck. If you would like an opportunity to showcase your talent, listen to EaglesFM on 99.1 FM or visit their office, SC 111, or online at www.eaglesfm.com.
Animal Show on Flight Deck Touch N Go Productions will be hosting an Animal Show on the Flight Deck today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Animal Show will consist of a monkey, chincilla, boa, turtle, possum and others to pet and hold. Visit touch-n-go.org for more information on upcoming TouchN-Go events.
Ocean Adventure Star to speak The Honors Program Distinguished Speaker Series will host Fabien Cousteau on Wednesday in the IC Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Cousteau is the star of the PBS series Ocean Adventure and gandson of famed ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. He will be presenting on “The Great Ocean Adventure” will contain ample video footage and is free and open to the public.
Volume CXXX Issue 7
Solar panels keep ERAU “Going Green” Peter Tan
Staff Reporter During winter break, the Facilities Department completed installation of the solar powered water heating system on the roof of the Student Center. The construction went without a hitch and the fully completed system includes 28 solar panels, connected to two 500 gallon tanks. These tanks feed into a gas-powered water heater tank which then supplies hot water to the kitchen and washrooms of the SC. As part of the construction effort, the roof was also re-insulated, accomplishing two construction projects at one time and ensuring the SC remains energy efficient. The solar panels on the roof are rated for 130 mile per hour winds, so students don’t need to worry about them blowing off and causing danger to the people below. The feeding system has fail-safes that shut it down when the water is too hot and mixing valves that pump hot water into the system when it is too cold, to prevent thermal shock to the equipment. These measures protect the $150,000 investment. All the systems are monitored from a computer in the Facilities Department, meaning that this system requires almost no maintenance as sensors will inform them if anything is a miss. A set of four panels can
raise the water to temperatures exceeding 180 degrees Fahrenheit (the required temperature for dishwasher hygiene) in just one cycle, making this system highly efficient. With seven banks of four panels, large amounts of water can be heated up quickly. Ward Mead of the Facilities Department has said that there have been a few days where the water exceeded 180 degrees Fahrenheit and that they had to mix cold water in, to lower the temperature for usage. Considering that their aim was to heat water to around 1 4 0
degrees Fahrenheit, this system has exceeded expectations by a long shot. This water then flows through copper pipes that are heavily insulated with PVC, preventing heat loss. The piping system also includes pressure relief valves in the event that the water vaporizes
on extremely hot days. The facilities department has already noticed a drop in the gas consumption of the water heating system in the SC, but will need a full year’s worth of numbers to come up with a report that will advise the school administration on whether to deploy this system
Depending on the success of this system, the Housing and Residence life department might choose to implement the same system in the student village where it will store hot
elsewhere as well.
water from the day to supply to almost a thousand students.
PETER TAN/AVION
Embry-Riddle investigates vandalism Priyanka Kumar Copy Editor
On Thursday, Feb. 24, between 2 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., suspects allegedly vandalized various areas within Embry-Riddle, which caused departments to make several fast repairs as part of a safety concern. Among the vandalized areas were Wood Hall and the bridge that connects the Housing building to across Richard Petty Boulevard. According to Kasi Bartsch, ERAU Crime Prevention Coordinator, McKay/Doolittle trash cans were kicked over, a part of the bridge that leads to Adams second floor was “yanked and ripped off,” elevator wires were interfered with and it is believed that the suspects then proceeded to Wood Hall where three fire extinguishers were stolen and exits signs were tampered with. Bartsch also stated that the suspects continued to destroy hallway creations made RAs/ RDs. Tree branches were pulled down, trash bags full of garbage were also found thrown around as well as vomit outside of the footbridge that leads the Safety Department to believe that the suspects were intoxicated while vandalizing ERAU’s property. The primary concern to
ERAU’s Housing and also the Safety Department are the lifesafety issues. “Someone could have been hurt, for example, if someone was making popcorn in the microwave and it burned and there was no fire extinguisher available, someone’s life could have been at risk,” the Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life stated. Housing also stated that over 500 students use that bridge per day, amounting to over 2000 times and the railings that were snapped, are designed to catch someone’s fall while people are walking or skateboarding over. Likewise, Bartsch said that when the elevator wires were tampered with, it could have “posed danger for any person inside wanting to use it.” According to Bartsch, the Student Village contains several cameras, however, they are at “vulnerable” areas that did not capture the scene due to their placement. It is not yet decided whether more cameras will be installed or not. Safety is beginning their investigation by questioning students that reportedly entered the upstairs bridge entrance to the Student Village, which is gathered by the Eagle Card access reports that tells one when and where each person swiped his card to enter a building on campus.
Bartsch also stated that the individual[s] found responsible would be subject to a judicial hearing and/or to the Dean of Students and a collective panel. According to a representative of the Housing Department, if no one confesses of the vandalism, the cost of expenses made for repairs and replacements will be evenly divided for all residents in Wood Hall who will have to pay the fine, whether innocent or not. Kevin Mannix, Director of Campus Safety, said he was extremely upset over the vandalism, especially after the SGA Respect Campaign. “This is very serious, there was damage to our facilities, trees and there’s a cost incurred to repair, it also compromises safety,” Mannix said. “Fortunately, it does not happen a lot in our campus,” Mannix said when asked if ERAU witnessed vandalism often. According to Bartsch, on the day of the crime-scene, Safety was short staffed and the person who was supposed to monitor the Village area was covering somewhere else. So far, fire extinguishers, elevator wires, and the bridge have had temporary fixes made to them due to safety concerns. Anyone with more information regarding the vandalism is advised to contact Housing or Safety.
Lockheed Martin Info Session Career Services will be hosting a Lockheed Martin Information Session tonight from 5:45 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. in W 308. Recruiters will be present at the event and will be available to answer questions.
Campus . . . . . . . . . . A2 Student Government . . . . . . A3 Student Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Opinions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Automotive Feature . . . . . . . A7
PHOTO COURTESY JEANNISE JOHNSON
Greek Week rallies Greeks around campus
Eagles stay undefeated at home
Campus A2
Sports B2
“Hall Pass” allows for free reign
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . C1 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4
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Ent. Inside C2