Michigan’s oldest college newspaper
Vol. 143 Issue 17 - February 6, 2020
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Local schools shut down over influenza cases By | Julia Mullins Collegian Reporter In the past two weeks, four local schools have temporarily closed, largely due to influenza making its way through Hillsdale County. Hillsdale Hospital Infection Control Officer Randy Holland said since Sept. 2019 there have been 520 cases of influenza B confirmed through the hospital’s laboratory, and 12 cases of influenza A. Holland said the number of confirmed influenza cases in Hillsdale County is probably much higher, as a majority of people will get tested at their local physician’s office, not the hospital. “Influenza B has been the
main strain that has gone on so far this season, which is opposite of how the season typically goes,” Holland said. “Usually, the season goes from the A strain to the B strain.” Holland said the reason that the B strain is more prevalent this season is because it is the same strain that showed up at the end of last year, meaning that the current strain was not part of the vaccine administered for this season. Younger children are more susceptible to the B strain, and they often pass the virus on to their parents, according to Holland. He added that once one child is infected, the virus spreads quickly through schools, because children
do not often practice good hygiene. “The schools have done very well making the decision to close, therefore keeping the ill children away from others who may not have it to help rid the environment of illness and then getting the opportunity to sanitize the building,” Holland said. “The schools’ decisions to close have kept numbers lower than if they had not closed.” Hillsdale College Associate Professor of Biology Silas Johnson said flu season typically peaks through January or February and tapers off in March or April. “Sometimes that peak is like a little bit earlier and sometimes a little bit later,
but it’s generally in the winter months,” Johnson said. “We’re probably close to or around the peak.” Johnson added that peak season typically occurs in the winter months because more individuals are in close contact with one another. “They’re just more likely to get a transmission event when you do have that closer contact,” Johnson said. Johnson added that he’s noticed an increase in Hillsdale College students missing class due to illness. Linda Snoes, staff assistant for health services at Hillsdale College, said there have been about 40 confirmed influenza cases among college students. “Most of them have been
influenza B,” Snoes said. Among local school districts, North Adams-Jerome Public Schools closed on Jan. 31 and Feb. 3-5 due to more than 75% of the student population calling in sick due to flu-like symptoms. Wes Johnson, the superintendent and principal of North Adams-Jerome, said the total student body population is 309, and 5-10% of students had stayed home in the days leading up to closing. “Elementary definitely had the most illnesses, with first grade having the highest number of students ill,” Johnson said in an email. Johnson added that there is no state law requiring schools to close if a certain percentage
of students are absent, but “if more than 25% of your students are absent, you cannot count the day, and must either use one of your Act of God days, or make up the day on a non-scheduled school day.” Although this has been an “unfortunate situation,” Johnson said he hopes the school can resume class today, Feb. 6. Will Carleton Academy was among the first schools to close due to illness, cancelling classes on Jan. 23 and 24, and continues to tell parents to keep students home until they are fever-free for 24 hours.
See FLU A6
Coronavirus misses Michigan By | Alex Nester Opinions Editor Four patients in Michigan have all tested negative for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus as of Feb. 3, according to Lynn Sutfin, public information director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The patients, three from Washtenaw County and one from Macomb County, were tested because of their
flu-like symptoms and their recent travel history, which included visits to Wuhan, China, where the virus is said to have originated. Their tests were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is responsible for testing samples. None of the four Michigan residents tested positive for the virus, Sutfin said. There are 12 recorded cases of coronavirus in the United States, with cases in
Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington. On Dec. 31, 2019, several individuals in Wuhan went to the hospital with flu-like symptoms. The illness allegedly originated at the Huanan Seafood Market. Now, nearly 500 people have died and more than 24,000 have been infected globally.
See Coronavirus A7
The first ever Choral Evensong was held on Sunday evening in Christ Chapel. Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn sent a campus-wide email on Monday morning thanking all those who participated for their hard work and dedication to the Evensong. For further coverage, see B2. External Affairs
Author discusses potential dangers of marijuana use President Trump delivered his annual State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday. Flickr
Professors react to State of the Union By | Regan Meyer News Editor Hillsdale faculty applauded and criticized aspects of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech, as well as Democrat reactions. Trump spent much of Tuesday night pointing to American history and claiming that America is stronger and better than it has ever been. He also touched on themes of Manifest Destiny and the last frontier. “This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance,” Trump said. “We are Americans. We are pioneers. We are the pathfinders. We settled the New World, we built the modern world, and we changed history forever by embracing the eternal truth that everyone is made equal by the hand of Almighty God.” Trump also invited Follow @HDaleCollegian
various guests from across the country to sit in the gallery during his remarks. Trump sent a message for the Venezuelan people home with legitimate Venezuelan president Juan Guaido. He also honored former Tuskegee Airman Brigadier General Charles McGee, and conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was surprised with the Presidential Medal of Honor. Professor of Rhetoric and Public Address Kirstin Kiledal said that while some of Trump’s invitations became inspirational moments, others felt forced. “He had a couple of inspirational moments that took us back to Reagan. Most notable was the 13-year-old child who wanted to join the Space Force and his great-grandfather who was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen,” Kiledal said. “That
dealt with our national values, national mission, and values that Trump is trying to move forth. It created a higher calling than simply the defensive mechanisms of the military. That was beautiful.” Kiledal also cited the presentation of Limbaugh with the Presidential Medal of Honor and the message to all of Venezuela through rightful president Guaido as inspirational moments. She said, however, that the bringing home of the serviceman to his family appeared contrived. “It seemed more staged and more of a political moment,” she said. “It stopped having a direct tie. There didn’t seem to be a genuine authentic link
See Trump A3
By | Madeleine Miller under the age of 25 have been over the world, in the world’s Collegian Reporter led to believe that smoking best peer-reviewed medical journals),” Berenson cited a The media has failed to re- marijuana is barely more port the dangers of marijuana dangerous than smoking ciga- range of evidence. rettes, and we wanted some“The medical literature use accurately, according to one to come in and dispel is very clear that cannabis is author and former New York dangerous for Times writer mental health,” Alex Berenson. he said. “The idea Berenson that it can cause spoke on Jan. temporary psy30 in Hillsdale chotic episodes College’s Plasand that it is bad ter Auditorium. for anxiety and Berenson’s depression is not 2019 book, open to question. “Tell Your He cited a 1987 Children: The study of 50,000 Truth about Swedish military Marijuana, conscripts who Mental Illness, used cannabis and Violence,” at age 18 or 19. has drawn Those who used attention from marijuana 10 or opponents more times were and supporttwice as likely to ers alike. Last develop schizoyear, he gave phrenia and the a talk at the risk for those who Allan P. Kirby, used it 50 or more Jr. Center for times increased Constitutional sixfold. Studies and A 2002 study Citizenship, in New Zealand a recording checked children of which has for symptoms received over of psychosis 800,000 views at age 11 and on YouTube. Director of Alex Berenson caused some controversy on campus with his began tracking their marijuana Health Services talk about the dangers of marijuana. Facebook use at age 15. It Brock Lutz, found that even who introduced those myths,” he said. controlling for other factors, Berenson, said the Student Throughout his presentacannabis use triples the risk of Affairs Office sponsored the tion, titled “Cannabis, Mental developing psychotic disortalk to inform students of the Illness, and Violence: A Gendangers of marijuana use. See Marijuana A3 “Unfortunately, Americans eration of Evidence (from all
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