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Murdaugh mold is not a threat, housing says By Ryan Croft Staff Writer
Students living in Murdaugh Hall are safe from dangerous mold and bacteria, said University Housing and Food Services Director Josh Overocker. UCO's Environmental Health and Safety Department conducted air-quality tests in six different areas throughout Murdaugh Hall and one outside the building, according to a report issued last week. "There's mold in my office, there's mold outside, there's mold in your home," Overocker said. "The concern is always the levels of mold and the types of mold." "There's nothing that rises above the
levels that would indicate that there's a concern for [residents'] health," Overocker said. He said the test results also show an absence of harmful molds such as stachybotrys, as well as very low levels of other molds like penicillin. Overocker said the university followed a stringent sample-testing process, starting with collecting the samples and ending with the Housing and Food Department's evaluation of the results. After the EHSD finished taking the readings, UCO turned them over to QuanTEM Labs, a certified mold-testing laboratory, to determine the air-quality. Overocker said the air-quality wa s determined by comparing the amount of
each individual types of mold present in a room to the amount of the same mold in the sample taken from outside, Where those same mold and bacteria grow naturally. Mold in a room only poses a health threat when the amount bacteria present in a room reaches levels significantly greater than the levels of those same bacteria outside, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Web site. The Web site also asserted that regardless of whether or not the mold present at the time of testing is harmful, the underlying source of the growth — wetness — must be dealt with or bacterial re-growth will OMIT.
"Emphasis should be on ensuring proper
repairs of the building infrastructure, so that water damage and moisture buildup does not recur," according to the NYCDHMH Web site. "[The housing department] told me they're doing everything they can, " said Murdaugh Hall resident Jonathan LeClair. "But in order to get the whole problem fixed, they have to pretty much re-pipe the whole building." "Mold typically prefers moist environment ... and yes, we have a condensate pipe running through [Murdaugh Hall]. There's going to be what could be referred to as mildew, mold or other growth," Overocker said.
see Mold, page 8
A nation in suspense Clockwise from top to left: Barack Obama, John McCain, Treasurer Henry Paulson and Sarah Palin.
Palin cries y depression
Illustration by Chris Albers
By AP Writer
NEW YORK -- Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said Wednesday that the United States could be headed for another Great Depression if Congress doesn't act on the financial crisis. Palin made the comment in an interview with CBS evening news anchor Katie Couric while visiting New York to meet foreign leaders for the first time in her political career. As Palin sought to establish her credentials in world affairs, first lady Laura Bush said that Palin lacked sufficient foreign policy experience but was "a quick study." Recent surveys have shown that Palin's popularity, while still strong, has begun to fade. Earlier this month, an Associated PressYahoo News poll showed more people viewing Palin favorably than unfavorably, 47 percent to 28 percent. But an ABC NewsWashington Post poll released Wednesday showed that in a two-week period, the number seeing Palin positively dropped 6 percentage points while 10 points more see her unfavorably. On Monday, a CNN-Opinion Research Corp. poll said her favorable rating dropped 4 points and her unfavorable rating rose 8 points over two weeks. Palin has been. in New York this week for a series of meetings with foreign leaders, part of an effort by Republican John McCain's presidential campaign to counter criticism that the former small-town mayor lacks the experience to be vice president, let alone president in an emergency. The CBS interview was just her third major
Congress
considers solutions By AP Writer
interview in nearly four weeks on the GOP presidential ticket. Asked whether there's a risk of another Great Depression if Congress doesn't approve a $700 billion bailout package, Palin said, "Unfortunately, that is the road that America may find itself on." Palin said the answer to the financial crisis doesn't necessarily have to be the bailout plan that the Bush administration
WASHINGTON -- Democrats won a key concession from the White House on the financial bailout plan Wednesday and sought to drastically slash the $700 billion size of the rescue. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson agreed to demands from critics in both parties to limit the pay packages of Wall Street executives whose companies would benefit from the proposed bailout. "The American people are angry about executive compensation and rightfully so," Paulson told the House Financial Services Committee. "We must find a way to address this in the legislation without undermining the effectiveness of the program." The issue has been a much-debated point in the struggle to win congressional approval of the historic rescue of the financial industry, though the "golden parachute" money involved would be relatively insignificant compared with the huge sums being talked about.
see Congress, page 8
see Depression, page 8
Worry over economy may claim first presidential debate By AP Writer
NEW YORK -- Republican John McCain said Wednesday that he wants to postpone Friday's debate to deal with the nation's financial problems, but Democrat Barack Obama said "it's more important than ever" that the country hear from its next president. The White House rivals maneuvered to claim the leadership role on the financial crisis that has overshadowed their campaign, leaving the question of whether they will hold their first debate in doubt. Obama said he would continue ahead with his debate preparations, while McCain said he would stop all advertising, fundraising and other campaign events to return to Washington and work for a bipartisgan solution.
"It's my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess," Obama said at a news conference in Clearwater, Fla. "It's going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one thing at once." Their dueling positions came after the two senators spoke privately, each trying to portray himself as the bipartisan leader at a time of crisis. But McCain beat Obama to the punch with the first public statement; saying the Bush administration's Wall Street $700 billion bailout proposal seemed headed for defeat and a bipartisan solution was urgently needed. If not, McCain said ominously, credit will dry up, people will no longer be able to buy homes, life savings will be at stake at businesses will
not have enough money to pay workers. "It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration's proposal," McCain said. "I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time." McCain said he had spoken to President Bush and asked him to convene a leadership meeting in Washington that would include him and Obama. .Eveil.,4as McCain said he was putting thud of the country ahead of politics, his surprise announcement was clearly political. It was an attempt to try to outmaneuver Obama on an issue he's trailing on, the economy, as the Democrat gains in polls. He swiftly went before TV cameras minutes after speaking with Obama and before the two campaigns had hammered out a joint statement, expregsing : that
Congress act urgently on the bailout. And while McCain's campaign said he would "suspend" his campaign, it simply will move to Washington knowing the spotlight will remain on him no matter where he is. Obama repeatedly stressed at his news conference that he called McCain first to propose that they issue a joint statement in support of a package to help fix the economy as soon as possible. He said McCain called back several hours later, as Obama was leaving a rally in Florida, and agreed to the idea of a statement but also said he wanted to postpone the debate and hold joint meetings in Washington. Obama said he suggested they first issue a joint statement showing bipartisanship. "When I got back to the hotel, he had gone on television to announce what he was going to do," Obama said. Li