WEDNESDAY | 10.19.11 MaceandCROWN.COM | Vol. 53, Issue 6
New Advent in Medical Technology: Operating Room Modeling and Simulation By: Chelsea Hoenes Staff Writer
Kyle White | Mace & Crown
Norfolk Protesters Gain Traction By: Derek Page Staff Writer
Downtown Norfolk saw the largest number of protestors participating in the “Occupy Norfolk” anti-Wall Street and corruption rallies on Saturday, Oct. 8, exceeding 120 protesters. Protestors were equipped with signs painted “We are the 99%” and “Where’s my American dream?” The march was held at one p.m. with the assistance of the Norfolk Police Department which helped shepherd the protesters all throughout the downtown area, passing through St. Pauls Boulevard, Brambleton Avenue, Granby Street, Waterside Drive and finally passing by Bank of America on Main Street. People of all ages, races, and ideologies came together as early as Oct. 6, at Commercial Plaza located off East Main Street to bolster their contention with the financial system, corporate greed, the role corporate money plays in politics and the electoral system and make clear the diminishing level of democracy within the government. The police were more than cooperative, instructing the protestors to stay on the sidewalks, citing safety concerns. The media was extended some leniency on the sidewalk rule, while they attempted to keep up with the march. No problems arose with the traffic that was stopped for the procession of the march. Cars honked their horns in support and pedestrians stopped in wonder of the spectacle, smart phones in hand. Solidarity and fellowship, two terms essential to the movement to the grandiose “Occupy Wall Street”,
Homecoming Overview see B1
and equally crucial to “Occupy Norfolk”, arose from the notion of common responsibilities and interests acknowledged by members of the protest. The significance of these words to the now global protests, stand to embody the unity between these dispersed acts of social, political, and economic conviction. This word solidarity has been used countless times in the locally emerging vindication against Wall Street. Jeff Musselman, a student of politic science at Old Dominion University, expressed his concerns stating, “the collusion of elite business interests with policymakers has ensured that the most well connected and wealthy have fared well while all the other groups have suffered.” Occupy Norfolk encourages people to research issues regarding the disproportionate distribution of wealth in the United States. The most prominent problem being stated during the protests are that one percent of America controls roughly 40 percent of the nation’s wealth, while only responsible for five percent of its debt. The group maintains that the American people are not responsible for bailing out banking systems, and asserts that the federal government needs to take responsibility for their own financial negligence, which has resulted in a flailing economy and struggling citizens. “Fractional reserve banking creates an atmosphere that encourages both the government and [the] banks to expand well beyond their means, which promotes American military expansionism, and excessive speculation and mismanagement on Wall Street,”
Yonder Mountain String Band see B2
said Musselman. Musselman went on to say that “Corporate welfare in most forms, particularly bail out programs, erode and destroy a proper market response to failed policies. Such notions are antithetical to an allegedly free market economy and are a violation of the principle of creative destruction. The Federal Reserve system should be ousted and the separation of corporation and state must take precedence.” Occupy Norfolk holds general assembly meetings at seven p.m., where they discuss issues concerning the group, such as campsite rules, sanitation, organization and the dispersal of new relevant information. The group of non-violent protesters, brought tents, food, water and other basic necessities for the nights to come. The group has designated people with orange duct tape crosses, who control and distribute medical supplies when needed. With a permit from the city, the “Occupy Norfolk” participants intend to stay as long as possible and gain as much support as possible. “Occupy Norfolk,” says Musselman, “in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, is a nonviolent, nonpartisan group of individuals who acknowledge the financial injustices set forth by irresponsible spending and a corrupt government system bought and controlled by delinquent corporations.” “We conceit that reform must take place to ensure the stability of the United States of America. We greatly encourage everyone to not take a back seat as the government and Wall Street work together to drive the country into the ground. You are the 99 percent. It is never too late to speak up and it is never too late to take action.”
ODU Football Falls Short see C1
Peppermill Diner Rocks see D1
The Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) at ODU, has teamed up with EVMS to write an article called “Virtual OR,” which was published in Mechanical Engineering magazine. The article describes a project that would allow for medical students and operating room personnel to simulate the sights and sounds of an operating room, giving them something akin to the hands-on training they would need to become successful surgeons. The simulation would allow students to practice medical procedures and hone their technique before actually performing the surgery in a real operating room. Modeling and simulation is a new discipline taken up by ODU, however researchers on campus have taken full advantage of the new technology offered, and have applied it to medical research exploration. Additionally, the virtual operating room can provide much-needed experience in working with a medical team composed of very different individuals who may exhibit age, gender, or ethnic differences. Moreover, the team has fully manufactured what is known as the Virtual Pathology Stethoscope (VPS), which simulates the sounds of the circulatory and respiratory systems and can be used by medical students to become more familiar with the sounds of illness. Both the simulated patient in the virtual operating room and one version of the VPS are meant to work in tandem. Delicate sensing equipment, called “tracked VPS”, recognizes where the stethoscope is placed on the body, cueing the correct sound to be issued. A second and more economical version of the VPS does not have the sensing equipment. Modeling and simulation with a focus on medical technologies is a new track offered to ODU students that focuses on virtual operation and rehabilitation, modeling ligaments and joints, and standard surgical procedures. This new discipline is very promising in providing better training for students, but ultimately, increased patient diagnosis and safety.