February 13, 2014

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Thursday, February 13, 2014 @msureporter

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Minnesota State University, Mankato

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MSU holds Peace Corps events Peace Corps supports world peace, friendship. EMMA DEPPA Staff Writer This week, Minnesota State University, Mankato hosted several events about the Peace Corps. A local volunteer tabled during the study abroad fair and there was also an informational session on Tuesday night. At these events past volunteers shared their experiences, gave a presentation with information about the Peace Corps and answered many questions from the attendees. The Peace Corps is a government international service organization based out of the United States. This organization sends American volunteers abroad to help communities tackle their most pressing needs. They help to develop sustainable communities and make changes that live on long after the volunteers are gone. They work at the grassroots level to make a positive difference in the lives of many across the globe. The Peace Corps’ mission is to promote world peace and

friendship by fulfilling three goals: - To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. - To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the

part of the peoples served. - To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. The Peace Corps was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. It began on a temporary pilot basis, but had the

goal of becoming a permanent program. Kennedy’s initial hope for the Peace Corps was to have 500-1,000 volunteers in the first year. After almost 43 years of international service, the Peace Corps has had over 215,000 vol-

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unteers around the world serving in 139 countries. Currently there are 7,209 active volunteers and trainees serving in 65 countries. Volunteers are selected based on their commitment to the mission and goals of the Peace Corps. They are also recruited based on knowledge in the fields that the organization works in including education, health, environment, community economic development, youth development, agriculture and more. Being a Peace Corps volunteer has many benefits. Not only does one gain an incomparable global learning experience, but also has the opportunity to make lifelong impacts on the lives they touch. A returned volunteer is given a living stipend of slightly over $7,000 to readjust to living in America. Returning Peace Corps volunteers have access to any government job that they qualify for within the year they return. For more information visit: www.peacecorps.gov.

A Peace Corps member in Wang Thong, Thailand.

Roundabouts to be installed on Madison Avenue, Highway 22 Roundabouts found to increase safety, scheduled to be open this fall. REECE HEMMESCH Editor in Chief Adding to the continuing round-and-round discussion on road safety, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Blue Earth County and the City of Mankato have agreed to implement two new roundabouts on Highway 22, adding to the plethora of circular intersections put in last year. The two new, multi-lane roundabouts will bring together the intersections of Madison Avenue and Highway 22, at the corners of Red Lobster, Snell

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Motors, Panera Bread and Baker’s Square, while the other will be on the intersection of 22 and Adams Street after studies have recommended construction of roundabouts at the two intersections to improve safety and decrease traffic delays. The project will also include the installation of flashing yellow arrows for left-turn signals at other Highway 22 intersections. Additionally, Madison Avenue and Adams Street will both have reconstruction done between Sioux Road and Haefner Drive, concrete pavement repair will be done along the highway

stretching from Adams Street to North Victory Drive and sidewalk and pedestrian trail accessibility improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the past three years, MnDOT determined the intersections on Highway 22 to have the highest crashing rate in District 7. That district, which incorporates 13 counties in south central Minnesota, has decided on 14 other locations on state highways for construction in 2014 and 57 additional sites to be constructed from 2015 to 2017. The State of Minnesota has 115 roundabouts with an additional 39 being

planned for construction. The key with roundabouts is safety, as most engineers believe that due to slower speeds and angle of collision impact, safety at a roundabout can be dramatically improved when compared to a regular four-way intersection. According to the National Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, intersections converted to roundabouts show a 39 percent decrease in all crashes. Furthermore, a 76 percent reduction in injury crashes and 89 percent decrease in fatal crashes, along with improved pedestrian safety as traffic is moving more slowly. If you look at the statistics

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on roads where the speed limit is 40 miles-per-hour or higher, like Highway 22, there is a 62 percent reduction in all crashes. The NIIHS also found a 34 percent lower rate of injury and fatal crashes at an intersection in Washington that went for multilane systems. These roundabouts can also reduce the likelihood of rearend crashes and their severity by removing the incentive for drivers to speed up as they approach green lights and by reducing abrupt stops at red lights. Although it sounds like one,

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