TECHNICIAN
october
21 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
University urges flu vaccinations Student Health Services offers flu shots, available today in Talley. Allison Saito� Staff Writer
Flu vaccines are not in short supply this year. Student Health Services will offer vaccinations today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the ballroom of Talley Student Center. Dr. Mary Bengtson, medical director for Student Health Services, recommended that almost all students, staff and faculty get vaccinated. “Basically, anyone over 6 months of age who wants to lessen the odds of flu is encouraged to get a flu shot,” Bengtson said. Bengtson explained who should not receive a flu vaccination. “The only reason to not get the shot is if someone has a severe egg allergy,” Bengtson said. According to Bengtson, people should be vaccinated against the flu every year. “Flu strains can change every year, so every year you have to get the flu shot again, to ensure that you are protected,” Bengtson said. Every year, the makers of the flu vaccine try to predict which strains of the virus will be the most common that flu season. “When the vaccine is formulated, it ends up with pretty much with three (or more) strains. If the vaccine makers predict correctly, the vaccine can keep a person from getting the flu,” Bengtson said. According to Bengtson, it takes about two weeks to be protected once a person gets vaccinated. Bengtson has not seen serious reac-
thursday
Undergrads develop lens to treat eyelid paralysis Biomedical engineering coursework leads to top finish in a national contest and potential relief for patients suffering eyelid ailments. Sagar Sane Staff Writer
PEGGY BOONE/TECHNICIAN ARCHIVE PHOTO
Joseph Magliocca, a fifth-year student in biochemistry, cringes as he receives the H1N1 vaccine injection from Registered Nurse Monteen Lerew. “I have mild asthma so they said I shouldn’t take the live [nasal mist] vaccine. My cousin got [H1N1] and I know a couple other people who have, so I’m surprised I haven’t gotten it yet,” Magliocca said. “I had been here for two and a half hours already when my class was supposed to start, but I wasn’t going to leave then so I missed class.”
tions to the vaccine. “The most common side effect would be mild soreness, redness; just a little bit of achiness at the site where the shot was given,” Bengtson said. Those unable to visit Talley today will have other opportunities to get the vaccine, as there are several more shot clinics scheduled. Flu vaccination clinics are set for: Oct. 26 at Student Health Services; Oct. 27 at Engineering Building II;
Nov. 3 at Talley Student Center Ballroom and Nov. 4 at the College of Veterinary Medicine. No appointment is necessary for any of these clinics. Students and faculty who are unable to attend any of the clinics can get a flu shot by visiting Student Health Services, according to Bengtson. “Those who cannot make it to any of the clinics, we have a small amount of vaccine that we stock here at Student Health that we will be offering by ap-
pointment,” Bengtson said. “We have a small amount of the nasal vaccine that our pharmacist gives without an appointment.” Bengtson requested that only people who are unable to attend any clinic go directly to Student Health Services for vaccination. “[Come to Student Health] if a stu-
VACCINE continued page 3
QUESTIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SUCCESS TASK FORCE The chancellor has begun work on the University’s Strategic Plan. The plan is divided up between nine task forces, one of which is Undergraduate Student Success. The Technician will be asking students their opinion about undergraduate student success each day leading up to the Strategic Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
A team of five undergraduate students developed a special lens for patients suffering from forms of paralysis that leave them unable to blink and hydrate their eyes. The “HydrEYE CorneOasis Lens” led to a $10,000 first-place finish in the BMEStart Competition, a contest organized for undergraduate biomedical aspirants. A portion of the prize money will go toward the development of the lens. Andrew DiMeo, senior design instructor for the Department of Biomedical Engineering senior design program, said the process started as a part of the team’s coursework. “In the senior design program we assign teams, and each team has to come up with an idea from scratch. It is a five-phase process, which starts from needs assessment and ends with the testing and maintenance of the prototype,” DiMeo said. The winning team was: Alex
EYE continued page 3
WHAT SHOULD THE UNIVERSITY’S DESIRED STUDENT PROFILE (E.G., MIX OF IN-STATE AND OUT-OFSTATE, QUALIFICATIONS) BE? To submit your responses to the Technician, email: letters@ technicianonline.com. To submit your input to the Undergraduate Success Task Force, visit: http://info.ncsu.edu/strategicplanning/task-forces/undergraduatestudent-success/. To voice your opinion in front of the University, attend the Chancellor’s Forum on Oct. 26, at 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Stewart Theater.
Installing: Chancellor Randy Woodson Overall progress: 37%
Estimated time remaining: 5 days Destination location: S:/buildings/HolladayHall/offices/chancellor/Woodson
ALEX SANCHEZ/TECHNICIAN
Political science freshman Kenny Hertling helps sophomore in English and philosophy Alicia Moreira with her purple ally band at the GLBT rally in the Brickyard Oct. 20. The event was organized by GLBT allies to show support for the N.C. State GLBT community. “My older sister is a lesbian and works on campus and I love her to death and will support her every step of the way,” Hertling said. The rally also had a moment of silence for the 11 GLBT teens that have committed suicide in the past six weeks. “I’m bisexual and it’s sad that these suicides had to happen in the first place,” Moreira said.
Allies gather on the Brickyard University students, officials speak about diversity and acceptance. Chelsey Francis Deputy News Editor
Supporters of the GLBT community gathered in the Brickyard Wednesday to offer support to the GLBT community and remind them that suicide is not the answer. The gathering was organized by Michael Giancola, the director of Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service (CSLEPS) and Deb Luckadoo, director of campus activities, in support of the GLBT community after the events of last week, National Coming Out Week. Assistant Vice Provost for Student Diversity Jo-Ann Robinson spoke
about the creation of the GLBT center in the fall of 2007. Kelly Hook, student body president, talked about the importance of accepting all students in the Wolfpack family, and asked members of the GLBT community how she could help them feel more accepted. “I want to know how you can feel supported,” Hook said. “I’m here for you. I love you. Go Wolfpack.” Hook also emphasized that everyone is a member of the Wolfpack family. “Whether you are gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual or transgender, we are all part of the Wolfpack,” Hook said. After Hook spoke, Interim Provost Warwick Arden spoke about how diversity on campus makes the community stronger.
“As the University’s chief academic officer, I know there is an expectation for this campus,” Arden said. “As a University, we need to truly embrace diversity and all of its meanings.” Thomas Stafford, vice chancellor of student affairs, closed the ceremony with a short speech before helpers passed out the purple ally bandanas. “This crowd and the number of people here today is a very strong statement,” Stafford said. “I want to thank all of you because of your presence indicates a strong support as well as remembering members of the GLBT community who have taken their lives within the last few weeks.”
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CHANCELLOR’S INSTALLATION WEEK EVENTS: TUESDAY Chancellor’s Installation: When: 10:30 a.m. – noon. Where: Reynolds Colliseum What: The Board of Trustees of N.C. State University is in charge of organizing the installations of Chancellor W. Randolph Woodson. The event is free of charge and everyone is invited to attend. Strategic Town Hall Meeting When: 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Where: Stewart Theatre, Talley Student Center What: This town-hall-style meeting is being planned in coordination with the Strategic Planning Committee and will provide an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to communicate with campus leadership and members of the nine Strategic Planning Task Force Committees. SOURCE: CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE
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The Purr Generator transmits a sound similar to a cat’s purr, which results in reported feelings of happiness. See page 6.
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