Fall flu vaccines in stock

Inoculations against latest flu strain is low-risk and available now at health center

SAMANTHA BRAVO Reporter @RU_SamBravo

The Pierce College Student Health Center has received this semester’s shipment of flu vaccines, and has begun encouraging students and faculty to purchase the shot.

Health Center director Beth Benne announced the availability of the flu vaccines in an email that detailed where students can receive the vaccines, which cost $10, as well as those who can’t get the vaccine due to health concerns. Benne said that because the virus constantly mutates, the vaccine from last year will not protect from this year’s strain. “The flu vaccine is a vaccine that needs to be given annually,” said Benne. “Predominantly, health care workers should get it, and people who work with small children. Children should get it because children tend to spread germs everywhere.”

According to Benne, the vaccine is safe for women who are pregnant, and does not contain preservatives which have made some recipients ill in the past. The preservatives are unnecessary because the vaccine is only designed for use this season.

“Just like any virus it mutates, so the vaccines we’ve received are preservative free,” Benne said. “There aren’t any preservatives in it that people might be allergic to, so people who have had some sensitive reaction to previous vaccines should have an easier time with this one.” comes with both advantages and disadvantages.

“The benefit to the inactive vaccine is that there’s no live particles in it, so it can’t get you sick,” Benne said. “The downside to the inactive vaccine is that it takes longer to become effective, about three to four weeks.”

Chanelle Camello is a 21 year old pre-nursing major and full-time student at Pierce College. Camello said everyone should get the vaccine.

-Beth Benne Director, Pierce College Student Health Center

Benne said people who are ill, have had a serious reaction to the vaccine in the past, have a chronic condition or those with a disease called Guillain-Barré should not get the flu vaccine.

The vaccines carried by the health center are “inactive,” which

“I think everyone should get it because you don’t know who has a weak immune system, so it’s selfish for people not to get it because it can affect others. Just the slightest cough or sneeze can hurt somebody else and they won’t even know it, especially

Most security cameras off at Pierce

SAMANTHA BRAVO Reporter @RU_SamBravo

Security cameras located across the Pierce College campus are mostly non-functional.

Though cameras are installed throughout the college, the only working cameras monitored by the Pierce College Sheriff’s Station are those at the farm.

Cameras in the Student Store and Freudian Sip are operational, but are monitored and managed independently by the store.

“The cameras we do have are not turned on,” said Deputy Al Guerrero of the Pierce College Sheriff’s station. “The ones that do work are the ones on the farm, to watch the cows.”

There have been seven unspecified reports filed with the station since the beginning of the semester, according to Guerrero, and the camera situation has impacted the station’s ability to investigate at least one of those.

Athletic trainer Robert Horowitz recently returned to his car at night after a game and found a scratch on the rear-left of his Dodge Charger.

Horowitz suspected another vehicle had hit his car, and contacted the Sheriff’s Station to report the damage. When he asked the station to review the footage from the cameras behind the South Gym, he was told they were not turned on.

“Well I guess I’m out of luck then,” said Horowitz, who chose not to file an incident report after he was told by the Sheriff’s Station that because they hadn’t seen the collision all they could do was assess the level of damage.

Horowitz’s mechanic told him that the vehicle that hit him was a “greenish-blue” SUV. Because no report was filed and no witnesses or footage exist, there is no search for the vehicle or its driver.

“I’m assuming that the person didn’t see my car and backed up,” Horowitz said. “Thank God it wasn’t anything major.”

Though working cameras might have helped authorities identify the car, Horowitz said the incident could have been avoided entirely with improved lighting.

“All of that could have probably been prevented if the lights behind the gym worked,” Horowitz said. “I guarantee if there was more lighting out there, they would probably have had better judgment backing their car out.”

Horowitz’s car was damaged in a parking area designated for faculty and staff, but Guerrero said it could have happened anywhere.

“This happens all over campus. The way these students drive – the driver could have been on their phone, it could have been anything,” Guerrero said. “It’s unfortunate what happened, but it happens quite a bit in the parking lots.”

The Student Store operates and monitors a network of more than 30 cameras throughout the store and the neighboring Freudian Sip, according to student store assistant manager Candy Van.

According to Van, the security cameras record inside and around the Student Store in color but need to be upgraded. She said she would like to see better cameras installed with the latest technology available.

“We need brand new cameras.

I’ve seen other campuses and they have new cameras,” Van said. “Are we going to get that? I’m not so in a crowded place like Pierce,” Camello said. “I believe everyone should get the flu vaccine, It’s beneficial for everyone.”

Pierce student Ahliah Hmdan is 21 years old and works at the health center. She recommends students get the flu vaccine not only for themselves but to protect others around them as well.

“I encourage people to get the flu vaccine, just in case the most prominent flu is the one that is being spread, so that if it is spread then you are protected against that,” Hmdan said. “The flu itself changes its composition every year. The flu vaccine is to protect you just in case.”

According to Benne, about 60 students have gotten the vaccination, which became available at the end of September.

Flu prevention tips posted at the health center include washing your hands with soap and water, and using gel hand sanitizers if soap and water is unavailable. The health center recommends avoiding close contact with people when you are sick, and tissues can prevent the flu from spreading when coughing or sneezing.

A car parked in Parking Lot 1 was hit by an unknown suspect. The hit and run was reported to the Sheriff’s station at about 4 p.m. Wednesday.

10/13—Hit and run

A car parked in Parking Lot 7, Row H was hit by an unknown suspect between 6:30 and 10 p.m. The hit and run was reported to the Sheriff’s Station on Tuesday.

10/13—Domestic battery

The Sheriff’s Department responded after a female student hit her ex-boyfriend during an argument by the Great Hall at about 7 p.m. Tuesday.

10/12—Student injured sure.” The importance of up-to-date surveillance was emphasized by Van, who said the store’s cameras have not only deterred and recorded shoplifters, but have also helped victims of simple forgetfulness.

A student injured his hand during a chemistry class in CFS 92022 at about 3 p.m. Monday. The paramedics responded and the student returned to class.

See News Brief on page 3 of last week’s Roundup Newspaper for more information.

Several years ago, Van recounted, a student lost his cell phone in the student store. Employees used the store’s security cameras and were able to find the phone and return it to the student.

“We found it and we turned it over to the Sheriff’s Station,” Van said. “They took care of it and returned it to the owner.”

Guerrero said the college is continuing to look into a new alternative to the current surveillance system, but did not know when such a system would be chosen, purchased or installed.

“I just know they are looking at systems,” he said. “It’s up to the school.”Van, who said the store’s cameras have not only deterred and recorded shoplifters, but have also helped victims of simple forgetfulness.

Several years ago, Van recounted, a student lost his cell phone in the student store. Employees used the store’s security cameras and were able to find the phone and return it to the student.

“We found it and we turned it over to the Sheriff’s Station,” Van said. “They took care of it and returned it to the owner.”

Guerrero said the college is continuing to look into a new alternative to the current surveillance system, but did not know when such a system would be chosen, purchased or installed.

“I just know they are looking at systems,” he said. “It’s up to the school.”