F R I D A Y OCT. 15, 2004 Vol. 126, No. 20
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ELECTION COUNTDOWN
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DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY DAYS UNTIL THE INAUGURATION
STUDENT LIFE T H E I N D E P E N D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F WA S H I N G T O N U N I V E R S I T Y I N S T. L O U I S S I N C E 1 8 7 8
Health officials fear ‘worst-case scenario’ n Flu vaccine shortage leaves WU pushing other methods of prevention
PRESIDENTIAL POLLS: WHO HAS THE EDGE?
48% 48%
BUSHCHENEY KERRYEDWARDS
Source: ABC News daily tracking poll of likely voters, taken Oct. 9-11; see abcnews.com for more
INSIDE Playing with the big boys now! A WU alum signed with a pro Irish b-ball team Monday.
By Rachel Streitfeld Contributing Editor This time last year, a flu epidemic swept through campus, leaving students woozy and drained. But for those hoping a flu shot will prevent a recurrence this fall, officials at Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) say they are out of luck. A shortage in the influenza vaccine has prompted the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to issue an advisory saying flu shots should only go to “at risk” individuals—including young children and the elderly, people with diabetes or chronic lung or heart disorders, and health care workers. The CDC projected that nearly half of the nation’s flu vaccine will not be distributed this year because one manufacturer’s supply was contaminated. In fact, due to the shortage, SHCS has not yet received any doses of the flu inoculation. Washington University’s School of Medicine has applied for an allotment of the vaccine, and will share that stock with SHCS based on the amount they receive and inocula-
tion priorities. Director of Health Services Alan Glass admits to concerns about the “worst-case scenario”—an influenza outbreak on campus. Last year a “moderately severe” epidemic hit campus during the fall semester, though flu season generally reaches its height in January and February. Administrators worried that a second, stronger virus would infect students in those winter months, but it never did. “I think the whole thing is pretty unpredictable at this point,” said Glass. “We could be fortunate and be spared a significant flu outbreak, which is certainly a possibility. Or we could have an outbreak.” The SHCS office has been “inundated” recently with calls from students who want the vaccine, said Associate Director Debra Harp. “So many people are calling us, it’s taking away from our patient care,” said Harp. “Students, parents—everybody is calling. I would say we’re receiving as many as 50 calls a day. It’s
See FLU, page 4
How to stay healthy without a flu shot - Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick. - If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. - Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and wash your hands often to help protect you from germs. - Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Source: www.cdc.gov
KAREN BORCHERS | KRT CAMPUS
FluMist, an inhaled flu vaccine, is shown here. Contaminated flu vaccine from Britain has created a massive shortage in the U.S.
Debate as ‘expected’ Moore visit Candidates focus on domestic policy postponed indefinitely
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By Cory Schneider
Cadenza explores the cultural depths of comics (and there’s a nifty quiz, too!).
Associate Editor
PAGE 12 SAUL LOEB | KRT CAMPUS
Dreading another “ski lodge” on the 40? So is graduate Vu Le.
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Senator Kerry and President Bush greet the audience before the final presidential debate held at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. on Wednesday. By Liz Neukirch and Rachel Streitfeld Senior News Editor and Contributing Editor Though Wednesday’s presidential debate at Arizona State University was supposed to focus on domestic policies, both President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry seemed to center their arguments around something else entirely: statistics. The candidates included numerical figures in nearly all of their arguments, and then debated the validity of each allegation. While being questioned about homeland security, for instance, Kerry claimed that 95 percent of all containers that enter the U.S. through ports are not inspected. But how many viewers really know if the statement is true or not? According to Wayne Fields, a professor of American Culture Studies who teaches a course on
political rhetoric at Washington University, it ultimately doesn’t matter if the viewers comprehend the figures or not. “I think there’s some advantage [to arguing the figures], in part because if one side uses numbers, even if viewers don’t understand them, the other side has to counter,” said Fields. “The numbers are obviously not elaborated in any way that would be helpful to the viewer. It’s the general assertion, ‘I have facts, therefore my [argument] is correct.’” Fields elaborated that the use of statistics is mainly strategy-based. Each candidate, he said, hopes to prove that “the facts are on his side” to assume control of the issue at hand. Professor of Political Science Jim Davis agreed, explaining the candidates “throw out the numbers
Student Union announced last night that the Campus Programming Council (CPC) has decided not to try for rescheduling liberal filmmaker Michael Moore’s appearance until after the Nov. 2 election. The group will refund tickets for the original Oct. 7 event, in part because even after the election, there is no guarantee that Moore will appear. Organizers originally tried to reschedule Moore for sometime before Nov. 2. “Judging by how many tickets were sold, there were a lot of students on campus excited about it,” said junior David Ader, president of Student Union. “But this is a busy time for him, and trying to find a time when he could do Michael Moore it, when we could do it, when the Pageant could do it, was tough.” Moore had originally planned to come to St. Louis the night before the second presidential debate was held on campus, but just over 24 hours before his scheduled appearance he cancelled due to what he said was a bout of pneumonia. If Moore does reschedule, it’s anyone’s guess what he will talk about. “It’ll depend on who’s going to win, but I don’t think that what he says is entirely dependent on the outcome of the election,” said sophomore Mark Reddish, the comedy chair for CPC. Conservative pundit Sean Hannity was to speak at the Pageant the morning following Moore’s appearance, but he also cancelled right before the event.
See DEBATE, page 2
‘Should you really be a lawyer?’ grad asks Pat Kennedy reviews a movie that takes a stab at a kinder, gentler Che Guevara.
By Mary Bruce News Editor
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INDEX News Sports Forum Classifieds Cadenza
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DAVID HARTSTEIN | STUDENT LIFE
Deborah Schneider talked with students on campus Wednesday about the topic of her book “Should You Really Be a Lawyer?”
STUDENT LIFE
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In a stop to promote her book “Should You Really Be a Lawyer?” legal counselor and author Deborah Schneider spoke to Washington University students Wednesday about the reasons they should consider law school. Schneider, an alumnus of the School of Law, travels around the country speaking to students about their pre-law choices. She has researched a variety of success strategies and has published what she believes to be the winning strategy in her book. “The most important thing you can do is to investigate what the law school experience is all about,” said Schneider. “Students need to think about their skills and interests, talk to attorneys and get hands-on experience.” While counseling first-year law students at the University of San Francisco
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School of Law, Schneider found that most students did not realize what a time and money commitment law school really was. Schneider has noted that many students choose to attend law school as a way of putting their “real” lives on hold. She strongly encourages students who are pre-law or considering pre-law to talk to lawyers and get legal internships before applying to law school. According to students, however, finding these opportunities through the school is not easily accomplished. “The pre-law process isn’t as structured as pre-med. I had to do a lot of researching on my own,” said president of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, Kelly Lazaroff, a senior. The Pre-Law Fraternity is a service-oriented group that gives students access to internships and other ways to volunteer in
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See LAWYER, page 4
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