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THE APPALACHIAN TheAppalachianOnline.com
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Vol. 87, No. 36
Health Services sees rise in flu cases
Appalachian Panhellenic Hall to be renovated this summer
by NOLEN NYCHAY
Intern News Reporter
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ppalachian State University Health Services has seen a recent rise in the number of flu cases on campus, said Joyce Young, director of nursing at Appalachian’s Health Services. Young said the number of flu cases is usually highest in the fall and right after break, but the number of students coming in has picked up this week and last week. “We are continuing to see students coming in with positive cases of influenza every week,” Young said. “The flu is alive and well on campus.” Health Services has been able to manage the increase in students coming in during flu season, but there has been increased stress on physicians and nursing staff, Young said. Appalachian Health Services has administered more than 1,900 free flu shots to students since the fall, which is the best way to keep students from getting sick, Young said. “I try to maintain healthy hab-
Chemistry department handles hazardous waste
by STEPHANIE SANSOUCY Senior News Reporter
The Appalachian Panhellenic Hall will undergo renovations to piping this summer, said Tom Kane, director of housing and residence life. Housing has already spent $400,000 on the former hotel in this past year. The money went toward projects such as installing carpeting over winter break, remodeling the dining hall and fixing leaks on the mezzanine level. This summer’s renovation will begin a project that will take multiple summers to complete, Kane said. The copper used in the building’s piping has started to pit and develop small pinholesized leaks that run down the pipe and cause damp spots on carpets and walls on lower floors, Kane said. “We have to go up to every bathroom until we find the leak,” Kane said. This means using risers to go up every floor and work on the bathrooms in sections, cutting holes in the wall and taking out the piping. A set of risers costs $75,000, Kane said. The copper will be replaced with pex piping, a material used in many modern buildings and homes. As the pipes are being replaced, the existing tubs will be replaced with showers, something that has already been done in some rooms on the mezzanine level, Kane said. Kane said that purchasing a building in need of care has been worth it and not too expensive. “If I had a choice between if I wanted to build Greek housing or have that hotel, I’d have the hotel,” Kane said. Safety issues have also been proposed, leading to a collaborative look at putting safety cameras in the APH parking lot with Housing and Parking and Traffic, Kane said. But, there is no timeline for the project as of yet.
Photo Illustration by Olivia Wilkes | The Appalachian
Health Services has reported a rise in positive flu cases over the last several weeks.
its to avoid getting sick, but the close proximity I have to hundreds of students on campus every day can make the flu extremely difficult to avoid,” said
junior Corinne Skopek, who was diagnosed with the flu last Thursday. Health Services will have only limited services and operating
hours during spring break, according to its website. Influenza vaccinations are still available to students during that time, but only between 8-11 a.m.
Pancake dinner draws in 1,800 guests 45 large tubs of butter 3,600 pancakes for the dinner More than 15 gallons of syrup 1,000 eggs
300 pounds of pancake mix
by STEPHANIE SANSOUCY Senior News Reporter
Appalachian State’s Academic Affairs spent approximately $2,500 on hazardous waste disposal for the university’s chemistry department during the 2012 calendar year, said Jennifer Maxwell, the resource conservation specialist for the office of sustainability. Chemical hygiene officer for the chemistry department Sammye Sigmann said she monitors all aspects of safety in the chemistry department, handling safety training, incident reports and looking for room to improve what the department does to ensure safety. Sigmann said the chemistry department must meet federal, state and local hazardous waste regulations. Appalachian is considered a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator by the Environment Protection Agency. This means the university does not generate enough hazardous waste to be required to meet all the regulations, Sigmann said. The requirements for this designation include identifying all the hazardous waste generated may not accumulate more than 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste at any time, must ensure that hazardous waste is delivered to a person or facility that is authorized to manage it, according to epa.gov. Sigmann said it is good to be in the CESQG designation because it allows the university to set up hazardous waste pickup twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Because the pickup is twice a year, the department collects hazardous waste in appropriately labeled containers after it is used and takes it to a temporary location in a stock room until they can be brought to a room designed for hazardous waste, Sig-
see Chemistry page 2
Three griddles *Information gathered from Kellie Mitchum
Photo Illustration by Paul Heckert | The Appalachian
Kappa Delta hosted 1,800 guests at its 21st annual Shamrock Pancake Dinner on Friday at Central Dining Hall. The Pancake Dinner is the longest running philanthropy on Appalachian State University’s campus. There were performances by a live DJ and a capella groups Higher Ground and Ear Candy, and a pancake-eating contest with Domino’s pizza as a prize. Eighty percent of the funds raised benefited the Children’s Council of Watauga County and 20 percent went toward Prevent Child Abuse America. The event raised close to $14,000 last year and is expected to surpass that total for this year, though the official amount may not be known for another two weeks.
Social Justice Week comes to Appalachian State by NOLEN NYCHAY
Intern News Reporter
Appalachian State will host ASU Social Justice Week, a series of social justice and human rights events between March 1928 with the help of more than 20 campus organizations. “The ultimate goal of these events is to generate enough student interest to warrant an on-campus Center for Social Justice and Human Rights,” said Amanda Moore, a student coordinator for ASU Social Justice Week. The purpose of Social Justice Week is to reach students and community members interested in making positive changes in the world who may not be fully informed as to how they can become involved, Moore said. Amnesty International is one of the major groups supporting the events during Social Justice Week. Amnesty International’s mission is to educate stu-
dents and communities about grave global issues and inspire individuals to take action in combating such issues, according to amnesty.org. “Change starts with the individual,” Moore said. “And the individual contributes to grassroots movements.”
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Concert for Justice Parkway Ballroom 7:30 p.m.
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Humans: Not For Sale Watauga River Room 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Race to Nowhere” Reich College of Education room 124 7 p.m.
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Sponsors: SGA, International Justice Mission, Appalachian Educators for Social Justice, Amnesty International, NC Peace Action, American Correctional Association, Students for Local Change, Young Americans for Liberty, Water to Wine, ACT Outreach Office, People Fighting Poverty, Department of Government, Justice Studies, the Student Chapter of the American Correctional Association and the LGBT Center.
Poverty Right in Our Backyard: A Day of Service Hospitality House and The Hunger and Health Coalition 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Public performance-art event Reich College of Education lobby noon to 4 p.m.
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“8” by Dustin Lance Black Parkway Ballroom 7 p.m.
Invisible Box Walk Asheville, N.C. Departing from Raley Circle 9 a.m.
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“Pray the Devil Back to Hell” Three Top Mountain Room. 7 p.m.
Social Justice Coffee Hour ACT Outreach Center 7 p.m.
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Drone Warfare: Murder By Remote Anne Belk Hall room 18 6 p.m.
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Waiting for Water Sanford Mall 1 p.m. Open discussion about capital punishment Belk Library room 114 6 p.m.
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Social Justice Week: What Do We Do Now? A Round Table Discussion Rough Ridge Room 6 p.m.
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