Vol 117— Issue 9
Huntsville, Texas
SPORTS
Courtney Schoenemann wins first start in Softball
FEATURE PRESENTATION
INDEX
Entertainment........page 4
Festival Inspiración
Viewpoints................page 2
Sports....................page 5
Campus................page 3
Special...................page 6
SEE page 4
SEE page 5
Education
disconnection Construction, hardware failure interrupts internet service
Footing the bill Fall 2011 student room rates to rise 7 percent, meal plans up to 4 percent
By Kolby Flowers Senior Reporter
Construction along Highway 59 is said to be the primary cause of yesterday’s temporary disruption of campus internet services. The connection loss was first reported Tuesday around 6:30 p.m., according to SHSU Assistant Communications Director, Julia May. Students who were using off-campus computers were unable to access oncampus servers which host the university’s website, SHSU.edu, as well as Blackboard and other services. “It made it impossible to access the website with some of the study materials I needed to study for the test I had today,” Freshman Sarah Hagler said. “It was very frustrating.” Sophomore Manuel Veyna was upset when he learned that credit card services were down as well. “I couldn’t buy food after I waited in line for 30 minutes,” Veyna said. “No one bothered to put a sign saying cash only.” The initial problem with the internet interruptions started around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May said. The university’s internet service provider is located in Houston, with a fiber optic cable that runs along Interstate 45 connecting with the campus. “Due to construction along I-45, the university decided it was best to add a second cable to avoid possible service interruptions in the case of a line being cut or other incident.” May said. A second fiber optic cable was added running east through Livingston and south along Highway 59.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
THE IMPROVEMENTS
By Erin Peterson
Associate News Editor
Fixtures and equipment is going to be replaced to reduce water consumption
The University will save $1.6 million each year with the new Energy Conservation Project, but this will make students wallets a little thinner. Effective Fall 2011 the student body will see a rise in room rates and meal plan costs to help address the impact of cost-of-living increases, cost-ofgoods inflation, the expansion of campus facilities and the contractor cost to meet student demand. Interim Vice President for Finance and Operations, Randall Powell, Ph. D. said the energy audit conducted last year brought a lot of things to light. “As a result [of the audit], we found that there was $22 million going toward energy costs,” Powell said. “[The project] will bring in $1.6 million each year, so it really pays for itself.”
“I normally keep the overhead light off and just use this one,” Powell said, gesturing at the desk lamp behind him. “It’s a waste of energy keeping it on, not to mention it’s kind of harsh.” A big part of the Energy Conservation Project is the installation of automated systems within each of the buildings, including a lighting system triggered by motion sensors. Schneider Electric, the company that conducted the energy audit with the university, is contracted for the project. “[Schneider Electric] will install light sensors, automated temperature controls – all kinds of things that will allow us to take human error out of building energy costs,” Powell said.
Meal plan costs are increasing from 2.7 to 4.4 percent
— See SAVE, page 3
Temperature control is just one of the improvements being made to the automated systems in the buildings.
Free laundry in all residence halls
All photographs Jessica Gomez | The Houstonian
Room rates are going to rise 7 percent
— See LINE, page 3
Two treated, released after chemical spill incident By Jessica Priest
Web/ Multimedia Editor
Two individuals, one student and one faculty member, were treated and released after a hazardous chemical was spilled in the Chemistry and Forensic Science building Tuesday morning. “Both of these individuals were checked out by [the Walker County EMS] and were okay,” James Fitch, the deputy chief of the University Police Department, said. At approximately 7:50 a.m., a teaching assistant dropped a five-millimeter glass container of bromine, according to Julia May, the assistant director of SHSU communications. “As far as I know, it was
an accident,” May said. “The teaching assistant that was conducting the lab [reported the incident.] She contacted the chemistry inventory coordinator for the building, and then she in turn contacted the city safety officer. During this time, students were cleared out of the room. The door was closed, and all safety procedures were followed. It was determined that the building should be evacuated and emergency personnel should be called in.” UPD and the New Waverly Fire Department responded to the scene shortly after. “We pulled the fire alarm, which is the easiest way to get people to start evacuating and get out, [and] we set up a
perimeter to keep people out,” Fitch said. The Huntsville Fire Department’s Hazmat emergency response team then cleaned out the room and ventilated the building. “They tested [the air of building] at around 11 a.m., and it was determined that it was safe for re-entry,” May said. The building was re-opened to students shortly before 11:30 a.m., and classes resumed according to schedule at 12 p.m. Bromine is a nonmetallic element that is a liquid at normal room temperatures. — See SPILL, page 3
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Basiliere
HAZMAT. Emergency response crews were called to campus when a teaching assistant accidentally dropped an element known as bromine during a class demonstration, Tuesday morning. Students were evacuated from the Chemistry and Forensic Science Building until it was re-opened at 11:30 a.m later that morning. One student and one faculty member were sent to the hospital where they were treated and released. Bromine is compared to chlorine gas and can be fatal depending on the amount and duration of exposure.