VANGUARD THE
VOL. 54, NO. 6
“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”
FEB. 17, 2014
INSIDE
USA graduate team researches Sea lab to chemical spill in West Virginia offer class
by the Gulf
By JASON RUFFIN Contributing Writer
► Campus: Senator delays decision on Alabama home birth bill. See Campus, page 4
► JagLife: Endurance USA creates fuel efficient vehicle. See JagLife, page 7
► Sports: South Alabama softball defeats No. 21-ranked team LSU 2-1.
U
SA professors and students are part of the research team sent to aid the Charleston, W.Va., community after a chemical spill contaminated drinking water for more than 300,000 people. The spill, which occurred Jan. 9, leaked around 10,000 gallons of crude 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), according to the National Science Foundation’s website. The spill occurred upriver of a water treatment facility, effectively poisoning the drinking water that runs to 15 percent of West Virginia’s residents. Two weeks after the spill, Freedom Industries revealed to the public that there was a second chemical released during the spill. Known as PPH, the chemical performs the same function as MCHM. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement saying, although there is not much information on PPH, the apparent lower toxicity does not seem to represent any new health risks. The team sent to help included Dr. Andrew Whelton, an assistant professor of environmental engineering, Dr. Kevin White, chair of civil engineering, and graduate students Matt Connell, Jeff Gill, Keven Kelly
By JAVAN ANDERSON Contributing Writer
A
COURTESY OF USA PUBLIC RELATIONS
Graduate students Keven Kelley and Lakia McMillan test drinking water at a home in West Virginia Jan. 17. and Lakia McMillan. Homeowners were faced with uncertainty after the spill due to distrust of information being released to the public, said Whelton in an interview published on AL.com. Whelton and the team took steps to educate citizens affected by the spill, and instruct
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See Research Page 6
Men’s basketball breaks six-game losing streak, defeats WKU 69-62
See Sports, page 9
See Sports, page 12
homeowners on how to flush plumbing systems to get rid of any harsh chemicals within their systems. The entire team took this trip without any funding or any obligation to do so, Whelton said in an interview
See page 11
ttend classes at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and never miss a single day of your vacation this summer, but hurry because classes fill up quickly. There are many courses for students to choose from, ranging from Shark and Ray Biology and Marine Mammals to Hurricanes of the Gulf Coast. There is one two-week session and three four-week sessions, from May 12 to Aug. 15. The faculty wants to be sure that students don’t miss out on the chance for the unique experiences awaiting them at the DISL. These courses fill rapidly, so students are encouraged to enroll early. The DISL also allows students to experience a diverse learning environment, as the summer faculty boasts nationally renowned scientists and educators hailing from all across the country. Courses mix students from around the state, region and nation, allowing academic growth and interaction between students with common interests. “The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is an association of 22 Alabama colleges and universities; the University of South Alabama is one of those members,” Lisa Young, DISL’s public relations consultant, said. “We were founded in 1971, and have been expanding our programs ever since. The summer college programs are a way for students to get credits in courses that are marinebased and heavy on field experiences— that is, a very hands-on, feet-wet kind of way.” Director of College Programs, Dr. Ken Heck, is very proud of the Sea Lab program and welcomes South Alabama to participate. “The opportunities for our summer program students to get hands-on experience with the animals See Sea Lab Page 6
ALYSSA NEWTON | SPORTS EDITOR
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