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ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSIT Y’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1888 MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016
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Vol. 128 / No. 54
Students take part in green energy challenge EMA SASIC News Reporter
High School in Normal. “They were telling us when we went and visited that it’s the biggest energy hog in Illinois State University gives students the the school district. It’s one of […] the biggest chance to apply the skills they learn in classes buildings, and it hadn’t been improved, as to the “real world.” One group of students, far as electrical systems, in over 30 years,” however, have taken on a challenge that Graham said. “There are a lot of inefficienrequired more knowledge than their classes cies and stuff that can be cut and saved, so ever provided. it was in dire need of being looked at and The ISU National Electrical Contracimproved.” tors Association (NECA) student chapter, Some of the changes the team proposed a branch of the Construction Management were to switch florescent lighting to LED and Student Association sponsored by NECA to allow more natural daylight to come in. Illinois, has met once a week since Jan. 15 “In NECA itself, one of the things they to compete in the ELECTRI International wanted was to control daylight and how Green Energy Challenge. much is coming into your room, so we “NECA has been used as a teaching aid for looked at roller shades which have a sensor students to get more in depth in the world that pick up how much sunlight is coming of electricity and electrical systems and into the window and they’ll adjust how much advancing our education,” Marshall Graham, is coming in so you can maintain a consisthe NECA team captain, said. “I think I speak tent level,” Mueting said. “Also, on the south for all of us when I say we pretty much had side of the building we’re going to put in an Submitted Photo auto-dimmer that picks up how much light no electrical experience going into this, so it’s Alan Avitia is part of the Construction Management Student Association competing in the ELECTRI Internabeen a real eye-opening experience.” is coming in and adjust the lights to stay at The team is comprised of construction tional Green Energy Challenge. the same level regardless if it’s cloudy or light management majors: Graham, Ryan Euting, outside.” The ISU NECA chapter is one of 15 colle- in Boston, Mass. Stephen Kuta, Alan Avitia, Karl Taillon, Logan giate teams competing to win a top three slot Parkside Jr. High School will decide if it wants Each competing team had to perform an Wible and John Mueting. Instructional Assis- to present in front of a panel of industry pro- energy analysis of a K-12 school building’s to implement the changes if it has the money tant Professor Joe Cleary of the Department of fessional judges in the competition finals at the energy consumption and propose upgrades. and resources required. Technology and other industry professionals NECA National Convention Oct. 7 through 10 The ISU chapter picked Unit 5’s Parkside Jr. advise the team. see ENERGY page 5
Responsible drinking promoted during Alcohol Awareness Month BRENT BADER Senior Reporter
Alcohol substance abuse is something that permeates most communities at some level, including that of Illinois State University, which is why April has been established as Alcohol Awareness Month. “Alcohol tends to be the single biggest contributor to campus safety issues and campus crime,” Aaron Woodruff, ISU chief of police, said. “Whether it’s a check in issue in one of the resident halls, whether it’s a fight, a sexual assault, sometime it’s vehicle related; it relates to just about everything we deal with.” While alcohol may not be a direct cause of some of these concerns, it ends up being a contributor to many of them. There were also 292 DUIs in the Town of Normal in 2015. Excessive alcohol use has become a common concern for college communities. It’s gotten to the point where it has become an expectation, leading colleges to be proactive in addressing alcohol use. ISU’s Alcohol Wise program that all new students must undergo is an example of this strategy. “Where we see the highest levels of this is college freshmen, typically in the first six weeks of their academic career here is when
you see the big impact, and students are coming in with newfound freedoms,” Woodruff said. “They don’t have mom or dad here so they’re making decisions on their own, sometimes for the first time.” This year’s theme for Alcohol Awareness Month is “Talk Early, Talk Often: Parents Can Make a Difference in Teen Alcohol Use,” which is designed to draw attention to the role parents play in preventing excessive alcohol use at an early age. A recent CORE survey done on campus has shown that while the binge drinking rate has decreased slightly since 2010, the memory loss side effect is increasing as well, as students are learning to drink prior to coming to campus. “We’re dealing sometimes with parents who made it through their college days with that experience and don’t see issues with how it impacts their student’s safety or other students’ safety,” Woodruff said. “So we’re constantly going up against what is almost a cultural norm.” Woodruff also said the implications gives the local community a poor perception of ISU and may also distract police from larger issues, clog up medical resources from those that need them and flood the court systems. Parents can play a vital role in discouraging
Submitted by Kerri Calvert
excessive alcohol use in college by setting a standard students can carry on later in life. “Parents play a vital role in discouraging alcohol and drug use,” Ruthie Gergeni, communications manager at Prevention First, said. “Believe it or not, parents have more influence over their child than friends, music, TV, the Internet and celebrities. We encourage parents to start a dialogue, even if it’s uncomfortable.” The Health and Wellness office is also
dedicated to informing students on the dangers of excessive drinking. “Our department is often asked ‘Why do people care so much about college students drinking?’ It’s not the drinking per se, but the quantity of alcohol that is consumed and the negative outcomes that can occur based on the high consumption at any given time,” Kerri Calvert, health promotion and wellness coordinator, said. see ALCOHOL page 5
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