Washburn University Volume 143, Issue 25
News 1-5
Features 6-10
April 19, 2017
Sports 11-12
washburnreview.org
New Content Online Daily
Clinic identifies Topeka as “hotspot” for syphilis Mark Feuerborn
WASHBURN REVIEW
Recent visitors to Washburn’s Student Health Center may have received a warning with their treatment: cases of syphilis are on the rise in Kansas. Andrew Miller, sophomore accounting and finance major, said that he received a warning about the sexually transmitted infection as he left. “I went to the Washburn clinic when I had a cold, and they gave out a piece of paper to all of the patients that came through
talking about it,” Miller said. The paper warning goes on to list several facts regarding the STI, with one quote reading: “Syphilis is on the rise and Kansas is in the top five in the nation, with Topeka being considered a ‘hotspot.’” Tiffany McManis, advanced practice registered nurse at the Student Health Center, confirmed that cases of syphilis have been reported recently on Washburn’s campus. “I believe the lack of community awareness about syphilis and how it is spread along
with unsafe sex practices are the leading factors contributing to the increased incidence in the Topeka community,” McManis said. “However, since screening for syphilis is free in the state of Kansas, my hope is that community providers are helping to increase access to screening and that is why we are seeing increased numbers.” Syphilis is particularly dangerous, as McManis explains it can damage the nervous system. “There are four stages of syphilis,” McManis said. “In the primary stage, there is a sore
at the site of infection, usually in the genital area, anus, or mouth. In the secondary stage, a person will experience a skin rash, fever, and swollen glands. In the latent stage, there are no signs and symptoms. In the tertiary stage, the person becomes severely ill with the syphilis affecting the brain, heart, or other organs. If a student is experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, they should come in to Student Health Services for evaluation and treatment.” McManis noted that the Washburn clinic also provides STI
and STD testing for students at no or low cost. “Syphilis testing is free,” McManis said. “A blood draw is required for testing. Student Health Services can also test for other sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and herpes.” McManis reminded students that free condoms are also available in Mabee Library and in the Student Health Services Center.
partment. “I took a class with him about food in film and literature,” said Emily Smyth, senior psychology major. “He was really good and I loved that class.” The process to find someone to fill the hole left by Averill has already begun. “I know they’re conducting interviews to replace him,” said Abbie Stuart, senior English major. “They’re going to hire someone on a full time basis.” There is a growing trend in the academic world to hire parttime, adjunct instructors to save on costs for universities but the College of Arts and Sciences has no intention of following this trend to replace these retiring faculty members.
“Adjuncts definitely have a needed purpose,” Stephenson said. “But it is important to have full-time faculty in our departments to help students with tasks like advising and, in general, being around to help them succeed.” Stephenson said that while they are bringing in new faculty to replace those retiring, the new faculty might have a different area of interest or specialty. “In the case of the mass media department Professor [Frank] Chorba is retiring this semester and his area of interest is radio,” Stephenson said. “The person we just hired for his position specializes in film and video, which shows the changing environment in media.”
The process for hiring a new kind of teaching session and in faculty member is dealt with some cases additional things mainly by the department itself. such as a performance (if they Stephenson discusses with the are a music candidate) or a redepartment, the chair of the de- search seminar. partment and the vice president Stephenson says it’s a bitterof academic affairs and evalu- sweet time when there is a tranates the position to see what is sition like what is happening needed in the replacement. over the next few semesters. They will then develop a “These retiring faculty have search committee within the contributed so much to this unidepartment to look for potential versity,” Stephenson said. “We candidates. Typically they will are sad to see them go. At the bring in the top two candidates same time however, it’s also exfor an on-campus interview who citing to see the new faculty and will meet with the dean and aca- the new expertise they can bring demic affairs vice president. to Washburn.” One of the most important aspects of the process is that students will get an opportunity Charlie Rankin, charles. to meet and evaluate the can- rankin@washburn.edu, is a didates as they will have some senior mass media major.
Mark Feuerborn, mark.feuerborn@washburn.edu, is a senior mass media major.
Arts, sciences faculty retire, new faculty hired Charlie Rankin CONTRIBUTOR
By this time next year students may see some new faces teaching in the various areas that the college of arts and sciences cover across the Washburn University campus. “There were around three or four retirees in the college last year and we have around seven or eight this year,” said Laura Stephenson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Many prominent professors at Washburn will finish their careers at the conclusion of the semester. One of those is Tom Averill, professor of English. He has influenced many at the university and not only in the English de-
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