Tuesday, January 18, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 13
Flu bug infects University, community
By Warisa Chulindra
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Concerns about the year 2000 bug have been replaced with another bug - influenza.
Kim Ens, charge nurse of the communicable disease program at the Douglas County Health Department, said influenza had hit Kansas the past few weeks. She said doctors' offices and hospitals were swamped the weekend after New Year's.
“It’s very contagious,” Ens said. “In the classrooms and the dorms, it tends to spread quickly, especially since KU students have been all over the state, country and world.”
Influenza is spread by droplets from the nose and throat of infected people through sneezing and coughing. Most flu cases occur between November and April.
Two main strains of influenza exist - A and B.
Randall Rock, chief of staff at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said he expected influenza at the University of Kansas to mirror the flu in the community.
He said that in the past month, Watkins had seen students with A-strain influenza. Respiratory symptoms such as a sore throat, headache, fever or cough that hurts in the chest accompany A-strain influenza. Symptoms appear one to three days after infection.
"If you're running a fever and can't control your secretions, you should really stay home and avoid exposing yourself to the community." Rock said.
should wash their hands frequently and avoid touching their faces, Rock said.
He said sharing towels, pillows and drinks and smoking or being near smoke put people at a higher risk of catching the virus. People
He said 30 to 40 percent of flu patients also developed a sinus infection, an ear infection or bronchitis.
"I was in bed a lot, and I was really tired," he said.
Tim Mezgner, Leawood junior, had the flu with mild bronchitis during winter break.
While no medication is effective against B-strain influenza, the prescription drug amantadine can diminish the severity and duration of A-strain influenza. To recover from the flu, it is important to get rest and plenty of liquids.
It is not too late to get an influenza shot, which contains the vaccine needed to combat A-strain influenza. Protection begins to develop a week later. The shot is available at Watkins for $5.
GROUPS AT RISK
People 65 years old and older
- People with long-term heart or lung problems
- Residents of nursing homes who have serious long-term health problems
- Women who will be post the third month of pregnancy during influenza season
People who have kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, anemia, severe asthma, cancer or immunologic disorders and other medical conditions for which they are under the close supervision of a doctor.
Those with household contacts of high-risk people and health workers who provide care to high-risk patients
People traveling to the Southern hemisphere between April and September or to the tropics any time
Construction continues on new scholarship hall
By Jessie Meyer
writer@kanson.com
Kansas staff writer
Thanks to unseasonably warm winter weather, the framework is up and the roof will be added to the fifth women's scholarship hall later this week.
The building, which is being built on the 1300 block of Louisiana Street, sprang up quickly during winter break. Construction crews are only a few weeks from starting the interior.
The construction of Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall's is ahead of schedule because of unseasonably warm weather. Photo by Brad Dreier/KANSAN
"I think the students will really notice a difference," said Ken Stoner, director of student housing. The building, dubbed Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall, has grown three stories in the past month.
Sara Crumrine, Olathe junior and president of the All Scholarship Hall Council, said that the waiting list for women who wanted to live in a scholarship hall had grown, and that the new hall would alleviate some of that problem when it opened next fall.
"It evens things out, too," Crumrine said. "Now there are five men's and five women's halls."
The scholarship hall was named in recognition of University of Kansas alumna Margaret Amini, Stoner said. She, along with her husband
and fellow alumnus, K.K. Amini,
donated $1.5 million for its construction.
The Aminis also donated $1
million for the construction of the
neighboring Amini Scholarship
Hall, which opened in 1992.
The original hall, open only to men, will take a new name, K.K.
Amiini Scholarship Hall, to avoid confusion between the male and female halls. Stone said
The buildings stand side by side and will be almost identical. They accommodate up to 50 residents and offer two-bedroom, four-person suites that have private bathrooms
and living areas.
Crumrine, who lives in Douthart Scholarship Hall, said that the cooking and cleaning responsibilities that came with living in the scholarship halls built a close-knit community, one she said she didn't see in residence halls.
Although Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall makes the number of men's and women's halls equal, there are no coed halls. Crumrine said that there had been some efforts in the past to establish coed halls but that they didn't run smoothly
Fair to offer involvement opportunities to students
By BriAnne Hess
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
The Student Organizations and Leadership Development Center will offer one-stop shopping for students looking to get involved on campus at the Organizations Information Fair.
The fair runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow and Thursday at the fourth floor in the Kansas Union.
Aaron Quisenberry, assistant director of the Center, said 50 organizations, ranging from sports clubs to religious groups, would be at the fair.
"As an undergraduate, I did not get involved in many student groups and suffered dramatically because of it," Quisenberry said. "I had social contacts, but they weren't the best ones. When you get involved in a student group it helps with scheduling, communication, conflicts and leadership opportunities."
E. J. Reedy, co-director at the Center for Community Outreach, said his organization would take the opportunity to reach students who were looking for ways to be involved.
Reedy joined the organization when he was a freshman.
"I wanted to meet nice people, and I've always liked community service." Reedy said. "From my experience, the people who volunteer are really nice people, and I've made a lot of friends."
Quisenberry said joining clubs in the second semester often was a smart choice for many students.
"I always say to get involved in classes and then join an organization or two," he said. "Some get to college in the fall and get involved in five different organizations and don't have time to do any of them right. It's hard to find the balance between the two."
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence