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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014
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WEATHER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Students walk in tunnels connecting dorms to academic buildings at Concordia University Wisconsin. Many midwestern college students brave the cold between classes, but those at Concordia can travel via 4 miles of underground tunnels.
Underground tunnels keep students out of cold
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEQUON, Wis. — While many Midwestern college students pile on layers to brave the frigid walk to classes in subzero weather, those attending one Wisconsin university on the windy shores of Lake Michigan can leave their coats in their dorms and take a much cozer trek.
Concordia University Wisconsin has nearly 4 miles of connecting tunnels and hallways that keep students out of the harsh winter elements. The elaborate underground system connects residence halls and academic buildings.
"Actually, it's pretty funny to see students walking around campus in flip flops and shorts," during the winter, said university spokesman Craig McCarthy.
Some of the tunnels date back to when the School Sisters of Notre Dame owned the 200-acre lakefront property before Concorda bought it in 1982, according to McCarthy. The Lutheran university, north of Milwaukee, in the
thy. The Lutheran university, north of Milwaukee in the
suburb of Mequon, has added to the maze of tunnels when constructing new buildings, including the School of Pharmacy, which opened in 2011. "Honestly, I haven't been outside in two days," said junior Lindsey Weber, a resident assistant at Augsburg Hall. "It's been nice with the semester starting back up. Everybody has been able to stay warm unless they're a commuter or had to go out for something." The tunnels can get a bit crowded at times, said Weber, 21, of Colgate, Wis. About 7,900 graduate and undergraduate students from 46 states and 28 foreign countries are enrolled at the university, which is a member of Concordia University System, a nationwide network of colleges and universities.
"It turns into like rush hour on the freeway," Weber said. "Everybody just lines up and goes."
The private, liberal arts school ranks 13 in a list of the 21 coldest colleges in the country, according to the website College Prowler,a resource
for student reviews, majors and scholarships. The ranking is based on student reviews of weather, average high and low temperatures and average precipitation in summer and winter, the website says. Built 20 years before Concordia bought the property, the cement floor of the underground maze was conducive to bikes and roller skates the nuns used to navigate the long tunnels, said Lawrence Sohn, 76, who maintains the university's archives.
"This was all the sisters' idea in the first place," Sohn said. Twenty-two of the 23 buildings on campus are connected and clustered in the middle of the sprawling property with parking lots and roads encircling the buildings. The university used the tunnels in a promotional campaign several years ago, telling prospective students they could "come to class in shorts in January," Sohn said. "The nice thing is," Weber said, "we never have to put away our summer clothes."
HEALTH
Proposed bill bans underage tanning
TOPEKA, Kan. — Health advocates and doctors weighed in Tuesday on whether Kansas legislators should take steps to prohibit tanning parlors from letting minors use their tanning beds.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The House Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on a plan that proponents say would improve public health by reducing the risk of some forms of skin cancer, such as melanoma. The measure includes a maximum $250 fine for businesses that allow customers younger than 18 to use tanning beds. Dr. Josh Mammen, chairman of the Kansas Commission on Cancer, said exposure to harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds increases the chances of developing melanoma later in life.
"This is the fastest growing cancer in the United States," especially among young women who frequented tanning beds in their youth, Mammen said.
Mammen cited statistics from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that indication 13 percent of high school students used indoor tanning beds in 2011, of which 29 percent were white females. Industry representatives said the message should be one of moderation, not abstinence from UV exposure, whether from the sun or from tanning beds. While they support the proposed regulation, they argue that the conversation should be about proper skin care for all people to avoid cancer and the overuse of sunscreens.
"We support this bill, but it's an imperfect solution," said Joseph Levy of the American Suntanning Association. "It's time for all of these parties to work together to deliver
clear messages to the public. That's not happening" He said oversimplifying the debate will make people turn to in-home tanning beds or overexposure outdoors and cause more health problems.
Roger Holmes owns 11 Celsius Tannery locations in Kansas and is on the Board of Cosmetology, which oversees tanning salons. While he said he supported the bill, he said the changes would affect less than 4 percent of those who use indoor tanning.
He said his facilities require people age 15 to 18 to obtain parental consent before tanning. Holmes also said that his employees are expected
"We support this bill but it's an imperfect solution."
JOSEPH LEVY American Suntanning Association
to counsel clients about their skin types and whether tanning is appropriate. Holmes said state regulations require a trained employee to be at the business during hours of operation. Those who shouldn't use tanning beds are encouraged to use sprays to achieve a desired skin color. Reagan Cussimanio, lobbyist for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network said Texas, Nevada, Vermont, Illinois and California ban minors from using tanning beds, while several state legislatures are considering proposals similar to the one in Kansas. The Kansas House committee hearing the testimony took no action on the bill on Tuesday, but it is expected to take the issue up again at a later date.
Happy 153rd birthday, Kansas! Kansas became a state in 1861 and created the coolest university in the country just four years later.
CLASS FROM PAGE 2
for Supervision and Curriculum Development, flipped learning not only encourages improved student interaction, but also improves student-teacher interaction. Professors gain a deeper understanding of the students' learning needs and their understanding.
"Giving assignments to my students before class helped me see and understand what they thought about that material and how they interpreted it." Greenhoot said. "This also helped me see what parts the
students did or did not understand."
While flipped learning has positives, the main problem for professors is the amount of time the preparation takes. Professors have to spend time upfront preparing video lectures for each day and some also include learning activities for the students to complete online.
"From the faculty members' perspective it takes a lot of time to prepare and they don't have time to find all of the information they need." Williams said. "The Center for Online and Distance Learning
According to an article from The Chronicle of Higher Education, students initially dislike flipping because it challenges them to be more engaged in class.
will help faculty record their lectures; it's just up to them to find the time"
"At first I had to tell students who didn't know what was going on to watch the videos and do the homework outside of class," Williams said. "They have to hold themselves accountable for doing the work at home."
Edited by Jamie Kozial
"Once students understand what they have to do to succeed and why, then they appreciate what the faculty is doing for them," Williams said. "They appreciate the fact that they can dial it up and do work on their own time to fully understand the material."
While this is a common problem with adopting the
flipped learning format, Williams said that if the students understand why the format is being changed and how it benefits them, they will put in the necessary work.
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