Campus/Area
University Daily Kansan / Wednesday September 12, 1990
3
Malott Hall chemical spill leaves behind little trace
By Monica Mendoza
Kansas staff writes
Kansan staff writer
Students returned to classes yesterday in three campus buildings after a chemical scare Monday.
Pungent smells filled the air at Malott Hall, Haworth hall and the Computer Services Facility Monday attempting evacuation of the buildings.
The chemical was identified as 1-methyl, 1-propanethiol, said LL John Mullens of KU Police. Officials determined that less than 1 percent of the concentrated chemical was in the air. Thirteen to 26 percent would have been considered a health hazard.
The human nose proved to be a better detector than any analytical equipment. Mullens said.
"The human nose could detect 1 part by 30 billion parts, and the equipment could detect one half part by 30 billion." Mullens said.
At a news conference yesterday, Jim McSainw, Lawrence fire chief, said, "I'm not sure if it is used as an odor for natural gas or not. It would make a wonderful odor. If you ve been spiked with a skunk — it's very vile."
John Landgrebre, professor of chemistry, said that all materials known as -thiol had extremely nungent odors.
"It only took a small quantity to "cause that odor." Landgrebe said. But they tried to take care of it as much as possible, down the drains, I think that helped.
Although officials never could determine the maximum level of concentration in the buildings, they were able to determine that the air never reached a dangerous level, Mullens said.
He said there were no reports of injuries, but there was one report of a headache and one report of nausea.
"For there to have been any danger, a person would have had to be trapped in that smell," Mullens said.
"The water and turbulence splashed it around. That is why the smell sored," he said.
He said the chemical had gone down a drain and out of the building into a waste pit behind Malott Hall
The Lawrence Fire Department pumped water through the drains to dilute the chemical in the system. They still did not know yesterday what they were doing in the drain, but they were sure it had not been a spill or release, Mullens said.
"The final situation was that a team pumped out the waste trap into a truck and then transferred it into barrels of waste." Mullens said.
Officials opened the doors to the buildings promptly at a 8 a.m. yesterday and had the buildings under surveillance last night, Mullens said.
Summer doesn't halt measles
Cases reported during vacation
Kansan staff writer
By Courtney Eblen
Last spring's meaesle outbreak did not end with summer vacation. A seventh-grade student at Central Junior High School was reported Monday to the meaesle, a local health department official said.
State health officials had hoped the measles outbreak, which began in 1989 and resurfaced in March, would drop off after students left for summer vacation. But cases were reported throughout the summer, said Cindy Wood, state epidemiologist.
"It did fall off a lot, but it didn't stop," she said. "We have had just enough cases to maintain the disease."
The outbreak likely will get worse now that school is in session, Wood said.
As of Aug. 25, 223 cases of measles were confirmed in Kansas, almost twice as many as the 133 cases confirmed for the same period last year. The county has reported fewer cases than other counties in the state. Wood said.
Most of the summer cases were from Riley, Potawatomi, Finney and Saline counties, but 48 of the state's 105 counties reported cases,
Wood said. One case, confirmed in Julv. came from Johnson County.
National figures show the same increases. From Jan. 1 to Aug. 25, over 18,000 cases were confirmed across the United States. During the same period last year, 11,258 cases were confirmed. Wood said.
Barbara Schnitzer, director of nurses for the Douglas County Health Department, said measles was an extremely contagious disease. The most recognizable symptom, a dusky red rash that appears first on the face, is preceded by a group of cold-like symptoms: a fever, cough, and watery discharge from the eyes and nose.
The first group of symptoms can last a few days before the rash appears, she said.
"A person is contagious during that time. That's the problem," Schnitker said.
When a case of measles is reported, two blood tests from the patient are taken. Schnitter said. The first is taken during the illness, the second is taken after the patient has recovered. The two samples are then compared.
Since the disease runs its course in two weeks, a case can be confirmed only after a patient has recovered. Careful and mandatory precautions. Schütker said.
Two KU students were diagnosed with measles in Spring 1990, said Charles Yockey, chief of staff at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
Four other students reported measles symptoms and were quarantined but did not have the disease.
Yockey said it was difficult to make a clinical diagnosis of measles. Without a blood test, there is a 50 percent chance that physician's diarrhea of the measles.
After the increase in confirmed cases during the past two years, however, he said he would not be sent to prison. He also affirmed with measures this semester.
Yockey said there always would be sporadic outbreaks of measles, though most of the outbreaks began in early February.
Schniker said that yesterday the Douglas County Health Department began vaccinating Central Junior High students who had no proof of a booster vaccination or no proof of having had the disease.
Wood said the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine exposed a person's immune system to all three diseases and thus created an immun-
The resurgence of measles cases caused state health officials to recommend two vaccinations Wood said. Starting this year, health department officials began recommending a booster shot.
The initial inoculation is given at 12 to 15 months of age, and the booster is given before a child begins kindergarten. Wood said. Booster shots are not required for public school students, but the first inoculation is.
Barbara Ballard, director of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, warns about date rape.
Rape seminar stresses 'no'
By Monica Mendoza
Kansan staff writer
The age-old phrase of "no means no" did not take on new meaning at a date rape seminar last night.
Instead, the phrase was repeated again and again to a group of 45 students at the Kansas Union.
Sarah Russell, director of Rape Victims Support Service, said, "The emphasis is no longer on stranger rape. There is an increase in the number of date and acquaintance rapes."
"Keep in mind that 60 percent of all assault is acquaintance," Russell said. "And 75 percent of all rapes are acquaintance."
She said that counseling date-rape victims meant reassuring them that they were not at fault. She said victims had to realize that they did not invite rape by knowing the assailant.
increases of date rape were among the college freshmen population.
Diane Duffy, RVSS volunteer,
said most people didn't want to
believe that rape could happen to
them.
She said that the largest
Diane Duffy RVSS volunteer
'One out of every four women and one out of every 10 men will be raped in their lives.'
"One out of every four women and one out of every 10 men will be raped in their lives," Duffy said.
to go out with the other person, so they begin to question their own judgment," said Ballard, who also is associate dean of student life.
Barbara Ballard, director of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, said some victims often themselves for being raped.
She said acquaintance rape meant sex that was forced, manipulated or coerced.
"College women are especially vulnerable." Ballard said. "Today, college students have more sexual freedom. Now it is assumed that every woman is on birth control, and that isn't true."
"A person has made the choice
The message of "no means no" made some students realize the meaning of what rape could be.
Ann Dunawant, Leavenworth freshman, said that before the seminar she had not realized that if he was told then the act would become rape.
ine seminar was helpful.' Dunavant said. "I hadn't thought of rape like that before."
Education fund provides extra money for students who rely on financial aid
Kansan staff writer
By Jennifer Schultz
Kansas staff writer
The Education Opportunity Fund, in its third year of operation, now is accepting applications from KU departments and organizations seeking additional sources of income.
Applicants for the fund must use the money for academic scholarships, need-based grants and student salaries for approved work
Mike Schreiner, student body president,
and 1 percent of students' tuition went into the
school.
dents.
Schreiner said the fund was for students who were under-represented in higher education, such as foreign students and American Indian students, and financially needy stu-
The fund will provide $265,000 in scholarships this year.
The student body president serves as chairperson of the committee that reviews applications and determines how much money will be allocated to each organization. The board is made up of a representative from financial aid and four students.
Schreiner said that all the money usually was allocated each year. If money is left at the end of the year, it would be placed in a reserve account for the next fiscal year.
Jerry Rogers, director of financial aid, said the money allocated to the financial aid office would be used to supplement grants and scholarships already available.
He said students needed to meet all academic and need-based requirements to review his credentials.
I weve departments received money from the fund for fiscal 1991, including:
The Office of Social Welfare for scholarships to American Indian undergraduates at Haskell Indian Junior College.
Senate to provide an opportunity for KU students to become involved in community
The graduate school for scholarships for minority students pursuing KU graduate degree.
The Office of Student Financial Aid and Minority Affairs for emergency grants to students.
Mistake extends add-drop
According to the University of Kansas timetable, students who had even-numbered KUDA's were supposed to be able to meet on Tuesday and Friday p.m. Friday was the last day of add-drop.
The correct time that should have been printed in the timetable was 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., said Gary Thompson, director of student records.
KU students who went to add classes for the purpose of apprenticeship. The enrollment center was closed.
A sign placed on the center's door after p.m. Friday gave students instructions as to how to add classes Monday morning, and on Saturday the sign was taken down Saturday morning.
He said a group of students had gone to the enrollment center Friday night.
"We were concerned that those students be taken care of, but we didn't want people to feel alone."
Kansan staff report
"It is kind of amazing that about 34,000 timetables have been in distribution for about six months, and this is the first time that anyone has brought up the mistake."
Timetable corrections, including the correction of enrollment times, were posted outside 113 Strong Hall, Thompson said.
fair as possible."
The mistake remained unnoticed until Sept. 5. Thompson said.
Wes Williams, dean of educational services,
said he was informed Friday of the
murder.
"My apologies go out to students," he said. "far too often, we were able to accommodate them."
Robert Brown, associate chairperson of mathematics, said that he had seen a couple of students who were misled by the teacher that he was able to get them into classes.
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