Volume 124 Issue 53
Thursday, November 3, 2011
kansan.com
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN
Daisy Hill lost power last night around 10:30 p.m. Emergency lights were the only source of illumination after the outage. Students said they saw explosive flashes near the corner of Iowa and 15th streets immediately before the power went out.
ALLISON BOND
abond@kansan.com
IAN CUMMINGS icummings@kansan.com
Yesterday evening, Daisy Hill went dark.
Around 10:30 p.m., residents in Hashinger Hall saw a series
of explosive flashes near the southeast corner of 15th and Iowa streets. Residence halls on Daisy Hill lost power, along with Greek houses and other homes near West Campus Road.
Jackie Endsley, a sophomore from Las Vegas, said she was with friends in Hashinger when they saw a flash of light near Iowa Street.
"It looked like fireworks," Endsley said. "All we saw were the explosions."
She said the lights flickered after each of three bursts, followed by darkness.
More than 1,200 customers were without power in Douglas County Wednesday evening, according to Westar Energy. A Westar employee
working on Iowa Street said the cause of the outage was unknown, but that he expected power to be restored that night. The Lawrence Police Department declined to comment on the situation, as did KU Public safety and desk assistance at the residence halls.
The power outage caught students by surprise in the middle of
their evening routines.
Christine Stanwood, a freshman from Overland Park, was caught in an uncomfortable position when the power went out in Ellsworth Hall.
"We were changing to get in the shower because we just got home from doing yoga, and it was kind of awkward because we were half
naked." Stanwood said. "There was an awkward moment because we wanted to embrace, but didn't. But it's not like we weren't going to shower so we got a flashlight and my roommate manned the door while I took a shower and then
SEE POWER PAGE 3
HEALTH
Melanoma a major concern for young adults
MAGGIE YOUNG
myoung@kansan.com
Afton Kissinger, a junior from Overland Park, was a 15-year-old freshman in high school when she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma.
"People think that it won't happen to them, but you just never know," Kissinger said. "It did happen to me."
Kissinger, like many young adults, never saw skin cancer as a threat. The statistics speak otherwise. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults. One person dies of
melanoma every 62 minutes. The Association of International Cancer research defines melanoma as a dangerous, fast-growing cancer that spreads quickly.
Kissinger said before her doctor's visit, she noticed abnormal moles that were raised and composed of two different colors. It turns out that these are two of the main signs to check for when examining abnormal moles on the body.
Holly Fritch, a dermatologist in Leawood with 23 years of experience in the field, said people, especially young adults, need to pay more attention to their skin. Fritch said to look for moles that contain faded margins and are flat
and pink.
"Growth, growth, growth," Fritch said. "Watch for moles that are evolving."
Fritch said to only go out in the sun if it's really worthwhile.
The Skin Cancer Foundation teaches individuals to look for the 'ABCDEs' of moles. The acronym provides a check list for self-examination. It stands for asymmetry, border, color, diameter and elevation.
If a mole changes in one of the ABCDE categories, then it is time to get checked by a professional.
Professional skin examinations every three years for people under 40.
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RECOMMENDATIONS
Check your skin once a month, using a mirror to check hard-to-see places
Blaine Barnes, a senior from Littleton, Colo., removed a pre-melanoma mole from the back of his neck last year.
"You can never be too old to be proactive about skin cancer," Rothschild said. "It's a timeless message."
"It's scary," Barnes said. "I'm lucky I caught it when I did or who knows what boat I would be in now."
Barnes said it's simple to limit the amount of time outside, and it would be in everyone's best interest to take the necessary precautions.
Meghan Rothschild, a 27-year-old melanoma survivor from Wilbrham, Mass., said the message applies to everyone. Rothschild spoke about her experiences in a skin cancer awareness video titled "Dear 16-year-old-me," which was sponsored by the Melanoma Research Foundation. Rothschild received her diagnosis at age 20, the median age of a typical college student.
Call your doctor if you notice any changes.
- Reduce your exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet light is most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Protect your skin by wearing hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants.
Use sunscreen in winter, too. Protect yourself even on cloudy days. Avoid sun lamps and tanning beds.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, cancer can be prevented by using shade, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen and avoiding indoor tanning beds. It states that the vast majority of mutations found in melanoma are caused by ultraviolet radiation.
"College students tend to think they are invincible because they are young." Fritch said. "And young people are typically healthy, but melanoma doesn't abide by that."
Rothschild recommends individuals make a trip to the dermatologist twice a year to make sure they catch any suspicious spots early.
Sources: The American Cancer Society, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Carolyn Appelbaum, a junior from Overland Park, said she took the necessary precautions and her doctor still found a high-degree melanoma spot on her lower back this summer.
"Just avoiding sun exposure doesn't mean you are safe," Appelbaum said. "It can show up randomly and it's not something you really think about happening to you."
Edited by Mike Lavieri
About 8,790 people will die of melanoma in 2011
Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancer cases but causes a majority of skin cancer deaths.
CLASSIFIEDS 7
CROSSWORD 4
Source: The American Cancer Society Graphic by Hannah Wise
SPORTS 8
SUDOKU 4
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Dally Kansan
Don't forget
Today's weather
"The Only Good Indian" is showing at the Spencer Museum of Art for free at 6 p.m.
HI: 48
LO: 29
Forecasts done by University students. For a more detailed forecast, page 24
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