THE UNIVERSITY HAIRY KANSAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 5. 2009 NEWS 3A CAMPUS Merit of alcohol policy reviewed Students work to re-vamp University rules BY MEGAN HEACOCK mheacock@kansan.com Student Senate is looking to students for ways to improve current alcohol policies. The alcohol sub-committee of the student rights committee began its Thursday-night meeting with the mission of creating a survey about the alcohol policies' effectiveness. Chairwoman Emily Williams, Overland Park graduate student, said the committee's goal for the survey was to get feedback and input from the people the policies affected most - students. "We are the only 100 percent student group looking at this issue," she said, "so it's important to know what the students want." Williams said she wanted the survey to have 10 questions derived from five categories: consequence and enforcement of current policy, prevention, student housing, off-campus accountability and the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Under the current amnesty policy, a student may call for medical assistance for a friend with an alcohol-related emergency without having to worry about University consequences. The person needing assistance, however, is susceptible to punishment if in violation of any policies. During the meeting,15 students and senators discussed current policies that may have adverse effects on safety. Student Senator Sameer Sharma, Overland Park senior, said this policy was weak. He questioned its effectiveness because it still allowed for a sanction against the person needing medical assistance. He said he thought this could discourage friends from calling. "It doesn't seem like it's a very useful policy. It doesn't make much sense," he said. Follow Kansan writer Megan Heacock at twitter.com/mheacock. The committee also discussed AlcoholEdu, the online test new students under the age of 22 must complete this fall. Kris Velasco, Wamego freshman who took the test, said preventative education was less effective than consequences. "The alcohol education thing we had to do — everyone knows that already. Hearing it over and over again isn't going to change their opinion," he said. "And if you're more focused on consequences, I think that's where an actual effect will take place." Williams said different student groups would be surveyed to get a variety of demographics. The committee also considered administering the survey to all students. This, and whether the survey would be mandatory or optional, was still undecided at the end of the meeting. Williams designated a separate meeting time on Oct. 22 to discuss alcohol policies in student housing because he said it was a major component of the committee's tasks. Edited by Betsy Cutcliff REMAINING MEETING TIMES AND LOCATIONS 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 308 McCook — Burge Union 8:15 p.m. Oct. 22, Alderson — Kansas Union 7:00 p.m. Nov. 5, Jayhawk Room — Kansas Union 8:00 p.m. Nov. 12, Big 12 Room — Kansas Union HEALTH HEALTH Nursing homes facing closure amid recession HARTFORD, Conn. — The nation's nursing homes are perilously close to laying off workers, cutting services — possibly even closing — because of a perfect storm wallop from the recession and deep federal and state government spending cuts, industry experts say. And Congress is debating slashing billions more in funding. "We can foresee the possibility of nursing homes having to close their doors," said David Hebert, a senior vice president at the American Health Care Association. "I certainly foresee that we'll have to let staff go." 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Other Nordic features were swordplay demonstrations and samples of traditional food. BY ZACH WHITE zwhite@kansan.com In a scene reminiscent of the Viking age, two bearded men in fur robes and leather armor instructed children in swordplay. They were two of many cultural ambassadors at the Douglas County Fairgrounds at 19th and Harper streets for the eighth-annual Nordic Heritage Festival on Saturday. With more than a dozen booths, the festival celebrated the cultures of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark. Norse heritage celebrated According to Marilyn Meyers, Lawrence resident and coordinator of the festival, it started when she and some friends were getting together to share recipes. EVENT Students reminded of cultural past at this year's annual Nordic Festival "A couple of us got together and we were going to do some baking," Meyers said. "We talked to the Kansas City Scandinavian Dancers. They suggested having a dance party, and out of that developed this festival." Margot Howard, Lawrence junior, came to the festival to share her Nordic heritage with her son. "There's not a lot of chances to experience Nordic Heritage in the United States." Howard said. Some students came for reasons other than heritage. Thomas Overly, Louisburg graduate student, spent a year in Denmark and said he came to appreciate the ways of life there. There were free samples. of Scandinavian confections, like lefse, a thin crepe-like product, and krum-kake, a dessert that resembles an ice cream cone minus the ice cream. Aside from native music and dance, such cultural hallmarks as thread spinning and the construction of miniature decorative sleighs were featured at these booths. The festival wrapped up with an accordion-fueled potluck dinner before switching to the fiddle for fiddle jam closing dance. sunflowerbroadband.com/ondemand Edited by Betsy Cutcliff "They all came over in the late 1800s," Knutsen said. "The farms got broken down so small that they sent their oldest sons over here to America to make his own way." Vern Knutsen of the Sons of Norway, a Norwegian heritage group founded in Minnesota in the 1800s, explained the prevalence of Nordic cultures in the Midwest. "They think of others." Overly said. "They're very communally oriented. It's just a really laid back culture, at least in Denmark." Steven Holdeman and Caleb May, the festival's costumed Viking experts, came to this festival three years ago to see the Viking re-enactors. When the re-enactors didn't Renaissance Festival weren't going to sell themselves. Afterward they sat clad in furs in their booths, brandishing blades and sharing violent epic poems. They left the festival early, though — the foam swords they make at the show up, Holdmen and May, sporting beards and locks from their work at the Renaissance Festival, were mistaken for them. They gave a presentation that year, and are now the Nordic Heritage Festival's resident Viking combat experts. Follow reporter Zach White at twitter. com/zachandthenews. BREAKFAST Be ImmunoSmart! Use Code JAYHAWKS for 50% off Call: 800-350-7017 visit: www.nutrasense.com Recent Australian study of flu victims established potential linkage between low levels of immune protein and the development of severe disease. -The Canadian Press, 9/16/09 Order ImmunoSmart Today! ImmunoSmart = Natural Immune Proteins I Civic Engagement Week Safe and Natural Promotes Natural Immune Defense Developed by BIG 12 Research Serving Size: 3 Capsules Servings per container: 30 Supplement Facts Amount Per Serving Daily Value ImmunoLine® (immunoglobulin Concentrate) 1110 mg wtl 500 mg Other immunoglobulin 55 mg Transferrin 82.5 mg NUTRA SENSE - Daily value not established TUESDAY October 6 2009 7:30 AM Dole Institute of Politics NEXT TO THE LED CENTER. Proud to be Owned and Operated by Jayhawks! The above statements have not been evaluated by The Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. NEXT TO THE LED CENTER FREE PARKING. Student leaders and potential leaders are invited to the breakfast featuring BURDETT LOOMIS Professor of Political Science. --- 11