6A
Thursday, October 24, 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Peers exceed KU recycling efforts
Recycling programs at peer institutions
recycling program was started Financing method Items included in university central recycling program
1976 $250,000 from university funds Newsprint, white office paper, cardboard, telephone books, magazines, organic materials, wooden pallets, motor oil, scrap metal.
1990 Self-supporting Newsprint, office paper, magazines, plastic, aluminum cans, tires, books, furniture, clothing, food, oil.
1996 $32,500 from university funds White office paper, computer paper, colored paper.
1988 $338,000 from university cans, cardboard, office paper, telephone books, magazines, oil, batteries, florescent lights, yard waste.
1991 Self-supporting office paper.
1990 $215,000 from university cans, plastic, cardboard.
Noah Musser/KANSAM
By Dave Breitenstein
Kansan staff writer
As the University of Kansas began a new recycling program this summer, many of its peer schools already had established programs that include a wider range of recycled items and more staff members.
A comparison with Kansas' peer schools reveals that other universities receive more financing than Kansas and that more items are recycled centrally through the program.
"The fact that KU is just beginning its campus-wide efforts sets it apart from other university programs," said Victoria Silva, KU environmental specialist. "KU has an opportunity to implement recycling programs much more efficient since EHS staff will be able to draw on the experiences of so many other campuses that have already gone through the trial and error phase," she said.
The University has implemented a campus-wide office paper recycling program in 44 buildings and with 150 pick-up locations. Silva is working on instituting an aluminum can recycling program.
Although the University does not centrally recycle items such as aluminum cans or cardboard, Silva said these items were recycled by individual departments.
Although Silva's recycling position is the only one financed through the
University, other schools have more seasoned programs. The University of North Carolina is regarded as a leader in campus recycling, Silva said.
Margaret Corley, recycling intern at North Carolina, said the size of its program set it apart from other small-scale programs. North Carolina budgeted $338,000 for the recycling program in 1996, compared to Kansas' $32,500. North Carolina's financing pays for seven staff members and defrays costs for almost 300 campus recycling containers, including small recycling bins inside every residence hall room.
"Our main goal is to promote reduction, reuse and recycling on campus," Corley said. "We have a recycling coordinator, recovery specialists and education people to reach our recycling goals."
Jack DeBell, director of the University of Colorado's recycling service, said there was a national trend on college campuses to create more pro-active recycling programs. Colorado has about 500 central-campus recycling boxes and about 10,000 newspaper and office paper boxes at office desks.
Colorado's recycling program began in 1976 and receives $250,000 from student fees and general fund allocations. DeBell said Colorado was developing a campus resource center where students could conduct research on recycling and waste reduction.
"We want to utilize the unique asset of our institution as a living laboratory by instilling sound conservative behavior and prepare students to be attuned consumers and conscientious corporate citizens," he said.
Carol Casey, waste management coordinator at the University of Iowa, said each department had to pay a fee to remove recycled materials. Her department empties 2,000 recycling boxes that contain items such as office paper, newsprint and plastic. However, few aluminum cans are recycled on campus.
"Students take cans for themselves and get five cents per can up here," she said. "The public seems to swoop up cans anyway."
One item that isn't cost-effective for universities is recycling newspapers. At the University, facilities operations removes newsprint from campus and transports it to Lawrence High School. A student environmental group at the high school makes a small profit.
"We are paying for it now instead of getting money back for recycling," Casey said. "We're actually taking a loss by recycling now. We're currently looking into reducing the number of printed copies of the newspaper since it is on the Internet."
iowa's newspaper recycling program actually costs the university because recycling centers are charging for removal.
Latex allergies make rubber a scratch
Reactions range from irritation to possible death
By Ashleigh Roberts Kansan staff writer
Latex gloves and condoms are supposed to provide a safe barrier against disease, but in some cases they can be dangerous.
Allergic symptoms ranging from itching and swelling to life-threatening anaphylactic shock among patients and staff has caused hospitals to rethink knee gloves as a
safety measure.
"It's a real problem," said Charles Yockey, chief of staff at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
Yockey said latex allergies have increased dramatically since the rise of the HIV virus.
A possible consequence of the allergy, anaphylactic shock, which is a severe reaction that can result in death, has become more common since latex gloves became standard in hospitals.
Yockey himself suffers from latex glove sensitivity.
"I get hives that last three to four hours on the back of my hands every time I wear them," he said.
But Yockey said his reaction was more of an annoyance than a serious condition.
"Some patients have gone into shock and passed out because the doctor used latex," he said. "The reaction is immediate and can be deadly."
For latex-allergic people, condoms made from sheep intestines could offer an alternative, he said. But Yockey did not recommend using them unless it was absolutely necessary because they are not as safe as latex condoms.
Yockey said reactions to condoms or the talcum powder that sometimes covers them included muscle contractions, itching and burning. The allergic reaction sometimes can lead to infection.
Alex Martinez, physician at the University of Kansas Medical Center, said the allergy resulted from
the formation of antibodies to a specific protein.
"The problem is that rubber is made up of more than 200 different proteins," he said. "It is only recently that we have identified some of the most common proteins to which people form antibodies."
The chemicals used in the production of latex gloves and condoms also can cause contact sensitivity without causing a full-blown latex allergy, Yockey said. But different manufacturers use different combinations of latex.
"Sometimes the problem is not even with the latex," he said. "It is really a talc powder. You have to do skin tests to sort out the problem."
But that is not easy because no standardized skin test or allergy
shot can identify all the multiple proteins and combinations in latex, he said.
Some companies are offering vinyl and hypoallergenic gloves.
"The problem is that they are real expensive, and they still contain some latex particles," Yockey said. "But there is less risk because they are not as allergy-inducive."
Martinez estimated that one in 10 health care workers can develop a latex allergy. People chronically exposed to latex are at a greater risk, and people with allergies have a mildly increased risk, he said.
People who are allergic to bananas, avocados, chestnuts and fruits whose proteins cross-react with rubber proteins are even more at risk, Martinez said.
Winter reduces exercise chances
Cold weather may fatten students who move less
By Cameron Heeg Kansas staff writer
It is doubtful that many people want to pack on a fat reserve during fall and winter. But that is usually what happens.
"It is really a vicious circle in the colder months," said Charles Yockey, chief of staff at Watkins Memorial Health Center. "The colder weather makes people change their normal routine and they might not notice that they are
becoming lethargic. People aren't as active so they don't burn the calories they normally do at other times of the year."
When it comes to exercise and physical activity, the nation's population isn't doing well. According to a 1996 Surgeon General report, 60 percent don't exercise enough to maintain good health and 25 percent don't exercise at all.
Winter also decreases many students' physical activity because the exercise opportunities they depend on disappear with cold temperatures. Biking to class, throwing a frisbee, walking or running becomes unpleasant in chilly weather.
But there are possibilities for those who want to exercise during bad
weather, said Lorie Dalton, Fitness
clinic director at Robinson Center
"You can do a lot of things that are good for exercising." Dalton said. "It is important to budget the exercises into your schedule. To actually write down in a planner when you can exercise during the day really helps out."
She suggested some steps students could take to incorporate more exercise their lives, including using stairs instead of elevators, waling around the inside of the building before or in between classes, packing an extra book or two in to your backpack for added weight, getting off the bus one or two stops early or doing situps and pushups when watching television.
Students who want to get more intense exercise during winter can workout at Robinson. The facilities there include a weight room with treadmills, stationary bicycles, stair and weight machines, indoor racquet courts and pools.
Students who want to run or walk in cold weather can use the indoor track at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion. By taking precautions, students can also run outdoors.
"The trick is to overcome the cold hurdle." Yockey said. "You need to start now so you can condition your body to the cold weather. You can't get a bug to start running or walking in the middle of January. That would spell disaster."
Safe exercises
How to exercise safely in cold weather:
Wear gloves and a hat. The most body heat is released from these areas.
- Warm up for exercise indoors.
- Dress in layers of clothing.
Start running or walking in the wind. This will make the trip home more comfortable with the wind to your back.
Return indoors to wind down after exercising.
Look out for slippery pavement.
Look out for slippery pavement. Wear a scarf or muffler on the mouth to prevent damage to the trachea or lungs.
Children take trips to tour Wal-Mart
Marion Dowden, first grade teacher at Don Bonjour Elementary School in Lenexa, has been bringing her classes to Wal-Mart since it opened. She said she visited the store as part of a field trip to Lawrence to learn about the environment and visit KU museums.
Perez said more than 6,000 elementary school students have traveled as far as 70 miles to tour the store.
"They do a good job of telling the kids about recycling. The kids can see it out back and take it home with them," Dowden said, referring to the recycling center behind the store.
Perez said the goal of the informational tour was to leave memories with the students.
"We want to use our store as an extended classroom and give the children ideas about what they can do for the environment," Perez said. "If they leave with just one idea about how to help out the environment, then that's all we want."
Perez said she hoped students would remember to turn off lights when leaving a room, shut off water when brushing their teeth and look for the recyclable symbol on products.
Students also learn facts about the environment, such as that plastic two-liter bottles take one million years to decompose, dripping faucets waste 50 gallons of water a day, and Wal-Mart employees who work on the sun-lit side of the store had less sick days than other employees.
You'll find it in the Kansas Classifieds.
By Dave Breitenstein Kansan staff writer
Perez said the goal of this program was not to brag about Wal-Mart but to show students and business leaders that it was possible to think about the environment when building stores and buying products.
Bus loads of elementary school students have been pulling into the parking lot at Wal-Mart, but it's not because of a Halloween costume or candy sale.
Unique features of the store include a wood ceiling, a parking lot made from recycled asphalt and tires, an entrance carpet made from recycled two-liter bottles and skylights to decrease energy costs.
Students watch a video, walk through several aisles of the store and tour the recycling center.
Everyone has a concern here. KU Pharmaey Fair
Wal-Mart, 3300 Iowa St., provides free tours of the store to student groups, explaining reasons for recycling and cleaning up the environment.
"The concept of this store was to build the prototype of an environmentally safe building," said Patty Perez, green team coordinator at Wal-Mart. "The initial cost of this building was 25 percent higher, but it will save money in the long-run, and we hope it encourages others to build just like us."
When Wal-Mart opened in June 1993, news of the environmentally sound store was broadcast internationally.
Activities include:
*Local pharmacists and students giving presentations on topics from nutrition to drug dependency
*12 informational booths covering various health care problems such as
"We're not saying this is the perfect store, but it was built very well." Perez said. "We want to share the information and encourage them to build environmentally."
KS Union 4th floor lobby Friday October 25 9:00am-2:00pm
- Sex and contraceptives
- Breast cancer & women's issues
- Asthma
- Blood pressure
- Smoking cessation
- Skin cancer
- Free over the counter samples.
- Pre-pharmacy students: Open house following pharmacy fair Malott Hall Room 2048
Cosponsored by ASP &
STUDENT
SENATE
!WANTED!
Do YOU remember your first year at KU?
Would you like to help make this a better experience for future freshmen and transfer students? If the answer is YES, then please attend our Informational Meeting to learn how you can become a
PEER MENTOR!
When: Thursday, October 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: English Room, 6th floor Kansas Union
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
FREE:
3 MINI CINNAMON ROLLS
WITHANY PURCHASE
OR
10% OFF ANY PURCHASE
(with the exception of any decorated cakes.)
OPEN 24 HOURS
7 Days
a week
Munchers Bakery
One coupon per visit
Hillcrest Shopping Center - Across from Royal Crest Lanes
Coupon expires 10/27/96