Volume 125 Issue 23
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
iden
MICROWAVING MISHAPS
Cooking has been the main cause of at least two of the eight recent campus fires
RACHEL SALYER
rsalver@kansan.com
Don't drink and microwave.
It may sound silly, but improper microwaving has been the most common cause of fire emergency responses on campus this semester.
James King, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical fire marshal, said that it's not a good idea for a person to cook if he or she is intoxicated.
Of the eight fires reported, two occurred at Ellsworth Residence Hall when students were microwaving macaroni.
"If you feel the need to eat, you probably should stop at a restaurant, because in those circumstances your attention isn't the best, and it's not uncommon to fall asleep," King said.
The first fire from a macaroni incident was Aug. 26 at 4:23 a.m. when someone microwaved it without adding water. The second was Sept. 7 at 2:25 p.m. when someone burnt "Easy Mac" in the microwave, which also caused the container to burn. Both incidences were cleared and no damages
were reported.
Another cooking fire occurred Aug. 25 at Memorial Stadium when a plastic tray melted while sitting on a hot dog warmer and caused the alarm to sound.
According to KU Crime Reports, the most monetary damage caused by fire on campus so far this semester was at K.K. Amini Scholarship Hall when a faulty stove caught fire after a student finished cooking, resulting in $6,500 in damage.
or something over it," King said. "If people feel comfortable extinguishing it, they can, but without proper training it can harm them."
Michael Marcus, a sophomore from Shawnee, lives in the hall and came home Sept. 9 to fire crews after tweets from hall members alerted him to the fire.
"There was smoke billowing out of the kitchen." Marcus said. "We were pretty lucky it didn't do more, but accidents happen, and it just so happened to be to us."
Marcus said hall members were able to extinguish the flames themselves to keep fire from spreading, something King doesn't recommend doing unless you have had training.
Another cause for fire on campus is poor disposal of cigarettes, said Chris Kearny, KU Office of Public Safety assistant chief of police.
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
"The best thing to do in those types of situations to ensure your own safety is to try isolating the fire by closing the door or putting a lid
Berkeley Flats caught fire last week after a resident improperly disposed of smoking materials. This incident was the latest in a chain of campus fires. Others include fires in Ellsworth Residence Hall and K.K. Amini Scholarship Hall.
A fire occurred in parking lot 46 in the 1400 block of Memorial Drive when a cigarette package caught fire. Keary said it's important to make sure cigarettes are disposed of in the designated trash areas, but it's also important people don't set trash in those same areas.
Improper disposal of smoking materials was also determined to be the cause of a fire at Berkeley Flats apartment complex Sept. 19, which resulted in an estimated $400,000 in damage. King said furniture on the porch or balcony area also contributed to the fire. King said a city ordinance banning non-designated outdoor furniture is in the works with city council.
But the easiest rule for students to follow is to pay attention, Keary said.
"Paying attention serves us well in all aspects, but especially in situations that could be dangerous," Keary said. "Making sure you are present when cooking, watching where you put your cigarettes, those types of things, can prevent a lot of those situations."
Edited by Sarah McCabe
FIRE SAFETY TIPS
- Put cigarettes and trash in designated areas.
- Read all directions before cooking,
and make sure the packaging is properly
removed.
- Test smoke detectors once a month.
Change the battery every time.
- Clean out smoke detectors. Built-up dust can cause it to sound.
- Put only designated outdoor furniture on the porch, balcony or areas up against your house.
- Understand the area you live in and what exit options you have in case of fire.
Information provided by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical and KU Office of Public Safety
TYI FR RIFRWIRTH/KANSAN
Lawrence Fire Department firefighters ascend ladders and carry up hoses to combat the flames at the Sigma Chi fraternity house on Aug. 22. The flames, believed to have been caused by construction, started at around 4 p.m. that afternoon.
Yom Kippur a focus on soul over body
RELIGION
From left to right, Rabbit Neal Shuster, Jay Lewis, and Michael MacGregor, leading kdl ore servers at KU Hillel for Yom Kippur.
LYNDSEY HAVENS
Brianna Brown is looking forward to being on campus for Yom Kippur this year. Not only is her Hebrew class canceled (an added bonus), but she reserved her spot at Chabad's Havdalah Service and Break the Fast days in advance.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/JAIME GRABELL
lhavens@kansan.com
"It will be a completely different experience to observe Yom Kippur away from my family and rather in a room full of other KU students," said Brown, a freshman from Overland Park.
September is both an exciting and busy month in the Jewish religion. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, was celebrated last Monday, Sept. 17.
Apples and honey are iconic to this holiday, signifying a "sweet new year," or "Lshanah tova," meaning "for a good year."
HEALTH
Following just one week later is Yom Kippur, which is observed today. Yom Kippur is the holiest
Rabbi Zalman of Chabad said that the turnout for Rosh Hashanah was beyond his expectations. He said he had high
expectations for Yom Kippur.
day on the Jewish calendar, better known as the Jewish Day of Atonement.
who perhaps throughout the year do not participate actively — do make a great effort to attend on Yom Kippur."
"As Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, we are expecting quite a crowd," Zalman said. "One of the most unique aspects of this holiday is how so many people — even those
Since Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur fall within a week of one another, they are often viewed as a pair. Although he loves both, Zalman said, there is something special about Yom Kippur.
A closing service will be held today in the Big 12 Room at the Kansas Union. It will begin at 6 p.m., directly followed by Havdalah and Break the Fast at 7:51 p.m.
"There is nothing as meaningful as entering a 24-hour period where so much of my energy is focused on my soul versus my body," Zalman said. "By fasting on this day, I like to use my body's hunger to bring myself closer to my soul."
Edited by Sarah McCabe
Affordable Care Act gives students new insurance options
Students will experience the effects of the Affordable Care Act firsthand with the new health insurance plan offered by the University. While students may remain on their parents' health insurance until age 26, they can elect to purchase the revamped student plan, which aims to provide affordable coverage for student health needs.
"The two biggest changes are an increase in benefit for medication and mental health as a result of the Affordable Care Act," said Jake Rapp, a graduate student from Lawrence. "The plan was designed for the student health insurance market, which assumes students are young and healthy single people."
Rapp served on the Student Insurance Advisory Committee to the Kansas Board of Regents, which was tasked with making a student insurance plan that complied with the health care reform.
Because most students just need prescription drug coverage and access to general care, Rapp said, the new plan at $104 a month is much lower than standard plans. Rapp finds purchasing the student plan less expensive than being covered by his wife's health insurance offered by her professional employer.
Currently, more than 3,000 KU students purchase the Regent's insurance plan, and Diana Gillespie, associate director of KU Student Health Services, expects this number to only increase. While insurance companies are required to allow students to remain on their parents' plan through age 25, the increased premiums may make the Regent's plan more affordable, she said. Gillespie pointed to pharmaceuticals covered up to $100,000 previously capped at $2,500, full generic contraceptive coverage and congenital conditions covered up to $20,000 as changes that make the revised plan more competitive for students.
Mary Beth Chambers, spokesperson for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, said staying on a parent's policy or using the Regent's plan would likely be
most cost-effective for students. Although students may remain on their parents' plan longer, Chambers did not anticipate a significant impact on the cost of health insurance.
"It's been the trend for the cost of health insurance premiums to increase substantially based solely on students remaining on their parents' plans," Chambers said. On the Blue Cross and Blue Shield website, students can view the plans available based on their age, gender and benefits desired.
Travis Wentworth, a graduate student from Berwick, Maine, has been satisfied with his student insurance so far, especially after he injured his knee last year.
"I had knee surgery, and the insurance covered about 80 percent of the surgery cost," Wentworth said. He has heard other graduate students complain about the Regent's plan not covering some of their health needs, though.
The plan currently covers treatment for each condition up to $100,000, which will increase to $500,000 in 2014 and will become unlimited in 2017 because of the Affordable Care Act provisions. While $100,000 might not be enough to cover a catastrophic condition such as cancer, Rapp said the statistical probability of such a condition is very low for students. If students want catastrophic coverage, he recommended purchasing it separately from an independent provider.
Students should be able to use their insurance most everywhere, Gillespie said, since the plan's provider, United Health Care, is accepted across the country. Even if students choose a different insurance policy, Gillespie encourages all students to be covered at all times.
"Unexpected medical expenses are one of the biggest reasons students aren't able to complete their education," Gillespie said. "We want to make sure they have the protection they need to avoid those expenses."
Edited by Joanna Hlavacek
Index
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
CLASSIFIEDS 9
CROSSWORD 4
SPORTS 10
SUDOKU 4
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
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