KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010 / NEWS
3A
PANTS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
"I don't think it's a good idea," said Lauren Michalson, a freshman from Overland Park. "It's not sanitary. Plus, its awkward and weird. I'd prefer to wash my hands and dry them with paper towels."
Patty Quinlan, nursing supervisor for Student Health Services, said that during flu season, pants can be exposed to the same viruses and bacteria as hands.
"You are less likely that the outer fabric of your pants came into contact with doorknobs, elevators buttons, light switches or other hands," Quinlan said. "I still feel this would be a false sense of security to think that the outer fabric hadn't come into contact with the same viruses and bacteria as your hands."
Understanding the concerns, Scafe said his primary reason for starting the campaign was to increase awareness about the everyday ways to save the environment.
He said his concern for the environment started as a child during the years he traveled the world with his father, who was a diplomat. He said he remembers seeing a polluted river running though a city in Bolivia that was so toxic, dogs would drink the water and die.
"That really made an impression
on me for the rest of my life," Scafe said.
But he can't stand in every restroom around the world, let alone Lawrence, to promote his idea. That's where the stickers came in.
Since 2007, about 9,000 stickers have been mailed locally and across the country.
Some of those stickers adorn a paper towel dispenser in the men's rest-
my pants," Fonkent said. "Nobody wants wet jeans."
"People notice things that are a little different and creative. I think they see it and maybe pull fewer"
room of Blake Hall, already riddled with some wear, tear and bathroom graffiti. One pointing out: that wiping your hands on your pants would make your pants wet.
With a similar mind set, Matt Cross, a junior from Ames, Iowa, said there had to be better ways. He had no inclination to use his
While some have noticed the stickers, that doesn't mean everyone has or that they follow the stickers' instructions.
Mike Fonkert, a junior from Tonganoxie, said he uses the restrooms in Blake Hall every day and has never noticed the stickers' message.
RACHEL MAJOR Juice Stop
"If I had noticed, I wouldn't use
pants as a towel,
especially when its
freezing outside,
he said.
Although few students weren't sold, local businesses have told their customers about their third option when it comes to hand-drying agents.
Juice Stop, 4821 W. 6th St. has had a sticker since September, when employee Rachel Major posted it. She said the drink shop hadn't heard any fuss about the sticker since it's been there.
"I thought it was clever," Major said. "People notice things that are a little different and creative. I think they see it and maybe pull fewer paper towels."
- Edited by Kristen Liszewski
HEALTH
Spring break increases risk of H1N1
BY ROBERT ALTMAN
raltman@kansan.com
It was around this time last year when reports of H1N1 and the unknown extent of its looming death toll spread the globe in a pandemic of fear.
Although the casualties haven't been as gruesome as projected, and though flu season is winding down, doctors are still weary of a possible swine flu resurgence.
"This year has been unlike any
students susceptible to illness
flu season that I have had in my medical career," said Patricia Denning, chief of staff for Student Health Services. "We cannot be surprised if we have a resurgence because
"On an airplane you have a couple hundred people packed like sardines, shoulder to shoulder, and people are coughing, they're spraying the air around you," she said. "So I would encourage people, particularly if you're going to be flying, to come in and get a flu and H1N1 shot."
While reminding students of free H1N1 vaccines, members of the University Wellness Group will be on campus today and tomorrow encourag-
"This year has been unlike any flu season that I have had in my medical career."
PATRICIA DENNING chief of staff for Student Health Services
it is not following the usual patterns. All bets are off."
row encouraging students to be safe and healthy during spring break.
They will be handing out attention-getting whistles attached to information and tips on
Although H1N1 is unpredictable, Denning said, it's easy to predict how spring break often makes
how to enjoy the holiday responsibly, as well as safer sex and first aid kits.
before, out of the country, in the country, or maybe they're just going back home, we just want to get them prepped for their trips," said Jenny McKee, a health educator for Student Health Services.
"Whether they're going to go some place they've never been
The "Safer Spring Break 2010" information cards she'll be handling out this week offer tips on how to prepare, travel and drink responsibly during spring break.
Excessive drinking, unsanitary travel conditions, lack of sleep and lack of nutrients are all common encounters on on spring break. According to Patty Quinlan, nursing supervisor for Student Health Services, it's the combination that can weaken a person's immune system, making them highly susceptible to viruses such as H1N1.
Quinlan said safety precautions focused on hygiene would be most effective in warding off viruses.
"Use the hand sanitizer as much you can, cover your cough and don't share drinks with other people," she said.
Edited by Michael Holtz
NATIONAL
Rock slide disrupts busy highway west of Denver
DENVER — A rock slide punched gaping holes in a bridge and left huge boulders on Interstate 70, closing a 17-mile stretch of the highway in western Colorado. The slide struck around midnight Sunday near Hanging Lake Tunnel in Glenwood Canyon, a deep, narrow chasm about 110 miles west of Denver, the Colorado Department of Transportation said.
The slide blocked the main route between the Denver airport and the Aspen Skiing Co.'s tour Aspen-area resorts, but company spokeswoman Meredith McKee said resort operations weren't disrupted.
All lanes were closed from Glenwood Springs east to the town of Dotsero. Up to 25,000 vehicles a day travel that section of highway, department spokeswoman Stacy Stegman said.
Officials haven't determined how long the highway will be closed.
No injuries or damage to vehicles were reported.
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Some lanes could then be reopened, but Stegman didn't know how long it would take to finish roadway repairs and reopen all the lanes. The west-
Because of the rugged terrain, the shortest detour adds about 200 miles around the mountainous Flat Tops Wil-
Crews began drilling holes in the boulders to insert explosives and blast them into smaller pieces
Because of the rugged terrain, the shortest detour adds about 200 miles around the mountains.
Flat Tops Wilderness Area.
The largest hole in the roadway was 10 feet by 20 feet. About 20 boulders ranging from three to 10 feet long were scattered on the highway, with the largest of officials said.
with the largest weighing 66 tons, officials said.
bound lanes were the most badly damaged.
to be hauled away.
Joshua Montgomery, founder of the Lawrence Freenet Project, an alternative community Internet provider, did not voice concerns, but said, "We'd love to help if we can."
Cindy Bracker Sturm, owner of lafe, 520 W. Third St., encouraged the idea of community involvement.
Several local business owners look forward to the possibilities Google Fiber would have to offer.
"I would be happy to provide my store as a place for public to come in and voice their support." Sturm said.
GOOGLE (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
be made to look at a way we could present ourselves to Google as an option to build out the existing fiber we already have into the neighborhood," Kuttemeer said.
gotten mixed responses from Lawrence residents. Allison Schmidt, a first year graduate student from Fargo, N.D., said she is usually content with the speed of her internet but imagines it could be faster. Schmidt, who pays $50 a month for her Sunflower
But Rod Kutemeier, general manager of Sunflower Broadband, said he thought the internet speeds and prices that Sunflower offers could actually harm the city's chances since Google is looking for places where that
Schmidt said.
Broadband internet service, said she thought the service was overpriced considering she didn't have cable. She said she would definitely be interested in nominating
"I think it would be good just to have something to add in a bit of competition for the other businesses."
ALLISON SCHMIDT Fargo, N.D., graduate student
Lawrence as a site for the new Google Fiber launch in hopes it would provide faster internet.
"I think it would be good just to have something to add in a bit of competition for the other businesses so they can make their prices a bit more reasonable."
"It's going to be a hard case for Lawrence to prove to Google executives that we are in need of faster Internet at better prices". Kutmeier said in an address to the City Commission during last week's meeting.
He said Sunflower supports the Google project, but he added that the city should take a different approach to the competition.
"I think that there is a case to
Edited by Sarah Bluvas
Catch this
Tanner Grubbs/KANSAN
Evan Hylok, a freshman from Edina, Minn., and Connor Kasey, a freshman from Chicago, play catch with lacrosse sticks Monday afternoon outside of Delta Chi fraternity. Hylok, who is a member of the KU lacrosse team, recently returned from Texas with the team after its first tournament of the season. The team won one game and lost two to begin 1-2 on the season. The team's next tournament will be in Lawrence March 26-28.
BE A WINNER TAKE A
TAKE A SHOT.
Sign up to win basketballs autographed by Bill Self and Bonnie Henrickson to be given away at halftime during the SUA Big 12 Tournament Watch Party.
Free HINI flu shots for all KU students, faculty, staff, & retirees
THURSDAY, MARCH 11
10:30 A.M. THROUGH THE
FIRST HALF OF THE KU MEN'S
BASKETBALL GAME
KANSAS UNION, 4TH FLOOR
ALDERSON AUDITORIUM
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