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Thursday, October 2 J, J999 - Page 4 NEWS Carroll County offers meningitis vaccine Flu shots STACI GEORGE from 2:30 pm through 4:30 pm, as well as MATT FREAS StaffWrifl:'r Joan Lusby, Certified Physician Assis- every Tuesday from 12:00 pm through 4:00 tant, commented that they are looking into Special to Ihe Phoenix Do you know what meningitis is? You pm. The hours will be extended to 7:00 pm the possibility of giving the vaccine at Smith The flu shot will be offered to students should. College students are most likely to the last Tuesday of each month. House. by Smith House this- fall. Influenza, com- get the bacterial form known as meningo- The vaccine costs $60.00, and any stu- She also mentioned that this vaccine will monly called "the flu," is caused by viral coccal meningitis. dent under 18 must have parents' permission be a requirement for next year's health form. infections in the respiratory tract. Symptoms that everyone should look for to receive the vaccine. Realizing the risks of this bacterial ill- On October 27 and 28, from 11 am to include: high fever, nausea and vomiting. Questions concerning meningococcal ness, as well as other illnesses that spread I pm, students and faculty can receive severe headache, signs of cerebral dysfunc- meningitis or the vaccine can be directed to from one person to the next, Lusby staled, the shot for $4.50 in Ensor Lounge. tion, rigors, profuse sweats, altered mental Eleanor Derstine at (410) 876-4936 or Deb- "It reminds us that we need to take good care The flu .shor should be taken at least status, stiffness and pains in the neck, shoul- bie Middleton at (410) 876-4936. of ourselves in general. The best protection ders, and back, and a skin rash of small, The vaccine prevents only a few types is your own protection - good common sense two weeks prior to the stan of the influ- enza season to allow your body to build bright red spots. of meningococcal disease, which include health measures such as washing hands, re- the antibodies to prevent the flu. The in- Anyone with such symptoms should seek groups A, C, Y, and W-135. It does not pro- fraining from sharing cups, adequate rest, a doctor for immediate treatment. tect against group B. and a healthy diet." fluenza vaccine must be taken each year. Most students at WMC live on cam- If this bacterial disease remains undetec- A pamphlet written by The American Anyone who wants more information the residence makes ted, the ailing person has the potential risk Academy of Pediatrics states that "although pertaining to meningococcal meningitis may pus, which ground for the influenza halls a breeding virus of long term brain damage including paraly- less than 15% of the population carry the contact Smith House. . once one person gets sick. sis, hearing loss, speech difficulty, and in- germ, less than I% of the total population After the vaccine, a sore arm might re, The flu shot is relatively painless, and tellectualimpairment. are susceptible to the bacteria and can de- sult, with a minimal swelling for one to two you will not experience flu-like symp- Like any other serious illness, a possible velop infection of the blood or the fluid days. toms afterwards. It also lessens the ef- death is always a harsh reality for one suf- around the brain (meningitis). The germ is People with Anaphylaxis or someone fects of the annoying common cold. The fering from meningococcal meningitis. spread by direct contact with secretions from with a moderate illness, with or without a flu shot also helps the body fight off any The American College Health Associa- the nose and throat, such as by kissing, fever, should not gel the vaccine. other respiratory infections. tion has studied this illness profusely and has coughing, sneezing, and sharing of ciga- Although children ages one and two and Typical symptoms of the flu include concluded that all students should have a rettes, drink, and food." the elderly are most susceptible to this bac- high fever, usually 100-103 degrees, vaccination that will prevent this illness. Although meningococcal meningitis terial illness, college students who live in cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, head The Carroll Counry Health Department plagues an estimated three to ten people out close quarters are also at risk. aches, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue. will be offering the meningococcal vaccine of a population of 100,000, it's still an ill- As with any illness, one should contact a Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can also to students the second Monday of each month ness to handle with precaution. physician for an accurate diagnosis. accompany the influenza infection. The future of the Greek system Continued from page 2 out, the more positive the outlook on the The incident occurred during a pledging up in the press." group becomes," said Chimock. ;'The minute activity, when a female took approximately "Chapters need to realize that they have Sigma Sigma, attributes the varied opinions of of the Greek organizations to the amount you tie your name to something, it gets your 20 shots of bourbon and had to be hospital- to help themselves," said Chimock. "It would name out there." ized. also help if the Inter-Greek Council, Inter- knowledge people have of Greek activities. Kris Rider, Inter-Greek Council secretary, Because of the incident, the names of both Fraternity Council, and Panhellenic Coun- "People who know the Greeks support us, has another theory about the low numbers. of those organizations have been tarnished cil were more functional. They could help and those who don't know us, don't support us and don't see the good we do," Rende said. "I think the reason why numbers are low and heavy sanctions were handed out by the publicize and get things going," she said. Others, like Neal, do not believe the col- is because the different organizations don't college. Rider believes that the councils cannot lege is supportive enough of the Greek sys- work together in recruitment. AJI of the chap- Now some people fail to see the good do what they need to do by themselves. Of- tem. ters work separately for their own benefit," things that those two organizations have done len, they do not get the support they need "There are a lot of things the school could she said. and continue to do. from the chapters. do, like help with recruitment, but they just Philip Sayre, Dean of Student Affairs, That may be the case, but Robert Cham- ''The executive boards of all of the coun- don't do it," said Neal. "The students can't also believes that since Greeks open a lot of bers, president of the college, has a hard time cils try to work towards positive goals, but totally support the system by themselves, what they do to independents, such as par- finding praise for the Greeks. there isn't much support from the organiza- they need the school's help." ties and inviting them to live on their floor, "Most problems on campus are Greek- tions themselves," said Rider. In response, Sayre cited three ways, spe- people start to believe they do not need to related," said Chambers. "Sometimes stu- Chi mock also believes it is unrealistic for cific to Greek chapters, that WMC lends a join the organizations to reap the benefits. dents believe that just because this is col- any organization to expect the college to be helping hand. "Some organizations may see allowing lege, there are no rules and the college will excited over every individual action taken. First, one staff member from the College independents to participate in their events as protect everything they do." Although the college does not publicize Activities Office and Residence Life is as- a recruitment process, but I don't see it as Dr. Charles Neal, Sigma Phi Epsilon ad- every positive activity Greeks take part in, signed to the Greek system. Second, the col- very successful," said Sayre. "The numbers viser, does not agree with Chambers. Sayre does not believe that the college has a lege provides each organization with a club- are there to prove it." "I think [Chambers] is hard-pressed to bad relationship with the Greek organiza- room for meetings and other social events. Rider is in agreement with Sayre. ''They make ageneralized statement like that," said tions. I with housing do not see the need to join the organizations Neal. "There have not been many major ''There will always be times when Greek Third, Greeks are provided to choose their resi- on campus and are allowed when they are already getting what they problems in the past years. Greeks are going organizations, or even other organizations, dence before any other students. want," said Rider. "They are already getting to get more attention though because they wi II be upset with the college when they en- Luke Page, an independent junior envi- some of the best aspects of being a part of a do have all the parties." force the rules," said Sayre. "We have to be ronmental biology major, realizes the good fraternity or sorority." Chimock said that so far this year noth- serious with the consequences when they do that the Greek organizations do but knows Chi mock said that WMC Greeks as a ing similar to last year's binge drinking in- something wrong." that most people "have the mental picture of whole "don't have a good or bad name, they cident has happened. Many believe that the Bryan Miller, an independent junior so- the movie 'Animal House' when they think have no name." One thing that has contrib- emphasis on Greeks drinking and getting in ciology major, believes that too often Greeks of Greek life." uted to that, she believes, is the lack of moti- trouble needs to end in order for them to get are blamed for things that are totally not their Although this stereotype is one that Chi- vationand participation sometimes shown by the recognition they deserve. fault. "If people wander onto a Greek floor mock and many Greeks feel hinders the re- Greeks as a system. "There are drinking problems every- to hang out, the residents are nor going to cruitment process, no one interviewed According to Chimock, the Inter-Greek where, but Greeks do tend to be worse," said kick you off their floor, usually," said Miller. thought the Greek system at WMC would Council plans to start a public relations cam- Sayre. "The organizations need to work on "If a lot of uninvited people show up, then vanish completely in the future. paign soon. the recognition of the positive things they a party starts, and the Greek floor usually "There are some organizations that could But in the past, the Panhellenic Council, do." gets written up and in trouble," Miller con- possibly be on the road to extinction," said which is the coordinating body for WMC Grace McAleer, president of the tinued. Sayre, "but that isn't because the school sororities, has attempted to plan programs Panhellenic Council, partly attributes lack of McAleer believes that the relationship wants to get rid of them, it's simply because to promote Greek life. positive publicity to the Greek organizations between Greek organizations and faculty and of their low numbers." "[The Panhellenic Council] doesn't have themselves. "For some reason Greeks don't administration varies within the departments. President Chambers believes that if the the know-how and training to plan them," take the initiative to show the positive things "Residence Life does not look at Greeks Greek system on this campus disappears, it said Chimock. they do," said McAleer. positively because of incidents like parries," is the students' fault. Often, an organization's reputation may "On a national level, the media is not go- said McAleer. "But College Activities and "The college would not be worse off dissuade new members from joining. For ing to do it for us because they usually focus our advisers realize the good things the or- without the Greek system," said Chambers. example, some people may still associate on the negative things that kids do. People ganizations do because of their involvement "But if the students want to keep the sys- Gamma Beta Chi and Alpha Nu Omega with find it... juicier to listen to the bad things," with the groups. They see the good things tem here, then there will be administration the near-fatal drinking incident that occurred said McAleer. and understand our dedication." support for what the students want 10 do," almost a year ago. Sayre agrees that Greeks often get "beat Gina Rende, public relations chair of Phi Chambers said.