The Reporter

r '. ^minM^^m^SSSBS^m www, stetsonreporter.. com nursday, beptember 10, 2uu« UC3 U allege Cases of swine fIk are-breaking out all: across US Campuses.: pfff^stttroW0dA pared of masst 'hve^outsliV^i lindmn Stated H1N1, Zombie Outbreak Stetsoi Tips For Novices Copes by Erik Anderson You are going to get swine flu. Just kidding, but you will probably encounter the H1N1 virus sometime this fail or winter. A White House report released by leading scientists predicts that 39 to 50 percent of the U.S. population could get the H1N1 virus this season. What's more, infections are 20 times likelier in people aged 5 to 24 than in individuals over the age of 65, those normally seen as the seasonal flu's usual targets. These aren'1 great odds for college students. Around the country, hundreds of them are already getting sick as they move back to the dorms and pack lecture halls. Here at Colorado State University, we already have a few probable cases. So what do you do when your bottle of hand sanitizer runs out and you too succumb to the pandemic? Luckily for you, my college has laid out some tips for students worried about the epidemic. First, if you are sick, stay home. Isolate yourself from your roommates and others while you are sick. You may want to stock up on food and medicine now, just in-case. For freshmen living in the dorms, you should tell your Resident Assistant if you get sick. Don't worry, the swine flu internment camps are just rumors. H1N1 is a relatively mild strain of the flu. Pfease S©e "Him." P, 3 fey Joseph O'Brien With larger state colleges and universities reporting hundreds of swine flu cases daily, it was only a matter of time before Stetson released its number of swine flu victims. According to an university bulletein, released September 4, anywhere from four to eight students a day reported to various health care orginizations in DeLand and Student Health services during a period from mid August until early September. As the report stated, "most cases were relatively mild, with students able to return to classes within three to five days." Along with quick distribution ofTamifiu and other anti-viral drugs, as well as quarantining, the number of students affected has stayed low. Students who do come down with the MINI virus will he excused from class and the Dean of Student's office will notify your professors. Stetson Wotes Aims to InfUoence Local Politics by Suzanne Reffel New student organization Stetson Votes kicks off their first year by helping students register to vote locally. This organization hopes to educate students about voting and especially encourages them be active in the local DeLand government. Founded this year, Stetson Votes is a new, fresh campus organization. "This whole initiative started with a conversation that I had with professors about encouraging student voting. The result of this conversation is what has now become Stetson Votes," said faculty advisor for the organization Paul Lachelier, Associate Professor of Sociology. "A lot of young people don't vote," said Lachelier. "It's rather depressing actually. Even in the last election, with all of its hype and excitement, the percentage of young people, ages 18-24, who voted only rose from 47 percent in 2004 to 49 percent in 2008. It's a big problem " According to Lachelier, part of these statistics is that young voters are new voters; they just aren't used to voting yet. However, there's also evidence to suggest that this trend might actually be a generational problem. "Young people just think about voting differently. When asked their opinion on voting, most people over 40 said that voting was a duty, but young people were far more likely to think of voting as a choice - something they didn't have to do," said Lachelier. A key point to Stetson Votes is that it doesn't have to be this way. Molly Williams, Volunteer Coordinator and Chair Person, has been very aware of how many young people don't exercise their voting right. "I want to encourage students to vote," said Williams. "About a year ago I had an idea for a voter education program that never really materialized. However, Dr. Lachelier told me about this program and I was really excited to get on board." According to Lachelier, Universities can go a long way to change this because they can educate their students and change their misconceptions about voting. "One of the common misconceptions about registering to vote is that it's only something you do once in a lifetime. Students tend to think, 'I'm registered so I don't ever have to worry about it again.'Actually, you should re-register every time you move," said Lachelier. This includes re-registering in the town where you go to college. Local politics affect students more than they are aware, so Stetson Votes is stressing to students the importance ot"registering in DeLand, where they live locally most of the year. "Your local government actually affects you much more than the state or federal or state governments," said Lachelier. "The local government controls the area's safety through regulation of local police. Also, Please See "Votes," P. 3 < Letter to new Senators; Is this Admistration truly different? JL age 3 Stetson hands Mm oainina traction, Sudoku! [ecession Hits Athletics - Scholarships. agi