The Reporter

wed jan-05 issue 09 volume 117 Weekly Influenza Activity Estimates Reported m Slate & Territorial Epidemiologists Wsst; gasify <feRMasy 15,2005 -Week 2 er weather heats up flu season IMAGE COURTESY OF CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL Billy Perry ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Temperatures are rising as flu season heats up in Volusia and surrounding Florida counties according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each week the CDC surveys state health departments throughout Florida and the United States to estimate the level of flu activity. The CDC classifies flu activity in five stages: no activity, sporadic, local, regional, and widespread outbreaks. The CDC reported only sporadic or single outbreak cases throughout the state for the week ending Jan. 8. However, due to the spread of the influenza virus Florida's status has been raised to local outbreaks, as of Jan. 15. This change in status indicates more people are becoming infected and the flu virus is spreading within the state. According to the CDC, the flu and common cold are both illnesses that affect the respiratory system and have similar symptoms. The flu is worse than the common cold and may include symptoms such as a high fever, body aches, diarrhea, dry cough, and extreme tiredness. Because the flu is a virus, antibodies like penicilin do not work; however, the CDC recommends rest, drinking plenty of liquids, avoiding use of alcohol and tobacco, and use of over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms. If you are at high risk for developing complications from the flu, see your family doctor or Health Services. Emergency warning signs that may require immediate attention are difficulty breathing, chest or abdomen pain, confusion, sudden dizziness, and severe vomiting. The flu spreads in respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing, and spreads from person to person through occasional contact. Adults may infect others one day before getting symptoms and up to seven days after getting sick. See FLU,24 Restoration ofthe theater draws closer University allocates $73,000 to help aid in the reconstruction. Ian Guthrie news writer Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne are four names that Central Florida will never forget. The storms uprooted trees, destroyed homes and forced many citizens without power to suffer through the interminable Florida summer heat in the weeks following the chaos. Damage was so widespread that it seemed as if no area of Central Florida had been spared, including DeLand and the university. One site on campus that sustained considerable damage was Stover Theatre. A major cause of the damage to the theater was flooding. The basement was flooded severely, according to David S. Noyes Sr., Vice President of Facilities Management. "The water table rose up and penetrated the basement," he said. Noyes also said, "Water came through the walls" which added to the problem. Mold was also another problem for the theater due to the humid environment created by the flooding water. . William Elliott, a professor and production manager in the Communication Studies and Theatre Arts Department was directly affected by the damage done at Stover. "Enough damage was done to move me out of my office," Elliott said. In addition to the basement flooding, the main stage area also sustained significant damage. Additionally, many props and materials for productions were significantly damaged or lost after the storms moved through—props and materials that William Elliott said he hopes can be replaced. According to David Noyes, $73,000 has been spent to restore the theater and repair damages. That spending includes hiring professionals to clean up the mess and enlisting the help of environmentalists to verify that the theater will be safe for occupants and will not pose any health risks. That cleanup and repair allowed the Stover to enjoy a successful production of The Fantasticks in November, 2004. Despite its waterlogged summer and fall, things are looking up for the theater. See STOVER, 2A CAROLINE JONES / THE REPORTER DISH, a two-man performing group formed by Roberto and Nathaniel Aguilar, perform at Angel Benefit II. 'NGO's might be a vehicle for getting aid in, and a way to make sure the recipients do not feel uncomfortable' DR. NEAL LONG chair of the economics department Brett Henson associate news editor On Dec. 26, 2004, an unexpected earthquake triggered a tsunami off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, sending out a wave of destruction that affected a majority of the nations in the Indian Ocean, and even affected areas as far away as parts of Africa. International response immediately after the crisis has included the supply of materials and manpower from nongovernmental organizations, to which many campus groups have donated money in order to support the relief efforts. Effects-of the tsunami have left 250,000 dead in 12 countries and caused 13.6 billion dollars of damage, most notably in areas such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. These nations will be reliant, in part, on resources provided by countries that have not been affected by the disaster. "NGOs might be a vehicle for getting aid in and a way to make sure the recipients do not feel uncomfortable," said Dr. Neal Long, chair of the Economics Department. Angel Benefit II, sponsored by Pi Beta Phi, was held on Tuesday, Jan. 18 in the Hollis Center, a free event that accepted donations for UNICEF; and prizes were raffled from local businesses and restaurants, the proceeds of which CAROLINE JONES / THE REPORTER Pi Beta Phi President Rebecca Robinson introduces DISH. were to be donated to the organization. Pi Beta Phi president Rebecca Robinson, a senior English major, was one of the main organizers of the event, and said it was "inspired" by a similar benefit held by her sorority for the firemen after September 11, 2001. Another Pi Beta Phi member, Mary Anne Scwind, a senior marketing major, said of her organization; "we just See TSUNAMI, 2A Residents still dealing with overcrowding Triple rooms expected to be used through the rest ofthe academic year. Caitlin Reagan news writer - As a result of overcrowded residence halls, triple rooms became a major problem on campus during the fall semester, but since the spring semester has begun, those problems seemed to have diminished. Though there may be only a few reports of triples on campus for this semester, the stress of living in such close quarters remains for those who do not have a third roommate anymore. When Erin Lea, first-year political science major, and Elisa Franco, first- year international business major, stepped foot on campus, they imagined their dorm life to consist of pairs. Little did they know what they were in for when they checked into their third-floor room in Conrad Hall. They were shocked and disappointed to hear that ■ they were going to have two roommates rather than one. After settling in, they spoke with the resident assistant about possible openings in other rooms where they might be able to live more comfortably. The resident assistant assured them that they were not the only ones with the problem, and that she would let them know as soon as there was an opening. Although they knew the living conditions would be a challenge, all three girls decided to make the most of their situation and do they best they could. "I ran on the cross country team in the fall this year, and going to bed early and getting up at dawn everyday for practice made it difficult for me, and [I] became a nuisance for my roommates. It would have been a lot easier if I was only bothering one person rather than two," said Lea. Despite the lack of closets for the girls, three lofted beds, three desks, and three dressers, the girls managed to live in cramped quarters. However, after just a couple months of the three girls living together in Conrad Hall, Lea and Franco's third roommate became ill and left for the semester, allowing Lea and Franco to spread out and readjust to somewhat better living conditions. "Although [she] has left, we still have her bed, dresser, and desk in our See DORMS, 5A Wednesday's Forecast: Mostly sunny. High 71, Low 49 CALENDAR . CROSSWORD HISTORY HOROSCOPE UFE MAD CAMPUS - METRO REPORT MOVIE LISTINGS Forecast on page 6A 3B 2B 2B 2B IB 4A 2A 3B NEWS 2 A NEWSMAKERS 3 A OPINIONS 5A MOVIE REVIEW 3B SPORTS 1C STUDENT GOVERNMENT 3A THE FINISH LINE 2C WEATHER FORECAST 6 A Dive into Deland Jason Stone reminisces on his leap of fate from 5,000 ft. in the air. STORY 1B ratemyprofessor.com How do your professors rank against the nation? STORY 3B Ralo Kiley Brittany Fountain reviews the Californian band's latest release. STORY 2B