News Update 12-10-07

Campus News

The River Ambassador Program here at UMass Lowell to advantage of All America Recycles Day to host its Environmental Expo. The youth-based environmental group got to spread its message correlating recycling with environmental benefits. The Expo taught the students all aspects of recycling and incorporated fashion into the cause. A guest at the Expo, Pat Howland, did her part by shrinking old adult-sized sweaters and redecorating them for use by children. Amy Glowacki, Park Ranger for the Lowell National Historical Park, taught the pros and cons of polyester. The Park Ranger Uniforms are made almost solely from polyester, a material that isn’t eco-friendly and a contributor to global warming. The main point of these lessons was to show innovative ways to recycle.

Chancellor Marty Meehan spoke at a science-based state conference a few weeks ago, and is working steadfastly on what he has promised. “This year is the 50th anniversary of the launching of Sputnik by the USSR. That tiny craft streaking across the night sky set off an international space race but, more importantly, it got America in gear,” Meehan said in his keynote address. “All of a sudden, it was a matter of national security to be at the top of our game in science and technology. “Today, it’s a matter of national economic insecurity when you look at how fast India, China and other nations are wearing down our edge in research, technology, inventions and development of talent.” The main message of the speech was that Science and technology are going to play a very big role in our economic future, and that our educational efforts in these areas need to be coordinated and accelerated.

This month, this Tuesday as a matter of fact, Chancellor Marty Meehan will speak to Dr. Fred Lewis's Political Science classes. He is inviting all students to attend his speech, which will be in O' Leary Library Room 222 at 12:30 PM.

Students will also get one more chance to get their flu shots before the end of the holiday season. Students will be able to recieve their shots on December 14th, from 9 AM to 1 PM in the West Wing meeting room of the Costello Gym on North Campus. Anyone with questions can send them by email to Joan_Lehoullier@uml.edu. This is being done before the winter and flu season kick into high gear.

National News

Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina has been forced to end its fall semester early last Friday, due to an outbreak of whooping cough. 16 students have been suspected to have the sickness so far. The outbreak appears to have started when one infected student returned to campus this fall, Keirstead said. Twelve students are confirmed to have the bacterial infection, while another four cases are suspected, Keirstead said. An additional 158 students were tested, isolated and given antibiotics, while 1,200 students who showed no symptoms were given antibiotics as a precaution. 4200 more students will be given a vaccination to prevent the sickness. About 2,000 have already been given the vaccine.

Lastly, from Cape Canaveral in Florida, NASA delayed the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis yesterday, until next January. The shuttle launch was delayed due to a gauge in the fuel tank failing for the second time in four days. With only a few days remaining in the launch window for the shuttle, senior managers have decided to stand down until next month so that the problem can be better understood. Shuttle managers had said they would halt the countdown and call everything off if any of the four hydrogen fuel gauges acted up. Three failed during Thursday's launch attempt; no one knows why. Launch director Doug Lyons said Sunday's failure was similar to what happened before, except only one gauge malfunctioned this time.

That pretty much does it for the news today on Monday, December 10th.