The All State

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON — In what may be the scariest shower news since Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” a study says showerheads can harbor tiny bacteria that come spraying into your face when you wash.

People with normal immune systems have little to fear, but these microbes could be a concern for folks with cystic fibrosis or AIDS, people who are undergoing cancer treatment or those who have had a recent organ transplant.

Researchers at the University of Colorado tested 45 showers in five states as part of a larger study of the microbiology of air and water in homes, schools and public buildings. They report their shower findings in Tuesday’s edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In general, is it dangerous to take showers? “Probably not, if your immune system is not compromised in some way,” lead author Norman R. Pace says. “But it’s like anything else — there is a risk associated with it.”

Still, showerheads are full of nooks and crannies, making them hard to clean, the researchers note, and the microbes come back even after treatment with bleach.

People who have filtered showerheads could replace the filter weekly, added co-author Laura K. Baumgartner. And, she said, baths don’t splash microbes into the air as much as showers, which blast them into easily inhaled aerosol form.

The bugs in question are Mycobacterium avium, which have been linked to lung disease in some people.

Indeed, studies by the National Jewish Hospital in Denver suggest increases in pulmonary infections in the United States in recent decades from species like M. avium may be linked to people taking more showers and fewer baths, according to Pace.

Symptoms of infection can include tiredness, a persistent, dry cough, shortness of breath, weakness and “generally feeling bad,” he said.

Showerheads were sampled at houses, apartment buildings and public places in New York, Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee and North Dakota.

By studying the DNA of the samples they were able to determine which bacteria were present.

They found that the bacteria tended to build up in the showerhead, where they were much more common than in the incoming feed water.

Most of the water samples came from municipal water systems in cities such as New York and Denver, but the team also looked at showerheads in four rural homes supplied by private wells. No M. avium were found in those showerheads, though some other bacteria were.

In previous work, the same research team has found M. avium in soap scum on vinyl shower curtains and above the water surface of warm therapy pools.

Virginia Tech microbiologist Joseph O. Falkinham welcomed the findings, saying M. avium can be a danger because in a shower “the organism is aerosolized where you can inhale it.”

By Staff Reports

The APSU football team traveled to play against Youngstown State in Youngstown, Ohio and lost the Saturday, Sept. 12, contest 38-21 at Stambaugh Stadium.

APSU scored first for the second straight week on a blocked punt from Ricky Thomas.

With that score, APSU would jump out to a 14-3 lead before Youngstown State put up 28 unanswered points.

Offensively, APSU was lead by the arm of Trent Caffee. Caffee had 158 yards on 13 completions on 23 attempts with one touchdown and one interception.

Caffee’s lone touchdown was caught on a 4-yard fade route to Darryl Miller in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, APSU was led by the line-backing duo of Kit Hartsfield and Daniel Becker’s 10 tackles apiece.

APSU gave up 437 yards of total offense to Youngstown State.

APSU will travel on Saturday, Sept. 19, to take on Illinois State, with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

By Staff Reports

It has recently come to the attention of the editorial board of The All State, and apparently the rest of campus as well, the H1N1 virus, also known as ‘swine flu’, is a hot topic on campus as well as worldwide.

While some of us believe it is encouraging that APSU is nipping the issue in the bud, others are concerned it may be blown out of proportion.

Why is the H1N1 virus currently such a major concern? According to APSU’s Web site devoted to the virus, the World Health Organization declared H1N1 to be a pandemic June 11, 2009. By definition, a pandemic is a disease prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world, or an epidemic over a large area. Cases of H1N1 have been reported all over the world, and as flu season approaches, the masses are preparing for the worst. The Web site pointed out the pandemic was declared because the illness is widespread, not because it has become any more severe than it was previously.

The question is: How worried should we be? In comparison to other strains of influenza, H1N1 is not significantly different. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is simply the most dominant flu virus in the world at this time. The major symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Many cases have also reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. We’ve surely all experienced a few or all of these symptoms at some point in our lives, and the majority of us have most likely contracted some form of the flu. Does this sound deadly?

We at TAS feel that the students and faculty/staff of APSU should not panic. True, extra hygienic and health precautions should be taken, but this time of year brings those kinds of worries anyway.

We are impressed that APSU has stepped up and created a task force to deal with the matter, but we believe students should be informed, not paranoid. The bathrooms on campus are filled with fliers proclaiming the importance of hygienic practices. These are common sense tasks that mature, educated adults should all be practicing anyway.

The paranoia has escalated so far as to lead to the termination of employment, and even rude glances from classmates for a simple runny nose. According to Boyd Health Services on campus, no confirmed cases of H1N1 have been reported at APSU.

There are also several other diseases and illnesses just as pressing, if not more, as H1N1, that should not be ignored.

Students should be on their toes regarding all illnesses that impact people gathered in large groups. H1N1 may be serious at the time, but more fatal diseases can sneak up on us if we are too absorbed in a possibility.

APSU students have surely heard about the issue through their professors. Students are even allowed excused absences if they contract the illness. This is very generous and wise as far as quarantine purposes go, but chances are it will be severely abused.

Another important aspect of the H1N1 virus is its vaccine. The CDC reports the vaccine is being developed and should be available in the fall, and the vaccine provided for other strains of the flu is not expected to help prevent H1N1.

In a poll of the editorial board, only three of the 11 members said they plan on getting vaccinated for H1N1 if it is available for free. This is not a very high number. Perhaps we are afraid of the risks of such a new development.

We believe this is not an issue to be laughed at, but there is also no reason to become an overnight hypochondriac.

We should all take measures to keep ourselves clean and healthy, but continue to live our lives this semester without fear of impending doom.

Tell us what you think about the H1N1 vaccine by voting in our online poll at the right.

By Leila Schoepke | Staff Writer

The new school year started at APSU with scores of events on the agenda. The 2009 Fall Fling will start a new APSU tradition this fall. The event is sponsored by APSU’s Alumni and Friends and is open to the Public.

Fall Fling Planning Committee member, Debbie Nichols, said the committee, which comprised an array of people from the richly diverse Clarksville community, joined together to introduce “the first Fall Fling as an inclusive event to celebrate the university.”  The committee was in charge of planning, talking about the menu, the band, the location, and identifying people to invite. Some of the committee were also overseeing the decoration of the event’s site while making sure to retain its natural charm.

“With the leadership of Shelia Ross, we decided on a name for the event, the theme, and details including date, location, menu choices and of course a great band,” Nichols said.

“The President had suggested that we have another event that was like a counterpart to the Candlelight Ball that we do in the spring,” Ross, Director of the Office of Alumni Relations, said.

According to Ross, APSU’s Candlelight Ball was initially for an older crowd, but over the years it started attracting young professionals.

“Last year, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Candlelight Ball. It did originate being held in Clarksville, but later was moved to Nashville and it continues to be held in Nashville. It’s a formal event, it is fairly expensive, it’s a fundraiser and it could require an overnight stay at a hotel,” Ross said.

Distinct from the Candlelight Ball, which APSU President Tim Hall describes as, “a black tie affair” that has been for many years the university’s “signature social event,” and will remain one of its celebrated occasions, the Fall Fling is a more casual gathering of people, good fun and fellowship.

This year’s pioneering social event is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18, at the Clarksville Country Club. Prices for the event are $75 per couple and $40 per person. Early reservations are necessary since seating is limited and dinner will be provided.

“We’ve been really busy this week with reservations . . . Advance reservations are required. With food involved, a dinner involved specifically, we just can’t sell tickets at the door. We have to know ahead of time,” Ross said.

Ross said the Friday, Sept. 11, deadline is a soft closing date for the advance reservations. If people want to reserve a large table, Ross can facilitate their request as well.

Guests will start their evening with a 6 p.m. social hour, followed by a dinner buffet in style at 7 p.m. served in different stations set up around the room and featuring a variety of meats, pastas, sauces, cheeses, crackers, fruits and vegetables as well as Asian cuisine.

“I am really excited about that, I think the food will be excellent and the offerings will be plentiful for people,” Ross said.

Subsequently, a lively dance accompanied by the music and signing of The Big Thrill band, a 7-piece band from Nashville, who will play a wide range of sounds from the ’30s, ’40s, all the way to the ’80s, without forgetting to enchant the attendees’ ears with some rock ‘n’ roll, Motown country, oldies, old standards, and the best of modern music.

Later in the evening, dessert and coffee will be served as the entertaining social gathering continues until midnight. A cash bar will also be open throughout the evening.

According to a press release from APSU’s Office of Alumni Relations, “a courtesy shuttle will be available to transport guests from the country club to the parking lot after the event.”

Soon after President Hall’s arrival to APSU and attendance to the Candlelight Ball, he communicated to some of the alumni the idea of organizing “something comparable to the Candlelight Ball here in Clarksville, so that alumni need not drive to Nashville or stay at a hotel there overnight, to enjoy the friendship and fellowship of other Austin Peay alums and friends.”

Ross, said the Fall Fling is a unique event because it not only is a new and original addition to APSU’s annual social activities, but also because it seeks to reach out to a more diverse audience and bring people together, old pals and new friends, to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and a pleasant evening, locally, at an affordable price.

Besides, this occasion does not require formal attire. The attendees can wear casual elegant clothing if they wish.

“The Fall Fling is special because this is the first of what will hopefully become an annual event. It is located in Clarksville and is a bit more casual occasion. The cost is also reasonable. One of the objectives of the committee was to make the Fall Fling more accessible to more members of the community. The committee hopes to achieve a memorable evening gathering with friends, dining and dancing and saluting a great university,” Nichols said.

“It is not a fundraiser. It is what we call a friend raiser. It is just a party,” Ross said.

“I think there is room in the university’s social calendar for something a bit less informal, and for which tickets are not so expensive. So, we are looking forward to seeing many of the university’s alumni and friends at the inaugural Fall Fling,” Hall said.

“I’ve seen on the reservation list there are several administrators who will be attending and faculty, alumni, boosters, donors. We can accommodate around 300 people at the Country Club. Honestly, I would be really pleased to have around 200 for our first event. We’re just really excited and glad to have the opportunity to have a different attraction to offer,” Ross said.

By J.M. Heuft | Guest Writer

The APSU freshmen class assembled 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, in the Dunn Center. The crowd took up about half the gym and was polite as well as interested in the speakers.

Speakers included the Faculty Senate president Lori Buchanan, President Timothy Hall, and Student Government Association leaders.

The things I heard that day may help me have a positive college experience. The following are some of the things I learned during the speeches.

I was told to prepare for and attend every class, every day. The speakers said to seek information beyond class and textbooks. They told us to ask questions and go beyond Google.

They want us to better understand classroom learning by looking for a wide range of thoughts. Follow up on what you start and meet challenges as they come.

Plan ahead and use a calendar and an alarm clock to follow your schedule.

Talk to teachers, fellow students and anyone else who can help you learn broad concepts that go beyond the classroom.

Relish opportunities as they come and make the most of them. Ask a lot of questions. Go for the free stuff for the total college experience.

Be prepared to use a computer to check your e-mail, pay bills, find forms and find scheduled events on campus.

Read, write and think every day. Offer your ideas to others and be ready to listen to their ideas and viewpoints

Make a friend because a shared experience will be remembered longer.

Most importantly, keep your brain and body in balance as you study, work, play, laugh, eat healthy, listen to music and exercise every day.

I believe I have to put the most into my college time to get the most out of it, and that is just what I intend to do. How about you?

By Leila Schoepke | Staff Writer

Back in April 2008, APSU toilets were replaced with the “Uppercut” brand toilet equipped with a “Dual-Flush Flushometer.” These green-handled toilets were installed to save water and were an idea credited to the Sustainable Campus Fee Committee. However, since their installation, not every new green toilet has worked as expected.

Al Westerman, the director of Facilities Planning and Capital Projects at APSU said when they purchased the green-handled toilets, the merchant failed to mention an important detail. They had to find out themselves about the glitch after the fact.

After discovering the new green feature was not working with all the toilets the APSU Physical Plant staff investigated and isolated the problem.

APSU’s older toilets were made to operate up to five gallons of water pressure while the new green toilets were only meant to deal with up to 1.6 gallons of water pressure. For instance, some of the toilet devices in the Browning building, which Westerman said is over 50 years old, are among the toilets that would need to be replaced in order for the new toilet technology to function properly. This new technology has existed for only 10 years now according to Westerman.

“When they built this university, of course at that time, they had standard toilets, standard commodes—the five-gallon variety in a lot of different configurations. Well, a lot of these buildings around here are old. The newer buildings, the University Center, the Foy Center, the new HSC building which we just started this week, the new dormitory … they’ll have new equipment. We won’t have a problem, but it’s these older ones where those green valves will do the most good.”

“The flush valves operate correctly in the newer china bowls, however, they have a problem in the older china,” David Lemons,  Physical Plant Interim Director, said who has been directing the installation of the green flush valves after APSU received them.

“There is a project to replace the older china, which Mr. Westerman is the project manager, and as far as I know, the green flush valves will remain,” Lemons said.

The energy management firm Ameresco is the company under which Westerman is managing one of his APSU energy related projects, such as the replacement of the old boilers in the boiler house, which are beyond their normal life span and need to be changed.

Westerman said this project is funded by stimulus money, which is enough to pay off the stimulus projects outright. That includes the commodes, the changing of the china and the boilers, etc. The saved money from the energy will be conserved can be applied to pay off the note that would normally be borrowed money.

He explained what happened is initially there were three different designs on the 1.6-gallon toilets.

He said the first one came out to be a terrible failure due to the round shape of the bowl that makes the water swirl without disposing of the waste and flash the toilet over and over again, which ends up wasting all the savings.

“Another case of our best intentions to do something great turned out well wasn’t quite perfect, but now we’ve got it fixed.”

Under the Ameresco project, APSU will locate all the old toilets that are five gallons and replace them with the 1.6-gallon variety, which will make the green handles work extremely well, according to Westerman.

According to Westerman, the Sustainable Campus Fee Committee bought the green handles and paid to have them installed, but now under the new Ameresco project, APSU will replace all the china so the commodes will function effectively.

Another energy saving project, like the new popular electric cars, Westerman is working on with the Sustainable Campus Fee Committee is a recommendation from his part to replace all the faucets around the academic buildings with others that are touch free. This will not only prevent the spread of germs but will also save water.

“The fact is the green handles do work. Now the new commodes don’t have this problem,” Westerman said.