Howard University Digital Howard @ Howard University The iH lltop: 2000 - 2010 The iH lltop Digital Archive 10-26-2001 The iH lltop 10-26-2001 Hilltop Staff Follow this and additional works at: https://dh.howard.edu/hilltop_0010 Recommended Citation Staff, Hilltop, "The iH lltop 10-26-2001" (2001). The Hilltop: 2000 - 2010. 40. https://dh.howard.edu/hilltop_0010/40 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the The iH lltop Digital Archive at Digital Howard @ Howard University. It has been accepted for inclusion in The iH lltop: 2000 - 2010 by an authorized administrator of Digital Howard @ Howard University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. VOLUME 85, NO. 17 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2001 ozens osure Safety Measures Taken at Campus Postal Facilities After Virginia Infection Cases BY IRA PORTER In the case of anthrax, Cipro is the most common Editor-in-Chief antibiotic to treat it, but Gaitor said that there are other antibiotics to treat this. At this point the hospi­ The University tested I 00 people suspected to tal does have the antibiotics to treat anthrax if any have been exposed to anthrax this week, including cases surface, Gaiter said. all of its mailroom employees, according to Univer­ Brock said it is best for students to consult per­ sity officials. sonal doctors and physicians in this case. The stu­ Four tested gram stain positive, indicating bacte­ dent health center will be providing medical coun­ ria in the body, including a student. The checks were seling for students, but not nasal swab test, Brock conducted at Howard University Hospital hospital. said. Three of the persons who showed gram positive "No one knows you better than your own person­ results were hospital patients and had no affiliation al doctor," Brock said. There was no public health with the University. threat to anyone on campus or at the hospital by Testing gram positive doesn't necessarily trans­ having the individuals tested at the hospital, Brock lates into anthrax infection, says Dr. Thomas Gaiter, said. head physician over the anthax testing for HUH. "Anthrax is not contagious and it cannot be "We all have bacteria in our system,"he said. spread from person to person," Brock said. Gaiter said test results can show up either gram stain Brock did add that mail services would be positive or gram stain negative. Because anthrax delayed. There was no mail delivered to the Univer­ shows up positive when tested, the hospital is doing sity Monday and Tuesday and it was a reduced vol­ the additional testing, he said. ume Wednesday and yesterday. To the University, the testing was more of a pre­ "There is going to be a slow down in the mail ser­ cautionary measure. vices. It may have an impact on GRE scores and "We do not know that they have been exposed to applications, but these are adjustments we are all anthrax," said University Spokesperson, Donna going to have to make," Brock said. Brock. "Because they were positive (gram stain) we wanted to be sure." FBI agents check for anthrax in a Florida building as as new cases of infection continue to emerge each day The University gets it mail from the ''We thought the best thing to do was to Brentwood Post office where two be ahead of things. Heaven forbid that if employees died earlier this week due one of our employees in our post office to anthrax related cases. Howard receives thousands of has a problem and we were not proactive.'' Students Uneasy About Campus Mail pieces of mail daily, from applications --President H. Patrick Swygert or other sorts of mail and it was better to start testing sooner than later, Presi­ dent H. Patrick Swygert said. Mail Terrorism an Everyday Fear for Some "We thought the best thing to do To combat these threats the univer­ delivery across the Howard commu­ was to be ahead of things," he said. BY. COREY CUNNINGHAM Hilltop Staff Writer sity has implemented some precau­ nity has been disrupted since the "Heaven forbid that if one of our tions that have been handed down beginning of the week. But delivery employees in our post office has a When sophomore Meridian Hill service, say Postal officials, will be problem and we were not proactive," from the national postal service. Hall resident, Ruby Abbey, checked back to norrnal by this weekend. he said. Swygert said gloves and Workers in the mailrooms of the her mail this week, she did so with a university post office and dormitory The US Post Office had stated that masks were distributed to personnel at bit of a hesitation. mailrooms at the three campuses. mailrooms now wear plastic latex service would continue without "I am worried whether the right gloves when sorting mail. delay, despite the anthrax deaths of After the initial testing is done precautions are being taken by the Also, letters and packages with out two postal workers at a principal mail through nasal swabs, if someone test lloward Post Office. I hope that return addresses are being held for sorting facility, but the center on gra_m stain positive, they begin a cul­ those people are checking all of the inspection. Other packages that Brentwood Road NE, which serves ture, which is further testing that takes mail for anthrax and any other arouse postal workers suspicions will the Howard community, was closed anywhere from 48-76 hours, Gaiter things," Abbey said after receiving a also be held for inspection. Monday for testing and cleaning, and said. package from relatives. Postal workers working in mail­ 2,000 District postal workers were This process entails taking test Abbey is not the only one at rooms will now be able to request checked for the disease. results and placing them on a disc in Howard concerned about mail terror­ testing for anthrax from the postal Many students csomplained of an incubator so they can grow. Once ism. The University Post Office is • waiting for checks, letters, and pack­ the bacterium has grown, they test it service. also concerned with the threat of Because of these precautions ages, and residents of Howard wor by using antibiotics to see what best File Photo anthrax and other terrorist measures. Postal officials admit the fact that Please See Safety, A3 treats it. President H. Patrick Swygert Female Students Concerned McGuire Represents Howard as IS About Their Safety on Campus U.S. Ambassador to Namibia BY DERRICK K. NAYO By EBONY GIBBS safer to read that there are 'suspicious persons' and Hilltop Staff Writer Contributing Writer • 'sexual assaults' taking place on campus," said Junior Sociology major Tasha Ulmer. • Former Howard Diplomat-in-Residence, Kimberly Tyson, a freshman English major from Campus Police reports confirm crimes that take Kevin McGuire, was sworn-in Tuesday as Nevada and resident of the Bethune Annex looks place everyday on campus and in surrounding areas. e United States ambassador to Namibia over her shoulders more than twice as she walks The crimes range from auto theft to kidnapping and uring a formal ceremony at the State home from the Undergraduate Library after a late armed assault and female students question when epartment. night of studying with friends. Tyson, like many they will feel safe on campus. McGuire will travel to the southern region other female students questions just how safe she is "It's hard to believe that all of this takes place on f Africa to begin his stay at the U.S. on campus every evening like this one. our campus and I don't think that people really take mbassy, where his task of strengthening "I have never been robbed before, but with the it seriously, but in reality there is a lot going on that merican foreign policy and trade agree­ things that are happening on campus now, I am not we need to talk about amongst ourselves," said ents in Namibia will commence. so sure it's not a distant possibility," Tyson said. "I Ulmer. Many female students, including Ulmer are "He's been in foreign service for quite a carry mace and a Swiss Army knife with me at all calling for a University sponsored symposium on ong time after holding several senior posi­ times whether I am walking to Texaco or any of the campus safety. "Someone should address these con-­ ·ons," said June Perry, the present Diplomat­ dorms late at night," she added. cerns and they should take seriously the risk we are ·n-Residence for Howard University. "He's Tyson is not alone in carrying a concealed weapon at as we travel around·campus and offer suggestions ery experienced and will work well as an for protection from rogues and thieves lurking and tips for more safety so that students can travel ambassador." around campus and other areas. "Every week I read Please See Safley, A3 McGuire acknowledged President H. Patrick Photo by Derrick Nayo the Crime report and it doesn't make me feel any wygert and the 15 to 20 Howard students that Fonner Howard Diplomat Kevin McGuire was sworn in as U.S ere in attendance during his induction speech. e gave an overview of Nanlibia's crisis with IDS and the countries quick response and use of the doing as well as us (in international affairs programs)." frican Growth and Opportunity Act. The efforts of both Perry and McGuire as Diplomat­ After the induction process, McGuire awaited hand­ in-Residence at Howard have increased the success of shakes of the 80 or so guests in attendance and took students planning on Foreign Service.