Articles written by Chelsea Quinlan

Staff Opinion: Hard work and dedication: For me

coreyshep — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:50:21 -0400

I’ve dedicated this summer to working out and finally putting myself first. It’s taken a lot of work to get into the routine of things and stay motivated.

It takes a lot of dedication to wake up at 5:35 a.m. to go swim before my class at 8 a.m. It takes even more work to convince myself to go lift weights later in the day, and, occasionally, I feel crazy enough, to run a couple of miles.

Birth control price increases for students

coreyshep — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:19:35 -0400

The federal Deficit Reduction Act: has resulted in the government no longer subsidizing drug companies that provide discounted birth control pills to student health centers. Lindsey Davidson / PHOTO EDITOR

The price of birth control through student health centers has increased because of the federal Deficit Reduction Act.

The act, which was signed in 2005, aims to decrease costs for the government for Medicare and Medicaid, but the legislation unintentionally grouped college health centers with programs receiving reduced government help.

This will negatively impact students that acquire their birth control pills from student health centers, such as the Auburn University Student Pharmacy located in the Medical Clinic.

Certain brands of the Pill, which originally cost $10-15, now cost around $45-50.

Nancy Kickliter, director of Auburn University Student Pharmacy, said many patients have the option of switching from brand name to generic, which are generally cheaper, and suggested doing so if an option.

“It didn’t affect all brands because some were never purchased at a discounted price,” Kickliter said.

Kickliter said the pharmacy is working with a couple of drug companies that are thinking about offering discounted prices to student health centers on their own, without government help.

“I think that the legislation has a very negative effect on students, and I will do anything that I can to help our students find other low cost options they can afford and work to change legislation,” Kickliter said.

Healthy Habits defined by Pharmacy school

coreyshep — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:20:44 -0400

Auburn University’s Pharmacy school offers a program, Healthy Habits, to help students and faculty take control of their health.

“Healthy Habits is a health and wellness service focusing on weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction,” said Emily Mann, director of Pharmaceutical Care Center Operations. “Students would benefit by improving their overall health through lifestyle changes.”

The program was developed in 2000 by Dr. Kimberly Braxton Lloyd, director of the Pharmaceutical Care Center, and is operated by the Harrison School of Pharmacy.

“Healthy Habits is an ongoing service offered through the AU Pharmaceutical Care Center. The AUPCC also provides medication therapy management services focused on diabetes, asthma and other chronic illnesses, along with wellness services including smoking cessation,” Mann said.

The services, performed by faculty members and fourth year pharmacy students, include body composition analysis, blood pressure, weight loss history, medical history and medication review.

“I think it would be a great way for people to become more aware of their overall health,” said Lauren Nevels, a senior in nursing. “Furthermore, many people are not aware of the potential medicine interactions of the prescriptions they are on.”

The program cannot only help with existing health problems, but may also help to prevent problems through awareness. The program focuses on disease prevention.

“By monitoring weight and blood pressure and other health indicators, it could serve as a motivator for students to seek healthy behaviors, such as exercise and healthy eating,” Nevels said.

Students struggle with housing

coreyshep — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:17:24 -0400

Many students feel they don’t get enough respect from the companies they are renting their apartments or homes from.

Carla Fallon, a second year pharmacy student, is moving after her lease is up this month into a new housing complex, because she has been so disappointed with her current property’s managers.

Fallon had problems getting maintenance to fix things that broke in her house and was often told to fix it herself. She also had problems gaining respect from people working in the office and often found them to be rude.

Soldiers' pets find guardian angels'

coreyshep — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:18:21 -0400

Air Force Cadet Ryan Griggs: a senior in criminology, runs with his dog Kodi on Auburn's campus. Guardian Angels for Soldier' Pet puts dogs whose owners have been deployed into foster homes until the soldiers comes home. Lindsey Davidson / PHOTO EDITOR

Organization places deployed troops' animals in foster homes

Many deployed soldiers are forced to give up their beloved pets because they have no one to take care of the animals. Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet is an organization that sets up foster homes for the soldiers’ pets.

Linda Spurlin-Dominik, National President of Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet, said the organization was formed after they became aware of the problems military service members were having finding homes for their pets during their deployment. Soldiers often had to give their pets to a humane society or shelter.

“An individual signs up with our organization with an interest to open their home to a pet while the pet owner is deployed,” Spurlin-Dominik said.

There are three requirements to qualify as a pet foster home. Foster pet owners must open their homes to the pet or pets, ensuring the pets remain in a caring, loving, healthy and safe environment and relinquish the pet back to its owner when he or she returns safely from deployment.

“We are not only helping our military people, but we also help the shelters so that there are less animals surrendered to them,” Spurlin-Dominik said.

Soldiers being deployed may submit information regarding their pet on the organization’s Web site. To be eligible, a pet must be up to date on shots, spayed or neutered and have a certificate of health.

“If I was single and she needed a temporary home, that would be great,” said Ryan Griggs, a senior in criminology and an AS400 in the Air Force.

Motorcycles gain momentum

coreyshep — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:22:52 -0400

Motorcycles are becoming more popular as gas prices rise. With gas near $4 per gallon, many students are considering motorcycles as a possible means of transportation.

Deon Graham, a senior in civil engineering, got his motorcycle in December because it saves on gas. He also said parking for motorcycles was a plus.

However, some students have had them for years and are now glad they have them because of the rising gas prices.

Toxin count in homes at unexpected high

coreyshep — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:19:04 -0400

Cleaning products: are stored underneath the sink. Different chemicals mixed together can create toxic gases that can damage lung tissue or trigger asthma. An alternative to cleaning with these harsh chemicals is to use organic cleaning products, which are found to be less

Your lawn. Your bed. Your desk. What do all these places have in common? Toxins.

Most people probably never consider where the most toxic places are around their homes; however, it is something everyone should be aware of.
One place most people never suspect as a toxin-filled area is their lawn.

The insecticides and herbicides people use on their lawns contain many harmful toxins, according to an article on Health.com.

These both increase the risks of cancer and neurological diseases. Insecticides generally have the potential to be harmful a few days after they have been applied, where herbicides have the potential to last for weeks. The best way to avoid the harmful effects from these is to avoid direct contact with the treated lawn for a period of time.

Another place many people forget may have toxic chemicals is under their kitchen sinks. Most people store their general cleaners here. Ammonia and chlorine bleach, when mixed together, create a toxic gas that can trigger asthma and damage lung tissue.

Steven Dignazio, a junior in criminology, takes precaution when it comes time to clean.

“I try to wear rubber gloves when I clean,” Dignazio said.

As organic foods and products become more available, it is easier to find less harmful cleaning solutions that don’t contain the harsh chemicals that traditional cleaners often include.

“I think they are a better alternative as far as harmfulness,” said Danielle Jones, a junior in nutrition.

Brominated flame retardants, which are in many conventional mattresses, are linked to cancer and hinder immune system function. The chemicals affect almost every organ in a person’s body.

Staff Opinion: Early marriage can create difficulties

coreyshep — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:25:00 -0400

It seems like a lot of students rush into marriage. I have never quite understood why people can’t wait until after college to get married.

If two people are in love, they should be able to wait until after college to get married. If someone can’t wait around, then obviously that person isn’t worth marrying. There’s no rush to be married.

Many parents “cut off” their children if they marry during college, because they think their children are no longer their responsibilities.

Medical ID card assists paramedics

coreyshep — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:42:35 -0400

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama now provides a free emergency medical card to all Alabama residents and residents of other states that are insured by the organization.

The card, which can be registered for online at myepi.net, has the registered person’s name, an emergency contact and a rescue login number.

Registering takes fewer than five minutes.

If the card holder is in an accident, paramedics or hospital personnel can go to the Web site and enter the number from the patient’s card.

The Web site then brings up the medical history of the card holder including current medications, surgeries, blood type and allergies.

“I think it is a wonderful idea,” said Christine Sirna, a junior in chemistry. “If something serious happened to me I would want the emergency rescue to be able to quickly look up my medical history to treat me properly.”

There are many advantages to the card. It allows paramedics to look up vital information quickly.

“If a person got into an accident and was unconscious, you could look up their blood type and medical history quickly to be able to treat them properly without having to contact anyone,” Sirna said.

The information cannot be accessed without the number printed on the card.

Information can only be changed with a username and password created by the individual.

The Web site is security-enabled and claims to store your information confidentially and securely.

“I would be interested in getting one. I have a lot of cards in my wallet, and this one would actually be important,” said Josh Hughes, a junior in radio, television and film.

CDC report finds landlines obsolete

coreyshep — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:18:30 -0400

Liz Gallas: a sophomore in nutrition, talks on her cell phone. The trend of cell phone popularity is decreasing the need for landlines. Lindsey Davidson / PHOTO EDITOR

A report released earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that people are relying on cell phones more than ever before. The additional cost of a landline seems to deter most from having both a cell phone and a home phone.

Dr. Margaret Fitch-Hauser, director of Auburn University’s public relations program, cancelled her landline over five years ago because she found she never used it.

“For me, it was duplicating both cost as well as function. I also found that I was never at home when I needed to use the phone,” Fitch-Hauser said. “Also, because I travel quite a bit, being able to take my phone with me made me much more accessible than relying on a landline at home.”

One-third of all people under 30 rely only on a cell phone.

Amanda Eubanks, a junior in interior design, uses only a cell phone. “The free long distance is the biggest plus for college students calling friends who have out-of-state area codes with their cell phones,” Eubanks said.

Many find convenience in cell phones because you aren’t restricted to your home to receive calls. College students and professors are busy and find that they aren’t home to receive calls on a home phone.