Some restrooms will be closed as part of the process and the second floor’s men’s restroom in the Biological Sciences building will remain closed for approximately three weeks.

“We have been involved in several projects renovating buildings,” Director of Facilities Planning Roger Baalman said.

He said that the asbestos abatement projects are funded in part by stimulus funding, which was given to the university during the first quarter of last year.

“There are several other projects in the stimulus funding besides the asbestos abatement projects,” he said. 

Projects range from replacements in Knight Hall to classroom improvements in several other buildings, he said.

Addressing concern about the probability of negative health impacts of asbestos, Baalman said that the asbestos on campus is mostly contained, meaning that it is non-flyable asbestos, which cannot be inhaled easily.

“The abatement we’re dealing with now is materials that are either not accessible to the public or they are contained or encapsulated,” he said.

In regard to the recently torn down Summit View and potential asbestos exposure, Baalman said that no flyable asbestos was contained in the apartments.

While she could not confirm whether asbestos was used in construction of the Summit View buildings, Director of Environmental Health and Safety Nancy Fox said, “We worked closely with both [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration] and [the Department of Environmental Quality] and DEQ came outside and approved those methods.”

Environmental Health and Safety works to provide training for those working around asbestos about “how to handle asbestos, the hazards and our procedures on campus for handling it,” she said.

Fox said that her department coordinates with the Physical Plant and Facilities Planning for the abetment projects.

“The thing is, if asbestos is encapped and in place, it does not present a hazard,” she said. “And these buildings that we have on campus, I mean you can see them—they’re beautiful old stone buildings—but they were built in a time when asbestos was used in many different things.”

She said that campus will most likely never be asbestos-free.

I think that [from] most universities, you would receive the sort of answer that we only disturb [asbestos] when we have to and it’s safer just to leave it in place,” she said. “I don’t see a day that we have an asbestos-free campus unless we take our older, beautiful buildings down.”

Another factor on the amount of asbestos on campus is that there are no regulations against asbestos use in material production, Fox said.

“The fact is, you can still buy asbestos-containing materials; it’s not illegal in the U.S,” she said. “For example, there could be a little bit of asbestos in the roofing tar or something. I mean, we’re not insulating pipes, or anything, with asbestos, but as it has been explained to me that the United States has never outlawed the use of asbestos.”

She said that if a person is concerned about asbestos in their building to call Environmental Health and Safety about the situation. A sample will be taken and analyzed from a risk perspective.

Email: David Demic

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They bring experience; some good, some bad, but all useful. They will, if in a situation that they are comfortable, bring light to situations that may only have been previously available through observation and careful study.

Martin Luther King Jr. believed in action through non-violent means, and while that is admirable, the sad truth of the matter is that sometimes action is required. The Taliban will most likely not be “killed with kindness.”

The heroes among us are our veterans, and the University of Wyoming is one of the top campuses in the nation when it comes to veteran’s affairs. However, one thing that civilians may not understand is the toll these souls have endured, each in their own way.

For many the scars are obvious. They have faced the slings and arrows of war and were not able to come through unscathed. They have purple hearts, bronze stars and other commendations for their courage in the face of such adversity.

For so many others, the scars they bear are far less noticeable and still carry with them much weight. Often it is the scars that we can’t see that are the most painful.

As a veteran of foreign conflicts, who fortunately came through visibly unscathed, I can attest to the weight of the unseen scars.

That being said, these unseen scars are not a total detriment, quite to the contrary; they can be used to educate others who are bearing the same load and help those who interact with them to better understand how to help.

Next week, the university is sponsoring multiple events about, and related to, our servicemen and women who have faced war’s horror and returned.

The first event related to veterans is a discussion on Tuesday of the book “War and the Soul: Healing our Nation’s Veterans for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,” by Edward Tick.

The book “explores a wide range of historical, literary and contemporary perceptions of war” and “explores the effects of wartime service on soldiers’ identities,” according to the event website.

On Friday, a panel discussion of “How and why we are different when we come back: A Veteran’s Perspective.” The discussion is by veterans, for veterans and will enable newer veterans by providing an outlet and an opportunity to talk with an older generation of veterans about how they’ve dealt with their own demons.

To all our UW veterans, past, present and future, thank you. For those who choose to deal with the ghosts on your own, know that there are others who can help, if you will let them.

Email:  DJ Bowman

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For some international students, integration into student life is more difficult than for other students.

“Some students do really great jobs.  They have lots of confidence. We never hear from them,” director of the International Students and Scholars Jill Johnson said.

“For other students, it is pretty intimidating. Often times, it takes a little longer.”

In terms of classes, professors are extremely welcoming, and the International Students and Scholars office has special sections of core classes, such as English 1010, geared for international students.  These classes cover the same material but at a slower pace.

“The language barrier is the most visible barrier,” said Johnson. “But food is also a barrier. The culture can be completely different. It takes a while to gain confidence.”

Johnson said that integrating international students into UW life, along with better preparing American students, has been a hot topic this year. According to Johnson, some of the best-attended events are the international events, such as the upcoming Chinese New Year.

The International Students Center in the basement the Cheney Building is one place for welcome events for new students and different organizations use it to host small events.

These events allow international students to speak their native language and meet with students from their native countries. The center is open to all students, and they are encouraged to attend.

“We work with different organizations and clubs on campus to prepare events and let students know about campus resources,” Johnson said.

In addition, the International Students and Scholars office recruits students to come to UW from countries such as China, Korea, Taiwan, India and Nepal.  Many international students come from these countries, according to Johnson. There is also a big population from Saudi Arabia, India and Libya.

“Recruiting from these countries—it is not just the students who are involved, but the whole family,” Johnson said.

Most international students major in engineering and business because, according to Johnson, these are well paying jobs.

In terms of American students accepting this international presence, Johnson finds that most students are extremely welcoming.

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“Early on, CHAP was a way for health professions students to get volunteer hours and to put their interests to work on campus and in the community,” Colleen Hubbell, associate lecturer and licensed counselor in the College of Health Sciences, said.

According to Hubbell, in the last few years, strong partnerships have developed between CHAP and community organizations.

She explained that CHAP is currently working on several different projects including volunteer opportunities at Senior Housing, an apartment complex for low-income seniors. The organization is also working with a program to help teach young children about health professions through puppetry as well as a new partnering program.

“In conjunction with Ivinson Memorial Hospital, [we are] partnering CHAP volunteers with people with pre-diabetes to encourage them to lose weight and make healthier food choices,” Hubbell said.

CHAP is a student-driven, extracurricular and inter-professional organization.

“Students involved report benefiting from CHAP as a place to meet and learn from other students,” Hubbell said. “Because CHAP is inter-professional, the majors represented range from within the College of Health Sciences nursing, medicine, kinesiology and health, pharmacy, to all across campus- art, biology, micro-biology, business, nutrition, and undeclared, to name a few.”

Hubbell said that students say they have been energized by getting involved with community organizations and being able to contribute to making a difference.

“CHAP works because students aspiring to various health careers are innately committed to improving the quality of life of their fellow citizens,” she said.

“Cathy Valades-Flynn keeps the diffuse group connected through regular e-mail announcements, lunch-time meetings and personal involvement,” she said.

CHAP meets twice a month, the first Wednesday at noon and the third Thursday at 4 p.m. On average about 20 students attend each meeting but nearly 300 students a year participate in some way.

“CHAP is not a club. There are no dues or requirements for joining. Just come to a meeting, have lunch, and bring your ideas for making a difference.”

Those interested in being added to the email list can contact Valades-Flynn at cvalades@uwyo.edu or call 766-4908.

Email the author: rkubiche1@uwyo.edu

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The award is given to a president who exemplifies leadership to create a campus environment where learning and campus life are not undermined by the misuse of alcohol, according to Outside the Classroom and United Educators.

“The award is managed by Outside the Classroom and United Educators. They are passionate about harm reduction and alcohol awareness so we can maximize the success of students nationally,” Sara Axelson, vice president of student affairs, said.

Nominators were asked to talk about how societal conditions drive alcohol use and the magnitude of the alcohol-related problems in universities.

Buchanan cited in his acceptance speech that, at UW, these examples are easy to find because 25 percent of students in Wyoming have reported drinking before the age of 13 and 72 percent of arrests and citations from the UW Police Department involve alcohol.

“Across the nation, college and university presidents have to face the fact that young people coming to the university are already experienced with alcohol,” he said.

Nominators were also asked to talk about how their president has taken an active stand on alcohol and made prevention of its misuse a priority for their institution, as well as created new initiatives to change student norms away from alcohol use.

“President Buchanan’s commitment to addressing alcohol issues and success in decreasing both alcohol use and its adverse effects are models for the entire higher education community,” Janice Abraham, CEO of United Educators, said in a press release.

Buchanan has implemented alternative late night programs for students, mandatory online alcohol education and AWARE, which is a nationally recognized alcohol education and intervention program.

He is also the leader of the A-Team, a coalition of campus and community members to change campus, local and state laws and policies surrounding alcohol.

According to a press release from Outside the Classroom and United Educators, from 2007 to 2009, student binge drinking dropped by 24 percent, in part because of Buchanan’s work.

There was also a 29 percent decrease in students reporting alcohol interfering with academics and a 40 percent decrease in drunk driving, according to the release.

“It’s really very rare for you to see something like what is happening here at the University of Wyoming,” Brandon Busteed, founder and CEO of Outside the Classroom, said.

“You have not only many staff across the university start to get involved in a very important way, but you also see a very committed and dedicated university president who doesn’t just talk the talk but is a very on-the-point leader in espousing his belief that this is an important issue to address,” he said.

“The kind words are humbling, but this is an award for the university. It is not an award for me, and it is an award for the hard work of our faculty, our staff and of our students,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan was given $20,000 for the university, which he dedicated for use by the AWARE program.

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Yet, I am not alone. Untold numbers of students all across campus are now in the end-of-the-semester homestretch. Many will spend the next week trying to complete a half of a semester’s worth of studying and coursework.

The library and computer labs that dot campus are filled with student’s rushing to complete their work on the final papers of the semester.

Yesterday afternoon, I saw one young woman who had to be typing at 90-words-a-minute, rushing to complete her research. What surprised me was the stress that was evident on her face did not deter her from banging out what had to be three pages in 20 minutes.

I suppose stress and procrastination can bring the best out of some people. If I could use pressure as motivation to produce work so fast, I would have had the rest of my assigned writing done last week.

Then there are the students who are trying to complete the reading of multiple chapters, if not books, right before they are to be tested on the material.

Some will be able to break the work load down into chunks, which they will be able to complete over the next week.

Others will surely have to finish the bulk of their reading the night before the work is due. Yet this is not really what can be considered reading; it’s more like scanning.

For some, covering such a large amount of material will not have much if any effect on their grades. For others, trying to do so much with so little time will turn out to be disastrous for their GPA this semester.

And of course, there will surely be those students who, besides just having to rush to complete the last of their reading and projects, will also cram overnight for their final the next day. They will take to their notes, reading them over and over for hours until its test time.

Once again, this may work to some students’ advantage. But for others, such studying techniques will have a devastating effect on the grades they receive on their finals. Surely they would have done better had they kept looking studying their notes over the past few weeks.

Some will fret and strain over whether they put up a strong enough effort towards their classes. Some will wish they had more time to prepare. But we will all know soon enough whether our efforts were enough.

It is what it is. Finals are here, whether you like it or not.

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Along with Friday Night Fever’s De-Stresser events, Amnesty International will be hosting a letter writing event tonight in the Union Gardens at 9 p.m.

Writing letters to governments and other authorities that abuse human rights is how Amnesty International began their campaign, Conor Mullen, president of UW’s chapter of Amnesty International, said. “It’s such a simple act that really anyone, anywhere can do it. Overloading the post offices and mailboxes of the tyrannical influences can, and do, help free prisoners of conscious.” 

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement with 2.8 million supporters in more than 150 countries who work to end severe human rights abuse. 

“Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards,” Mullen said.

Tonight’s event will be a “hot cocoa social of sorts,” Mullen said. “Paired with some on-the-spot activism.” Members of Amnesty International will be writing letters on behalf of prisoners of conscious and advocating Amnesty International’s mission—human rights for all—while they sip their hot cocoa. 

With this event, Amnesty International is hoping to meet new people, introduce them to the group and promote the organization’s mission of protecting human rights for everyone. 

The group promotes human rights for everyone by targeting specific instances where some rights are not being observed at all. 

Amnesty International is not connected to any form of government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. Their funding mostly comes from their membership and public donations. 

Currently, Amnesty International is working on a specific campaign on campus in which they are attempting to gain a guarantee from a third party monitor that apparel displaying UW’s name, or logo is made while practicing fair labor.

Amnesty International is working to guarantee that no UW clothes are made in sweatshops. 

“We are not saying that UW clothes are made in sweatshops,” Mullen said. As of now, UW is signed on with the Fair Labor Association, which has some strong ties to the very companies it is overseeing, Mullen said. 

He said that this can create a conflict of interest. 

“[There is] a need for a stronger, more independent type of oversight,” he said.

In the past, Amnesty International has organized film festivals, music festivals called Jamnesty and teach-ins, which are workshops where people learn about specific issues. 

On campus, Amnesty International is a small group that is usually run by four or five people, and Amnesty International is always looking for new members.

Mullen said Amnesty International would like to have dedicated volunteers, who would help keep the group and its projects going. To get involved, anyone can drop by the group’s information table on Mondays in the Union breezeway, or contact Mullen at cmullen@uwyo.edu.

Email: Jamie Magrum

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It’s the week before finals and most of us would agree that it is the one that strains our sanity more than finals week itself. Writing 20 pages of text, roughly making up some 16,000 words? Check. Fumbling with PowerPoint to make graphs look interesting in that grand presentation? Check. Taking the time to breathe? We’ll see about that.

While students have given this week the endearing name of “Dead Week,” the stress most students experience is nothing to trifle with. More assignments and scholastic pressure, as well as the seasonal change, can have severe effects on the mental health of students.

Unless you are a semiprofessional procrastinator, you should take the time to cope with that stressful class, problems with the significant other or whatever else might be freaking you out. The university offers a few options for that.

One of these is the “End of Semester De-Stresser” Friday. 

For the adventure seeker, there will be a mechanical bull to shake tense muscles—by making you hold onto a wildly rocking mechanical monster, whose only purpose is to throw you to the ground. 

However, if you prefer actual relaxation, massages will be available as well. Other de-stressors will range from video games to cotton candy. If any of this sounds like your kind of coping, make sure to go by the lower level of the Union at 9 p.m.

 Tips for Coping

- Develop a support group on campus

- Stay active

- Stick to a sleep schedule; avoid all-nighters

- Avoid stimulants like nicotine and caffeine

- Provide support; communicate and listen

Courtesy: Center for Disease Control

Another campus option is to pay the UW Counseling Center a visit. 

The center offers individual, couple and group sessions and you can set a time for treatment for the whole semester if you would like. The service is free and you definitely don’t have to be a nut-job to use it.

But when you look for support, you might not even need professional help. It can be as easy as talking to your family or a close friend. The Center for Disease Control lists suicide and depression as one of the greatest health risks to college students. 

One way to prevent this is to seek out the support one finds when talking about issues such as poor grades, dissatisfaction with oneself or perhaps too many expectations set by parents with someone they can trust.

Whatever the issues are you might be facing, find the coping mechanisms that help you the most. Studies have shown that something like watching TV can be a good break to take your mind off of things. 

However, studies also show that engaging in avoidance coping too often will not help you with chronic stress. By avoiding a big issue, more stress will build up over time, which will leave you feeling drained.

Just remember, this week and finals week are just two weeks of your life. Now that’s something not worth stressing about.

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The Good Mule Project has a few slots left for its South Dakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation trip. There are scholarships available for students who wish to apply.

The date for the trip is still being determined but will take place after finals.

Students will work on Geothermal Energy Projects, work to understand the culture of the Sioux nation, and will take a trip to the Wounded Knee Museum, among other projects during the trip.

 “Good Mule Project is an education-based, free speech organization that helps students at UW become better advocates for any cause they feel passionate about,” Alex Sullivan-Brink, Good Mule coordinator, said. “Good Mule focuses on three areas of need and development: Social justice, diversity, and sustainability.”

Good Mule allows any student with a cause or promotion to come in and receive help to achieve their goals. In November, they received $15,000 from ASUW’s special projects budget, and will use most of the money to improve recycling on campus.

“This will hopefully increase environmental awareness on campus as well as raise money from the recycling which could in-turn help lower student costs here at UW in the future.” 

Good Mule puts on events each semester, inviting guest speakers, putting on film series, and hosting other conferences and awareness events. 

This spring, Good Mule plans to bring guest speaker Leslie A. Newman, author of the book “Heather Has Two Mommies.” Newman last spoke at UW when she spoke on behalf of Matthew Shepherd after his death in 1998. The organization is also planning a presentation on “art as a form of activism” on and off campus during the Martin Luther King Days of Dialogue in January.

The annual Good Mule Conference is Feb. 12-13 and applications are available online at thegoodmule.org. For more information about The Good Mule Project, or about upcoming events, students are encouraged to contact Alex Sullivan-Brink at asulliv9@uwyo.edu. 

Students can also stop by the group’s office in the lower level of the Union.

Email: Cali Cravens 

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Across the world there is an effort to create a cleaner and friendlier environment, and UW is doing its part.

Over the last decade and with the help of staff, faculty and students, a strong effort has been made to become an environmentally sustainable campus. 

The biggest efforts from the university have come from the formation of the Campus Sustainability Committee and the Climate Action Plan from university president Tom Buchanan, which details the goals of the university towards being an environmentally sustainable campus.

“I think we are making great progress in advancing sustainability at the campus,” Jill Lovato, Co-Chair of the Campus Sustainability Committee, said.

Through these efforts, the university has maintained sustainability through energy efficiency in its buildings, with additions including more efficient windows, transportation, manage and growing a recycling program, and sustainability education and awareness.

The Campus Sustainability Committee has also hosted events to make sure that the university is always engaged in sustainability. 

This has included participating in RecycleMania 2010, a contest to measure the amount of trash and recycled materials collected at more than 600 schools nationwide to determine which participants had the highest recycling rate. UW placed in the top 30 percent of schools participating. 

In total, participating colleges collected more than 84 million pounds of materials during the 10-week competition.

The committee also hosted the Wyoming Sustainability Summit 2010, a statewide conference intended to provide a forum for local leaders and interested citizens to learn about environmental, social and economic sustainability. 

The summit provided a venue for sharing information about challenges and successes with sustainability initiatives and how to successfully address these issues in residences, businesses and communities. 

In other efforts to promote sustainability, in 2007, UW became a charter member of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, with Buchanan charging the Campus Sustainability Committee with administering the commitment’s requirements.

As part of the commitment, UW completed the Climate Action Plan, which guides the institution in achieving its sustainability goals. It is intended to be a living document and will be updated periodically as new technology becomes available or budget opportunities change.

The Climate Action Plan states, “As the only four-year institution of higher learning in the state, UW has a responsibility to provide high-quality opportunities for academic learning, teaching and research about sustainability, climate policy, climate science, and energy.”

It is clear from the plan that the university is not just dedicated to creating an environmentally friendly campus, but helping to contribute through education and research to create a sustainable world. 

In general, the first part of the plan focuses on education and reductions in energy use through behavioral change and facility upgrades, evaluation of alternatives, and limited implementation of promising initiatives. 

With its many construction projects on campus, UW has dedicated itself to sustainable efforts by requiring that all new construction and major renovations strive to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver standards.

LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most, according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s website.  

This includes energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to the impacts on those resources.

Currently, under the assessments as stated, the College of Business is at a higher standard than required by UW; at Gold standard. The new Kendall House has been expanded and remodeled to pursue silver certification.

According to Roger Baalman, the Facilities Planning Director and University Architect, the university was reaching for LEED certification before the university’s requirements, and is now looking for at potentially following LEED certification for existing buildings and maintenance. 

Lovato said that the university cannot help the sustainability of the campus fully without the help of the students, faculty and staff.

“Everybody has a part to play,” Lovato said, “Everyone should be involved.”

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