The Game Room was closed all day on Oct. 12 for sanitizing and cleaning purposes.
Ruth Garvey-Nix, chancellor of Student Affairs, said there were some students who showed symptoms of having the H1N1 virus.
“Because the Game Room is such a small confined space with a lot of student traffic, the decision was made for a real thorough cleaning and disinfecting for everyone’s well being,” Garvey-Nix said.
The Game Room is not the only space with a lot of student traffic. There are plans to clean other areas as well.
“We are doing additional or targeted cleaning in the fitness area of the Athletics Building because it’s another high-traffic, high-touch area and at the Children’s Center as well,” she said.
Garvey-Nix said there have been six self-reported cases of students who have the H1N1 virus.
“There could be others that have not been reported,” she said.
IU Southeast has taken many precautions to educate and help students stay healthy.
“The primary effort is to educate students. There are posters all around that say, ‘fight the flu,’” she said.
Hand sanitizing dispensers have been placed in areas that are convenient to students as well as tips to help prevent them from getting sick.
The seasonal flu shot given on campus was moved to an earlier date than usual.
“Once the semester started and we received more information about H1N1, we asked the agencies who do our seasonal flu shots to come mid-September, where they normally come late October, early November. We brought them earlier because there needs to be about a four week period between the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 flu shot,” she said.
There is no indication if the H1N1 vaccination will be given on campus.
“We do not have that answer yet, we’ve contacted the county health department. We do not think we will be a site for the city,” she said.
“It’s all a little premature now because there’s not much available. Not knowing how or when, we don’t know what our plan will be,” she said.
There are many things students can do to prevent sickness other than vaccinations. Seuth Chaleunphonh, dean of Student Life said fatigue can lead to students being more susceptible to sickness.
“Lack of sleep is known to weaken someone’s immune system,” Chaleunphonh said. “I know that we just had some midterms that passed and as students kind of gear up to finish their course work, they will be tempted to compromise the amount of sleep and rest that they should get to complete some work. That, coupled with stress, could lead students to be more susceptible to being sick.”
Chaleunphonh also said it is important to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated to keep from getting sick.
Chaleunphonh said it is important for students to take care of themselves in addition to following the precautions set in place by the administration.
“We are advising students to use their common sense and consider the community when they do get sick,” he said.
He said it is important for students to let their professor know as soon as possible if they become sick.
“I commend the students who have already gotten some symptoms, who really take care of it and be considerate to their fellow students. I think it’s a sign to me that we are really a caring community,” he said.
By KATHERINE PITTELKO
Staff Writer
kpittelk@ius.edu
