10 —— September 21, 2009

ee ep orecne

_ Sneeze in your sleeve, not on

your friends.

UPEI Braces for H1N1

by Patrick GRECO

Reporter

As students return for classes, UPEI officials brace for the potential outbreak of the HIN1 virus. An outbreak on campus could potentially be severe but precautions are being taken to ensure that the threat is minimal.

On Wednesday Septem- ber 9, UPEI officials issued a press release with the revised Pandemic prepared- ness plan. The plan works closely with Health services and the Canadian Public Health Agency. Any person ill with flu-like symptoms

_ is advised to stay home to

recuperate for 7 days from the onset symptoms.

In order to prepare for the HIN virus officials have ~

set up sanitary hand wash stations and put up signage all over campus to remind students to wash hands and use hand sanitizer whenever possible. But do students feel that the appropriate pre- cautions are being made? 2nd-year Nursing student, Kristen Matheson feels that the campus is taking pre- cautions but more could be done because she feels that the outbreak could be severe and is in its miniscule stages and the university needs to be more proactive in its attempts to communicate with students. Bobby Mc- Sweeney also a 2nd-year year student says that the vi- rus primarily affects young healthy adults, but does feel that the campus is taking the right steps to ensure the health and safety of the population.

PANTHER POST

Residence Life Advisor and 4th-year Nursing stu- dent Amanda Gillis is con- fident that if the virus were to hit UPEI Residence Life is prepared and is keeping a close eye on the situation in residence. Students living in residence have been told the symptoms of the HIN1

‘strand, and to isolate them- _ selves in their rooms and

contact the health centre.

The health centre here on campus can be contacted at 566-0616, students can also visit the Health centre which is located in Students Ser- vices right above the book- store, in the W.A. Murphy student centre . At this time there have been no reported cases of the HIN1 virus or even symptoms resembling the virus.

Dirty Dancing: Alive & Well at UPEI

by Kate VanGERVEN

Reporter

With the recent death of Patrick Swayze, many are left hanging in suspense wondering where the future of dance is headed. While I can’t speak for most, I can speak for UPEI when I say dance is alive and well.

Deanna Cardinal, a third year business student here at UPEI, has a vision. This vision would increase student participation at athletics events and provide yet another creative outlet for UPEI students. Cardinal’s plan is to create a dance team of 8-12 people, both male and female to cheer at various sport- ing events as well as events such as

Homecoming. As a cheerleader with East Coast Spirit for two years and a dancer for all of her life, Cardinal has the potential and the drive to make this happen.

As it stands, the UPEI Dance Team is being contemplated by Ron Annear and the Athletics Depart- ment. Although the final decision has yet to be made, Cardinal has big plans for the team should it get approved.

The tryouts for the team are first on the docket. Now guys and girls, before your palms start to sweat and your knees begin to knock, let me tell you how this is going to go down. To eliminate any nerves, try- outs will be held in groups. Cardinal

stressed to me that the most impor- tant thing is that every person who

comes out have a good time. If they —

can have a good time at the tryouts, they can have a good time at the games which is the ultimate goal.

At the games themselves, there will be a lot of sideline cheering and choreographed dance routines for half-time to keep the crowd lively.

Let’s move on to the most impor- tant aspect of it all: the uniforms. Cardinal’s been in contact with our very own UPEI bookstore about a simple, classy and sporty outfit. A Panthers tank top and some 1980’s style gym shorts would be worn at games to pump up the crowd and they will also be worn on game

days to start the spirit early on.

The hope is for the team to be approved by late September or early October, immediately followed by tryouts which are open to everyone, male and female, experienced danc- ers or those with two left feet.