Norfolk State University

Issue: October-November 2009

NSU Hosts 7th Annual Women's Conference:

The Remarkable Journey

Norfolk State University recently hosted the 7th Annual Women’s Conference on at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center.

This year’s conference theme was “The Remarkable Journey.” The theme focused on the personal obstacles, opportunities, accomplishments and successes of women.
It also encouraged participants to create their own destiny.

Keynote presenters included Kemba Smith, a former Hampton University student who fell in love with a drug dealer and was convicted and sentenced to 24.5 years in prison. She was later pardoned by President Bill Clinton. Other presenters were Dr. Denise Harris-Proctor, a physician at the Group for Women; Lynette E. Richardson, a financial services representative with more than 30 years experience that will discuss journeying through a recession, and Elizabeth Vazuez, a fitness trainer that will discuss Zumba toning.

Conference participants had the opportunity to learn Zumba. Pictured above: Several attendees volunteer to show how Zumba is done.

Participants had the opportunity to learn about health and wellness, financial empowerment, and a host of other informative topics.

Cornel West to Discuss His Memoirs at NSU Nov. 2

New York Times best-selling author Cornel West will visit Norfolk State University to promote his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. Free and open to the public, West’s talk will be held at 4 p.m. at the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center. A book signing will immediately follow his talk.

His long awaited life story, Brother West, offers a compelling exploration of his fascination with the human mind. It explores themes of faith, family, philosophy, love and service. He discusses the life of the mind and the prophetic Christian tradition that has shaped his deepest personal values of unconditional love and a courageous commitment to service. He shares lessons learned in the academy through his professorships at Union Theological Seminary, Yale Divinity School, Princeton, and Harvard. He speaks about his deep love and appreciation for his family and the challenges of being a black man in America. He also shares his perspective of the age of President Barack Obama, for whom he campaigned.

Since childhood, West has been a champion for racial justice. He is known as one of America’s most gifted, provocative and important public intellectuals. He is the author Race Matters, a contemporary classic that changed the course of America’s dialogue on race and justice; and the New York Times bestseller Democracy Matters.

A native of California, West graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and has a Ph. D. from Princeton. He has published 19 other books and has edited 13 texts. He also offers commentary weekly on The Tavis Smiley Show from Public Radio International. He is the recipient of the American Book Award and holds more than 20 honorary degrees. Additionally, West was an influential force in developing the storyline for the popular Matrix movie trilogy and has served as its official spokesperson, as well as playing a recurring role in the final two films.

For more information, call the Office of Communications and Marketing at 823-8373.

Thompson Hospitality Adopts New Tray-less Program at Scott-Dozier Dining Hall

“We are going GREEN,” said Sharron Williams, food service director for Thompson Hospitality. There are several benefits for going tray-less. The school will save on water and electricity. Every tray washed uses one third to one half gallon of water. With more than 2800 meals served per week, approximately 16,000 gallons of water per dining hall will be saved each semester. Eliminating the trays will also eliminate the chemicals needed to clean the trays, thus limiting the amount of chemicals that go down the drain.

Nutrition, wellness and obesity have always been a concern at Norfolk State University. This new program will reduce food waste and teach students proper food portions. “I have seen many students pile up their tray with food and after twenty minutes realize they did not need all that food,” said Williams. “Our goal is to reduce food waste by 25 to 30 percent.”

Last semester, Thompson Hospitality successfully tested the tray-less system at the West Dining Hall. But, this semester, they are taking the effort campus wide.

Marketing the program will be a key factor in adopting the program. Thompson Hospitality plans to educate students, faculty and staff about the benefits of the program by displaying posters, handing out flyers, and advocating the program at monthly food committee meetings.

For more information, contact Sharron Williams at Thompson Hospitality at 757.823.9472.

What can

Communications and Marketing Do for You?

The Office of Communications and Marketing offers a variety of services to help promote your event, activity, or news. If we can’t help, you we probably know who can.

If you want to do any of the following:

Reach Spartans across the campus and around the world.
Get your name or idea in the media.
accomplishments with the Spartan community and beyond.
Need a picture worth a 1,000 words.
Promote your project in print, television and online.
Showcase your major university event.
Need design advice or public relations counseling.
Take media training

We can help you. Call Communications and Marketing at 823-8373.

NSU Awarded $2.1 Million Grant for VNurse: Modular Dynamic Virtual Simulation Framework for Nurse Training

The United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command has awarded Norfolk State University’s Creative Gaming and Simulation Lab a $2.1 million grant to develop Virtual Nurse (VNurse), a modular dynamic PC-based simulation framework for nurse training in a semi-virtual environment.

Under the direction of Rasha Morsi, principal investigator and associate professor of engineering; and Mona Rizvi, co-investigator and assistant professor of computer science, VNurse is expected to address current issues regarding nurse preparation. It is also expected to train and evaluate nurse performance using curriculum-based module instruction. The enabling technologies that will be used to support VNurse include realistic 3D virtual environments and interfaces, PC-based Flash 2D movies, video, simulated animations, verbal and visual instruction, and cues.

Simulation is used to provide realistic, safe and repeatable training opportunities for many occupations. Recent research has revealed that new nursing graduates require more preparation in managing more than three patients at a time, pharmacology, and understanding the appropriate circumstances to call a physician. VNurse will provide opportunities to increase nurse training and efficiency.

The mission of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command is to provide medical knowledge and materiel lifecycle management to protect, treat and optimize Warfighter health and performance across a full spectrum of operations. NSU’s research will help further the army medical department’s mission by providing solutions to efficiently train healthcare professionals in a manner that reduces risk to our soldiers’ lives.

For more information, contact the Office of Communications and Marketing at 757-823-8373.

Protect Yourself From the Flu and Respiratory Disease

H1N1 pandemic flu is widespread throughout the world. Fortunately, the vast majority of cases are mild and, at this point, infections with the H1N1 virus appear no more virulent or severe than most seasonal cases of influenza. These infections do seem to occur more frequently in children and young adults because the virus is new and therefore there are no immunities in the population to this flu strain.

Cases of H1N1 have already appeared on most college campuses. In accordance with predictions from the CDC, we expect to see more cases this fall, consistent with what is happening in the wider public communities. We strongly encourage all members of the NSU community to take the standard precautions adopted during the flu season and to play an active role in our public health prevention efforts.

Classes and Activities
The emergency response team will monitor the campus situation, working with the Virginia Department of Public Health team located in Norfolk, and make recommendations regarding changes in or cancellations of campus activities on the basis of a significant flu outbreak. The President and/or Provost will make any decisions regarding the cancellation of classes. Any decision to cancel classes or activities will be communicated broadly to faculty, students and staff through the campus e-daily, email, NSUalert.com, the university’s emergency alert system and other communication vehicles.

Public Health Precautions
It is important for all faculty, staff, and students to take the following flu/respiratory disease precautions:

· Avoid contact with ill persons

· Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze

· Throw used tissues in the trash

· Do not share food, drink, or utensils

· Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, or use an alcohol-based hand gel, particularly after you sneeze. As this is not a gastrointestinal viral infection, therefore, intensive cleaning for food facilities (beyond normal cleaning) is not needed.

Treatment and Response
The majority of individuals who contract this virus will not need to seek a doctor's treatment. Faculty, staff, and students who develop flu symptoms should remain at home (or in their room) until 24 hours after they are fever-free (and without medication that would lower temperature). A mild, lingering cough may occur. Barring any other flu symptoms, this cough should not prevent students from returning to class.

If you have been in contact with someone who has the flu, onset of symptoms can take up to three days. If you experience any flu symptoms within this time period, please stay home to limit the spread of the virus. If you are pregnant, or if you have a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, cancer, asthma, heart or lung problems, or a weakened immune system, you should consult with your physician or campus health services to see if Tamiflu is needed.

Medication and Vaccinations
Generally, Tamiflu is prescribed for individuals with flu who are either hospitalized, have a chronic medical condition (as listed above, under Treatment and Response), or have a suppressed immune system. Tamiflu for influenza is not a cure – and only reduces symptoms and decreases length of recovery time by about 24 hours.

The following vaccinations are expected to be available fall 2009:

· Seasonal Flu Vaccine: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all students get vaccinated for the seasonal flu. This vaccine will be available for students, faculty and staff at the Spartan Health Center for $22.

· H1N1 Vaccine: Recent recommendations from the CDC have placed individuals under age 24 in the top priority group for receiving the H1N1 vaccine. More information will be available in the coming weeks regarding how and when this vaccine will be given.

Additional Information

· More information on the H1N1 flu is available on the following websites:

· Policy guidance is now available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the H1N1 virus and its impact on the higher education community. You will find it here: http://www.flu.gov/plan/school/higheredguidance.html

· CDC has also created a health-focused toolkit for colleges and universities, located here: http://www.flu.gov/plan/school/higheredtoolkit.html

· The Department of Education’s online flu resources for the education community can be found here: http://www.ed.gov/h1n1flu

· NSU Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness can be found at www.NSUalert.com.

Thank you for your efforts to keep all members of the Spartan family in good health. Although we can't eliminate the spread of this virus, our collective efforts can significantly minimize its reach and overall impact.

Student and parents who have questions may contact the Spartan Health Center: (757) 623-3090.

Save-the-Date

November

1 Daylight Savings Time Ends

1-30 Tom Joyner School of the

Month (Tune in daily to the
Tom Joyner Morning Show)

3 Election Day

19 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

21 NSU vs. Winston-Salem State
(Military Appreciation Day)

26-29 Thanksgiving Holidays

December

4 Classes End

12 Commencement

24-31 Winter Holidays

(University Closed)