THE KNIGHT TIMES EDITION 5

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Prevention During Flu Season
By Ian SerVaas

As the snow melts and the weather begins to change, Indiana starts moving from the winter season to the dreaded flu season. The flu can be a minor nuisance to some but deadly to others. According to the Center for Disease Control’s article “Preventing the Seasonal Flu,” over 200,000 people are hospitalized annually from the flu and about 36,000 die from flu-related complication. In 1918 a global pandemic of Spanish flu killed more than twice the casualties of World War I. Today, physicians worry about Avian flu and other types of flu becoming rampant. However, preventing getting the flu is easy if a few precautionary steps are taken.

The Center for Disease Control promotes that many healthcare professionals believe the first guard against the flu is to get a flu vaccine. Children, older adults, and people suffering from respiratory illnesses are among the most strongly encouraged to get the vaccine. The vaccine, however, does not guarantee immunity, as the flu is a rapidly mutating virus. The average flu vaccine will protect against three different strains of flu, but choosing which three is a gamble. Most drug stores and supermarkets have vaccines available.

College students have a higher risk of getting illness due to close contact, poor hygiene, and high stress. The best precaution is to wash one’s hands throughout the day. Desks, doorknobs, public phones, and other surfaces are often contaminated. The flu virus easily transfers from one’s hand to their face, mouth, eyes, and nose. Wash your hands after using the restroom, before lunch, and after touching shared objects. Carry hand sanitizer, which easily inactivates the flu virus.

Other easy strategies for prevention include reducing your stress, increasing nightly sleep, getting fresh air, and quitting smoking if you are a smoker. Diet plays an important role in preventing illness; include colorful fruits and vegetables as the phytopigments, or the “colors,” are powerful antioxidants and immune boosters. Spices also can boost immunity, such as cayenne pepper, rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, and garlic. Eating a large bowl of vegetable soup heavily seasoned with Italian spices will help when symptoms emerge.

The best advice to preventing an outbreak of flu at school is to avoid class when ill. Send an email to the professors of your classes you will miss and book an appointment for the school nurse. Depending on the severity of flu, treatments from bed rest to antiviral medication may be prescribed. But again, try to first prevent getting the flu and be sure to not pass it on. Reprinted from WebMD is a summation of flu prevention tips:

#1 Wash Your Hands
#2 Don't Cover Your Sneezes and Coughs With Your Hands
#3 Don't Touch Your Face
#4 Drink Plenty of Fluids
#5 Take a Sauna
#6 Get Fresh Air
#7 Do Aerobic Exercise Regularly
#8 Eat Foods Containing Phytochemicals
#9 Eat Yogurt
#10 Don't Smoke
#11 Cut Alcohol Consumption
#12 Relax

In the meantime, try your best to keep your germs to yourself!


Radio entertainment needs a comeback.
By C Jordan Brown

“OMG… I just hit a car txting you. Call u l8r.”
Those who’ve typed this or something like it are probably disappointed in themselves. However, they’re entirely not alone. Accidents from texting while driving are happening every day, and no one is safe.

Although many college students pride themselves on highly developed motor skills, one coordination exercise exists that should be done with intense caution: texting while driving. Students are often heard claiming to be a professional of the art; many texting with one hand, eating with another, and driving with their knees. It may seem like this may be an effective way to make a commute entertaining, it can surely end in a multitude of tragic loss.

AAA Motor Co. reports one in seven drivers admit to driving while texting, most being those in the “college” age bracket. There have been numerous fatal accidents involving one to seven college students that have evidence of texting activity within minutes, which is how it’s possible that these “artists” don’t have the strokes so clear. Dr. William Van Tassel of AAA Driver Training presents clear information on the website.

“Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens claiming more than 6,000 15- to 20-year-olds each year,” he states. “Inexperience behind the wheel coupled with poor decision-making ability make it even more important for teens to stay focused when driving. Their attention should not be divided among phones, friends and the road.”

More clearly, it takes a serious accident for some to realize how distracted they are from the road. Texting is proven to reduce reaction time substantially, and every second could be a matter of life or death.

In hazardous weather, this can be an even more pertinent issue. When roads are slick, more focus is required and so much as reading a text can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. If this happens, tires gain momentum from the ice and the driver is most likely going to strike a curb, median, or another car. This can cause body damage, airbag deployment, or many other issues that require repair.

Many counties are placing a ban (although lightly enforced) on phone usage while behind the wheel due to the number of related deaths. Those tickets range from $20-200. Also, the BMV is considering a ‘driving contract’ for new drivers that includes no speeding or seat belt tickets to enforce defensive driving.

Although it can be annoying to hear, the road must be any driver’s focus: all the time. The only way to prove this would be an accident; they are always at least a terrible inconvenience.


And Here We Go
by Malachi Cowells

From the moment that I saw him perform the infamous “pencil trick” I knew that I was seeing a special performance by a special actor. I am, of course, speaking of Heath Ledger in his performance as The Joker in “The Dark Night.” His performance was one of those roles that I didn't feel as if I was watching an actor perform in front of a camera, I felt as if I was watching the real Joker caught on film. This was especially odd as not only was Heath Ledger a famous actor, but the character he was playing was even more famous, or should I say infamous. He seamlessly incorporated himself into the role that his greatest trick was making the audience forget that it was him on the screen.

And now, after his saddening and unfortunate death, his posthumous Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor he is now on the very short list for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. The question is, does he deserve it?

Up against stiff competition, primarily from Josh Brolin in his performance in “Milk” and Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt,” Heath Ledger still has a very good chance to be the first actor to receive a posthumous Oscar (Sir Ralph Richardson received a posthumous nomination in 1983 but did not win).

Many believe that he will win the award, with Marian students voicing their support for him as well. Maureen Haker claimed that “He did a phenomenal job” and should deserve recognition for his “scaringly good” performance. Jeffrey Dufresne believed that Heath Ledger's performance even outshone Christian Bale's performance as Batman and that “If Ledger doesn't get the Oscar I will be disappointed.”

In the end he does deserve the award. Not only because his performance was a once-in-a-lifetime performance and that it exceeded even his competition, but because it is a way to honor this very talented actor who died in the prime of his career and life. The Academy will find it hard to deny this award, nor should they. He truly is the most deserving of the award.


Top 10 College Spring Break Destinations
By: Kirsten Sordelet

Spring break is right around the corner, as if you weren’t counting down the seconds. Where are you heading to this year? If you don’t know yet but are sure you’re getting away from this winter wonderland, I’ve got the Top 10 hot spots of 2009 as voted by college students.

1. Panama City Beach, Florida: I don’t think any one student could doubt that Panama is the spring break spot of our time. Only 755 miles from our snowy streets of Indianapolis, Panama is has all the excitement, warmth and college life you have been dreaming about. Panama has been ranked on the top 10 spring break hot spots of all time by MTV who hosts a spring break special in the party city. Panama City also has a wide range of cheap hotels to gorgeous condos. So whatever your money situation is, round up the friends and get down to the white sands of Panama City.

2. Miami, Florida: Welcome to Miami! With the publicity this beautiful city gets, you would think that it would become somewhat over-rated, but it’s not! Miami is the 7th largest city in the country and has the wild and crazy population to prove it. In 2008, Miami was ranked as "America's Cleanest City" according to Forbes Magazine for its year-round good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets and city-wide recycling programs. But it’s spring break! Miami has an average temperature of 81° and the beaches are HOT!

3. Cancun, Mexico: What’s synonymous to spring break? Cancun. For years it has attracted students and party-seekers alike and not hard to understand why. Cancun offers some of the most beautiful beaches, crystal clear, blue waters and snow-white sand there is to see. Not to mention the great clubs, concerts and cruises you can enjoy! ¡Vayamos a México!

4. Go home! : I hate to break it to you but most college students just can’t afford a vacation right in the middle of the semester. But it’s ok, it’s still vacation! Taking a load off at home will both save you money and give you a week to wind down. I know, I know. Looking at the snow for too long can make any one go a little crazy but the countdown to summer closely follows spring break. With the money you save you can hit the tanning bed, go grab a smoothie and chill out to some reggae music in your room.

5. Windsor, Canada: Aside from being further north than Indianapolis and not having any seaside hotel rooms, Windsor is full of fun and excitement for anyone; and I mean every one of all ages. With a lowered drinking age of 19, young adults are free to experience the night life of a big city. With a gorgeous downtown, Little Italy and Ceasars Windsor (a beautiful casino with a 27 floor hotel and 5,000 seat entertainment area) Windsor is where you want to be. Only 5 hours from downtown Indianapolis, you could take a weekend trip up to another country.

6. Chicago, Illinois: Sure you hear about it all the time but have you actually ever been? Chicago is a beautiful city and home to great sports, architecture and fashion and is sure to inspire. Three hours from home, you can experience a big town, eclectic culture and great entertainment. Plan a trip for the weekend or make it all week. Take a trip down the Magnificent Mile (but watch your spending… you’re still a college kid) or check out Millennium Park. You’ll get some exercise and broaden your cultural knowledge of our Midwest!
7. Search for your favorite band: If you have ever seen the movie “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” you’ll understand this one. You have an entire week to go as far as you need to go to find that band you never get to see. Grab some friends, split a cheap hotel room and enjoy something you rarely get to see. Luke Bryan will be in Rootstown, OH on March 7th, Brittany Spears is in Tampa, FL on March 8th with the Pussycat Dolls and Brad Paisley is in Nashville, TN on March 14th.

8. Fort Myers Beach, Florida: Yes, another beach destination. They’re hard to beat after living through such a snowy winter. Fort Myers has a lot more to offer than just a beach though. Here you’ll find night-life at the pier, delectable dining at places like the Charley's Boathouse Grill and Gulfshore Grill and all the sun you want considering the average temperature for the month of March is 75°! The southwest side of Florida is definitely a hot spot to be for your college spring break.

9. Road Trip: Gas is cheap! Take advantage of it and hit the road. Educate yourself on American history by exploring the roads to Tennessee or all the way to Arizona. One week gives you plenty of time to sight-see, take pictures and brag about all the places you’ve been. Someone you know has an old van that’s been waiting to hit the pavement. Give that van its chance and go on an adventure (while you can actually afford the gas!).

10. South Padre Island, Texas: Everything’s bigger in Texas. Make it a big spring break at one of the fastest growing spring break hot spots America has to offer. Its average temperature is 68° and has the hundreds of miles of beaches to make it complete. The long hike to get there will be all worth it once you see what Texas has been hiding.