San Francisco Foghorn

              FREEDOM AND FAIRNESS
un ifvmimm Jfaig
VOL. 106       ISSUE 9
TheFotihornOnline.com
NOVEMBER 12, 2009
Wordnight, an open mic
night sponsored by the English department, showcased
student writing.
J^
wy
...
s iJ
M
%
:'■ .  *
M
K,
^™,'
Elizabeth Anton talks
about BART's rate increases
and how it is making harder
for commuters to stay green.
OPINION
£9
E4
Men's Basketball opened
up their season with an impressive outing against CSU
Monterey Bay.
SPORTS
PAGE 10
Venture online to see behind the scenes from this
week's Campus Chic featuring Chris Moore. Also read
the web exclusive on Rich
Media editor's distastorous
conference call with Cameron Diaz and Richard Kelly.
FOG
mm
N.E.R.D, Bobby Ray Kick Off Homecoming Weekend
Akima Brackeen/Foghorn
Although lead singer Pharell suffered a migraine through the Homecoming concert, students were enthused to see N.E.R.D perform.
MATT STEINBACH
StaffWriter
Hip-hop group N.E.R.D kicked off
homecoming weekend with an entertaining show that excited the students in
attendance. Artist Bobby Ray, formerly
known as B.o.B, opened the concert, showing his versatile musical skills as he rapped,
sang and even played the guitar. His unique
music proved a good opening act to complement N.E.R.D's upbeat and pounding
sounds.
"N.E.R.D was very entertaining and
they exceeded my expectations," senior
Nina Sasson said. "Bobby Ray was a great
opening act because he got everyone excited and he was a fantastic singer, his voice
was really nice."
In  October, N.E.R.D  added a new
member to their group, Rhea, who han
dles the vocals alongside Pharrell Williams. Rhea and Pharrell's styles complimented each other nicely; Rhea's strong
and harmonious voice works well with
Pharrell's smooth style of singing. Backup
vocalist Shay Haley excited the students by
continuously bouncing all around the stage.
The crowd seemed to feed off his energy, as
he was the only band member dancing for
most of the concert.
Pharrell disappointed everyone when
he announced that he couldn't put on his
usual high-energy performance because he
was suffering from a migraine headache.
However despite his migraine, Pharrell still
managed to entertain the crowd.
"That was a great concert, it was fun and
both [N.E.R.D and Bobby Ray] put on
good performances" said Billy Cistone, a
student from San Jose who was at the concert with his USF friends. "I didn't expect
the concert to be as fun as it was, it was
definitely worth it."
From the actions of the crowd, it seemed
that everyone in attendance enjoyed the
show. During the show the band had to tell
the crowd a few times to take a step back
from the front of the stage. The crowd was
jumping around and dancing to the music
but their excitement caused the people in
front of the stage to be squished into the
barricades; no one was hurt though.
N.E.R.D performed all of their hit
songs including, "Spaz," "Everybody Nose,"
"Lap Dance," and "She Wants to Move."
They even performed some of their new
songs off their upcoming album Instant
Gratification, which were all well received
by the audience. For the entire two and a
half hour concert, Bobby Ray and N.E.R.D
managed to keep the crowd upbeat and into
the show, providing everyone in attendance
with a great homecoming concert.
Health Clinic Provides Swine Flu
Vaccine to High-Risk Students
Melissa Stihl/Foghorn
A hew banner shows the future site of the Center for Science and Innovation.
Grass Roofs and Solar Panels
Will Top New Science Center
LAURA PLANTHOLT
StaffWriter
The Harney Science Center is home
to the departments of biology, chemistry,
computer science, exercise and sport science, environmental science, mathematics, physics and astronomy. Though these
fields require innovation and ingenuity in
their practice, the building which houses
them at USF is far from cutting edge.
Constructed in 1966, Harney Science
Center has not been significantly updated
in over 40 years. The laboratories are outdated, according to students and faculty,
which impedes students' learning and research. There is also a serious shortage of
student space; classmates currently can be
found sitting on the floor in hallways to
review notes between classes.
As an answer to these concerns, a new
science center is in the works. NBBJ Architecture Firm has drafted extensive blueprints, and the USF Department of Advancement has been hard at work raising
funds to construct what will be called the
Center for Science and Innovation (CSI).
Construction of the center may begin as
soon as May of 2011.
The CSI will be an entirely new struc
ture that will attach to the current Harney
Science Center. It will include new, state-
of-the-art laboratories that emphasize interaction between the different scientific
disciplines. Study spaces, from small atria
to little nooks with comfortable couches,
will be built in throughout. The center will
also reshape Harney Plaza, literally putting
some of the plaza underground.
Though some of the grassy lawn in front
of Harney will be covered up by the CSI,
more grass will be planted on the roof of
part of the first floor. Students will literally
be able to lie on the green roof of a science lab. Native foliage will also be planted
around the plaza.
Dean Jennifer Turpin of the College
of Arts and Sciences, said the new center
is necessary for student success. "Harney
Science Center has become outdated, so
the building limits our ability to teach
science in innovative, effective ways," she
said. "[Students] will have state-of-the-art
facilities and a first-rate experience when
the new building comes online."
Mike London, Assistant Vice President
of Facilities Management, agreed that the!
current facilities are outdated and unus-
HARNEY: Continued on Page 2
JOHN ARNOS
StaffWriter
One hundred HlNl vaccines were administered to USF students at St. Mary's
Medical Center on Nov. 6. Only students
who were determined to be high-risk subjects were vaccinated.
In order to have been vaccinated, students "needed to have shown proof of pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, or another pre-existing or chronic medical condition," said
Karmal Harb, Director of Health Promotion Services. Harb said nursing students
undergoing clinicals were also considered
high-risk subjects due to their face-to-face
contact with patients.
The vaccine was issued to the USF
Health Clinic through the San Francisco
Department of Public Health, which receives all HlNl
vaccines directly
from the California Department of
Public Health.
Harb said that
USF Health Promotion Services
has requested
5,000 vaccines for
future immunizations, although
there is no promise
or deadline for this
request. Harb explained, "there is a worldwide shortage of this vaccine, so, we have
no idea when it will be distributed."
If the request is answered, all immunizations will be provided through Maxim
Healthcare Services, a private healthcare
company with experience in vaccine delivery.
"All students will have the opportunity
to be vaccinated, to meet the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation that all people under 24 are
vaccinated," Harb said.
Despite the CDC's suggestion, research
has assured that the threat of swine flu is
no greater than the traditional seasonal flu
for people without chronic or pre-existing
medical conditions.
On September 21, USF Health Pro
motion Services vaccinated 220 students
for seasonal influenza. The turnout this
year was more than triple the outcome
in previous years. Harb attributed this to
"heightened awareness because of the media's treatment of swine flu last spring."
"I got vaccinated in September for the
regular flu, and if I had the opportunity
for swine flu I would, as well," said USF
sophomore Jack Taylor. "I don't think it is
anything serious unless you have another
medical issue. In April and May when
HlNl first made headlines I was a bit
freaked out, but it all seems under control
now," said Taylor when asked abou the
seriousness of the swing flu. Other USF
students did not seem concerned about getting the vaccine. Freshman Mary Heapes
does not plan to be vaccinated for either
strand. "Both of the types of flu aren't a big
threat to me because I'm relatively healthy.
I'd rather not
put the vaccine
in my body if I
don't need to,"
she said.
t<T>
1 m pretty
sure I don't need
to get vaccinated for swine flu
because I don't
have any medical issues going
on. I don't think
I would for the
traditional flu either - generally, I think
my immune system is strong enough to
handle that kind of stuff," said sophomore
Austin Montanari.
Harb recognized that the student body
seems aware of general information surrounding swine flu. Still, he cautioned students to be vigilant of the emails sent out
by Health Promotion Services about the
availability of both flu vaccines at clinics
throughout San Francisco. He also urged
students to avoid contact with people with
flu-like symptoms, and to regularly wash
and sanitize hands.
For more information about HlNl
and other vaccines visit the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites
4%rd rather not
put the vaccine
in my body if I
don't need to.}}
- Mary Heapes, Freshman
SAN FRANCISCO FOGHORN
2130 FULTON STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118
NEWSROOM  415.422.0122.    ADVERTING 415.422.2657