University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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,f if X .67 Q .S l v Y ' l A gli l 1 if XJ lk-If ii 3 'K ii ' x c. titsissifl f-.if One of the many controversial issues which arose this past year was whether or not DNA research should be con- ducted here on the UMass campus. Zoology professor Bruce Levin explain- ed, There is a definate need for more research on whether or not it is possi- ble for recombinant DNA to become a pathogen. This is the kind of risk assess- ment experiment that should be done. Enigmas DNAOOOGa1ss ooowlmooo The Graduate Research Center here at the University was reopened by Dean Seymour Shapiro of Natural Sci- ences and Mathematics after extensive environmental testing revealed no evi- dence of chemical contamination of the center. Shapiro had ordered all three seven- teen-story graduate research towers closed following initial medical tests that showed that twenty-one of twen- ty-four researchers tested who worked in the center had high levels of the organic solvent toluene in their blood. The tests were initiated after some of the researchers complained of fatigue, headaches, and abnormal menstrual cy- cles. 5' Q ,ttf Subsequent tests by a state laboratory of the same blood and urine samples did not confirm the findings of the first tests, and tests analyzed by two other laboratories of blood and urine samples taken three days after the center was closed showed no evidence of abnor- mal toluene levels, Nevertheless, the center remained closed while the Uni- versity Department of Environmental Health and Safety and the State Divi- sion of Occupational Hygiene ran ex- tensive tests on water, air, ventilation and drainage systems in the center. - University News Bureau While New England's worst snow- storm hit this past February, students battled still another problem. The Russian Flu , or the the bug , was the epidemic which afflicted about 4,000 students. As the flu made it's way through campus, the infirmary became crowded with students who sought re- lief from aching muscles, chills, fever, and vomiting. The University Health Center sug- gested this diet: take two asprin, get plenty of rest, and drink plenty of liq- uids lincluding flat soda and boullioni. - june Kokturk l i X XHX '-'N'Wlb

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Two major fires occurred on campus this past year. One was in Mary Lyon dormitory in Northeast, and the other in Field dormi- tory in Orchard Hill. Firefighters battled the blazes which left moderate fire and smoke damage in the rooms and through- out the hallways. Fortunately no one was hurt, and these fires prompted the Univer- sity to study the hazards of fires on campus. Improvements: Alarmeooo Fires in dormitories and on campuses in general were an issue in 1978, spawned by major blazes in dormitories at Providence College, Syra- cuse, and Hampshire Col- lege. The Providence fire killed ten women, and four fire- fighters died in the Syracuse blaze. Hampshire College suf- fered a fire that destroyed approximately one-fourth of a dormitory there, but re- corded no injuries. Here at the University there were several one-room fires, with no injuries, and a moderate property loss. The Division of Environmental Health and Safety concluded an eigh- teen month study of dormitory fire safety, and projected recommenda- tions that the University should adopt to make the structures more fire-safe than they presently are. This study included an overview of many New England college dormitory complexes, and the securing of services of a number of renowned fire protec- tion engineers for consulting purposes. Of the recommendations, which in- cluded new fire alarm system installa- tions, smoke control and stairway pres- surization, corridor and room material combustibility limits, and smoke and sprinkler system additions, one item was instituted immediately. The first recommendation to install smoke detectors in all student sleeping areas was acted upon, and 7,000 photo- 2 j electric smoke detectors were pur- chased and installed in the rooms dur- ing intersession. The devices were plugged into the electric outlets in each room, and will be permanently wired to the building electric system during the summer. The smoke detector can sense a fire in it's incipient stages and warn occu- pants of the room minutes before smoke and heat conditions can make the room untenable for human habita- tion. The other recommendations sighted by the study are being scrutinized for cost implications and will be budgeted on a long range basis. Already for fiscal year 1979, half a million dollars has been set aside for fire safety improve- ments in the dormitories. The University also promoted fire safety by the distribution of literature to all students in the form of a pamphlet, and also in- stalled, on the door of each room, instructions for safely evacuating from a fire situa- tion, or to handle being trapped in a fire. Students were often re- minded of fire safety, if not by articles in the Collegian, on the various posters on campus, then by participat- ing in the fire drills that have become common occur- ences on campus. Sometimes, the fire alarm horns would sound for nei- ther a drill or a fire, but be- cause some prankster or some alcohol-influenced person decided to turn in a false alarm. More often than not, these irresponsible people would not be apprehended. But when they were, arraignment in District Court followed, with severe penalties. A fine of seven hundred dollars and probation for one year was not an un- common sentence, which helped tre- mendously in reducing false alarms by 400f0 this year. The University is hopeful that in the overall learning process each student is exposed to while attending UMass, he or she has also digested information on fire safety and preparedness that can benefit them in years to come, another one of the extras that made their col- lege education a worthwhile exper- ience. - Keith Hoyle UMass Fire Marshall

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Blizzard '78 The storm of the century , as it has been affectionately named, is over. However, on subways, at bus stops, during town meetings, anywhere peo- ple gather, they will undoubtedly share stories on the devastation of the Great Blizzard of '78. Weather is a common topic of con- versation here in New England. It's di- versity, the difficulty in accurately pre- dicting it, and the intensity of what may finally arrive are factors that plague area residents. This past February a storm with hurricane winds dropped over a ton of snow on the eastern coastline which was still recovering from a lesser horror in january. The storm intensified for thirty-two hours and forty minutes and when it was over, fifty-four persons were dead including twenty-nine in Massachu- setts. More than 10,000 persons living on the coastline were evacuated from their homes. Some 3,000 cars and 500 trucks were stranded just on an eight- mile stretch of Route 128. A record twenty-seven inches of snow fell and tide levels reached more than sixteen Weather Report: A Little it f. N Students here at Umass Qf N are subjected to many E different types of V ,fs-:Y weather during the f year. Wind, rain, snow ,I Al ' , W N and a occasional sunny Y X f f If I day are part of the K I' 1 f l weather's repertoire Z n- ' here in Amherst. . 'J 1 H Student artist Bob ' g , W!! Burnett gives his 25 cf, K7 comical viewpoint 0 ' J g u - here. - s ,- f 0 -.afb , ! Q Q i -f X X so ' s. , 1,--7 ' ,,,,, ,See X, T ff M - T +ve Q c 4- . fn! U , . ii- X !X -ff l. X 0 wie Xmwfiz. ,,--..j... -ff .X Q l ig- V2 e k.lL EY - ' , ' gig if T I if l t 5 'Y anne D V P WY -V Q ,f 'T of-' if W L ie? Q - ik .Q . . .f tb ' me 1 --.Q A E -l zz We ' . WWTP ' mf 1 :ll X- f ll l ,gli-W l Qsqts.. I K si 0 4.99 s- 'TTL ' Q' 0 i 'il Q- .nfl 30