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

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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

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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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feet above normal. More than 5,000 members of the Massachusetts National Guards were summoned to aid in the storm's cleanup. As for the cost, an ex- act figure will never be known. Esti- mates as to land, residential, and com- mercial damages reach the one billion dollar mark. UMass and the western Massachu- setts region appeared to endure the winter storm better than most of New England. Classes for day and evening students were cancelled on Tuesday, February 6th for the first time since spring semester of 1975. The Physical Plant had a large number of assorted plows, tractors, and trucks working to remove snow. The Boston Globe was not delivered during the storm. This marked the first time in 106 years that the paper was unable to distribute it's morning edi- tions. Local package stores and bars did a fairly good business. Sleigh rides, snow- ball fights, and a wide variety of snow sculptures occupied the free time of students who had the day off. - Susan Leahy of Everyiiimim ooc .5 V 1 D II. '. ' .I fl' ,Inj Hr . 4 V f I 1 1' . I W .,,. . J' ,-- 'J .X I ul- I' 44 ,l . RQ - V' I I at IL! -3- ,. 'Mt .J I ' 3 ' x :A ' ' 's I pp' ' 'U' .0 I vw , - ,..r - 4 if 3 at