Swine Flu: Are Colleges Prepared?

College students are now back on campus: eating together, studying together, and back in the dorms. Its these close quarters that have school officials ready and set for the possible spread of swine flu. “We know as a university how to react to something like the h1ni if it becomes a problem on campus” says Walt Branson, Vice Chancellor of Financial Affairs at IPFW. IPFW started their swine flu preparedness plan at the beginning of the summer. St. Francis is also taking steps to prepare for a swine flu outbreak. A letter was sent to St. Francis students, parents, and faculty and staff today saying “The health and safety of students at the university of St. Francis is always our first concern. That is why I am writing to you about the H1N1 virus”- St Francis President Sister Elise Kriss. The letter goes on to explain preventative measures the campus will be taking. Many of those measures are already visible to students and faculty right now at IPFW, things like educational posters in the bathroom and hand sanitizers in food services along with other areas like classrooms. These reminders certainly have students educated on much more than geometry. Swine Flue is definitely a concern for the administration, but is it for students? A lot of students I spoke with on IPFW’s campus today didn’t seem to be breaking a sweat when it came to swine flu But student Amanda Bradley says she’s worried. Bradleys one of close to 800 IPFW students living on campus. Dorms are a target area of concern for many campuses like IPFW. “I have a weak immune system and I get sick every year so it comes more than once a year for me so if I were to get the swine flu Id be very concerned” says Bradley. St. Francis has also teamed up with RediMed to provide free services to students living on campus. Any students showing flu like symptoms can head to a RediMed facility for a free initial visit.