The Student Newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Volume XVI, Number 22 Charlotte, North Carolina Monday October 20, 1980 Chemical Spill Evacuates Atkins By David E. Griffith Carolina Journal Campus Affairs Editor A chemical spill in a first floor photography lab forced the evacua tion of Atkins building from 9:15 to 11:45 a.m. Friday. Diann Pallman, Graphics director at the Learning Resources Center (first floor Atkins,) said a five-gallon container of concentrated formal dehyde (HCHO) apparently leaked overnight. “I noticed the spill when my eyes became irritated,” Pallman said. “It just seemed to be purely accidental.” Formaldehyde is used in the pro cessing of color slides. Rebecca Whitener, UNCC Safety Coordinator, said formaldehyde is a fixing agent and exposure to it can cause damage to the mucous membranes of the eyes. Charlotte Poison Control Central pharmacist Gary McGraw quoted the Poison Index, saying concentrated formaldehyde can, after lengthy ex posure and ingestion by breathing, cause gastro-intestinal upset, vom iting, diarrhea, coma, anuria (failure to urinate) and abdominal pain. The spill was contained in the photo-lab and it did not spread in the ventilation system. The Newell Vol unteer Rescue Squad was summoned shortly after the spill was detected. Pallman said “the dark room does not have ventilation so they (Newell Volunteer Rescue Squad) are ven tilating it around the corner.” Darel Torrence, a North Carolina . Photo By Bob Henderson Newell Volunteer Firefighters use air masks and high-speed exhaust fans borrowed from the Charlotte Fire Department to remove dangerous formaldehyde fumes from the Learning Resources Center Friday morning. Emergency Medical Technician, said “Nobody was affected by the spill.” The Health Center did not treat anyone complaining of adverse ef fects from the spill. Joan McCullough, Health Center Secretary, said anyone affected by the formaldehyde would have been taken to the Health Center, and if their condition had been severe enough, they would have been trans ferred to a Charlotte hospital. Charlotte city Fireman S.B. Metts said the procedure for removing the spill involved high speed fans and Newell did not have the equipment so they asked for assistance from the ci ty. Metts said the fumes were pulled off by using the fans, the spill would be diluted with water and then it could be mopped up. The spill disrupted the daily routine of the architecture department and forced the cancellation of classes held at the time. Barbara Harkins, junior, architec ture major, said, “The Campus Police came in with gas masks on, I didn’t know if it was real or not.” Several architecture students ex pressed feelings of confusion over how a chemical spill could have occur red in the architecture department. Jeff Gibbons, a senior, said, “The architecture secretary came into the studio and said, “Get out, there’s been a chemical spill.” The students left the building, but Jeff said he still did not know how a chemical spill had happened in the architecture depart ment. Food Day Emphasizes Hunger, Nutrition By David E. Griffith Carolina Journal Campus Affairs Editor The International Studies Depart ment sponsored Food Day, an annual exhibition of hunger awareness and personal nutrition from 11 a.m. to 2 P in. Thursday. Marian Beane, Foreign Students Advisor said, “(The International Studies Department) sponsors Food Day because part of our philosophy is to help raise awareness of interna tional issues like World Hunger.” Six years ago Food Day was just a World Hunger awareness day, but it has since broadened its focus to in clude basic exhibits of healthy foods. Beane said, “Usually people begin to take better care of themselves” after becoming aware of World Hunger. Food Day featured exhibits from UNCC’s Venture program, The Com- ® u nity Hunger Appeal of Church World Service (CROP), Bread For ine World, The Seven-day Adventist Church, and Nova (a commercial V1 taniin product.) Richard Hart of CROP, said his organization was a development assistance program to teach hungry people how to develop their own food resources and nutritional awareness. “We don’t just ship food,” Hart said. “We are a Christian Organization,” Hart said; “but our effort is not evangelizing, so much as meeting the nutritional needs of the people.” According to Hart, CROP has rais ed $20,000 locally. Of that sum, 25 percent will be given to help hungry people in the area, and the remaining 75 percent will help people in other countries and in other areas of the United States. The Seven Day Adventist Church exhibit specialized in vegetarian cook ing, offering samples of vegetarian meat substitutes to anyone who wanted them. Renee Jenkins said the Seven Dy Adventist Church did not require its members to be vegeta rians, but they do see vegetarian diets as healthier than a meat protein diet. After distributing samples of a Soy Bean Luncheon Loaf flavored like Corn Beef, Jenkins said the luncheon food cost less than $1.50 and contain ed enough food for 16 sandwiches. Many connoisuers of this food said it was tasty and had a similar texture to that of Corn Beef. (Actually the stuff has a texture something like that of Corn Beef that’s been in a blender.) L.C. Brewster at the Venture table said, “The main reason Venture is participating in Food Day is, we try to show people the more nutritional and the most healthy ways to prepare them.” Another Venture participant, Dee Edelman added that it is impor tant to have healthy food out on the trail so that nothing goes to waste. Nova was the only commercial or ganization at Food Day. Donna Gar rison a distributor for Nova said, Nova is the name of a group of nutri tional products. Nova I consists of seven vitamins taken daily. The seven vitamins are sealed in a cellophone wrapper, and a 30 day supply of them cost $30. Garrison said “Nova is ideal for college students due to the stu- (Continued On Page 2)

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