Emergency Preparedness

Nicholls State University continues to monitor the developments of the H1N1 flu. The university will follow the recommendations and guidelines established by the National Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Campus officials are in continuous contact with the Office of Public Health, Region III, Thibodaux, La and the National Centers for Disease Control regarding any and all updates for the monitoring and treatment of the H1N1 flu.

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Nicholls State University continues to monitor the H1N1 flu outbreak. The university will follow the recommendations and guidelines established by the national Centers for Disease Control.

There are currently three confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu virus in Lafourche Parish, however there are no confirmed cases on the Nicholls campus.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital’s Web site, flula.com, there are 54 laboratory confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu virus in Louisiana – one in Ascension Parish, four in East Baton Rouge Parish, two in Iberia Parish, 29 in Lafayette Parish, three in Lafourche Parish, one in Orleans Parish, seven in Plaquemines Parish, two in St. Charles Parish, one in St. Landry Parish, one in St. Martin Parish, two in Terrebonne Parish and one in Vermilion Parish.

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider or University Health Services located on the first floor of Ayo Hall.

Recommended preventative actions to avoid flu and other communicable diseases:

1) Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2) Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
3) Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
4) Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
5) Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6) Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Additional information is available on the Nicholls health services Web site – http://www.nicholls.edu/health/ and the Centers for Disease Control Web site – http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.

If this situation escalates, the Nicholls community will be notified.

Nicholls State University is monitoring the human swine flu outbreak. The university will follow the recommendations and guidelines established by the national Centers for Disease Control.

There are currently no reported cases of human swine flu in Louisiana at this time.

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider or University Health Services located on the first floor of Ayo Hall.

Recommended preventative actions to avoid flu and other communicable diseases:

1) Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2) Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
3) Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
4) Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
5) Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6) Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Additional information is available on the Nicholls health services Web site – http://www.nicholls.edu/health/ and the Centers for Disease Control Web site – http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.

If this situation escalates, the Nicholls community will be notified.

Nicholls State University is open, and classes are meeting as scheduled. Students who are unable to attend their classes due to flooding will be granted an excused absence. Please contact your instructors via BlackBoard if you are unable to attend classes today, Friday, March 27, 2009.

SUSPECT CHARGED WITH SENDING THREATENING E-MAIL

The FBI arrested Dyron Hart, a 19-year-old African-American male, from Poplarville, Miss. Wednesday, Nov. 12, and charged him with sending threatening e-mails.
The arrest came after three Nicholls State University students reported receiving the threatening e-mail through their Facebook accounts. “Yesterday’s arrest by the FBI and our federal response should serve as a powerful signal to all we serve that vile and threatening communications will not be tolerated and will be met with swift response,” said US Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the FBI affidavit, Hart admitted to sending the threatening message to people who were on his “friends” list using his Facebook Internet account. He admitted sending messages to students at Nicholls, Louisiana State University, University of Mississippi, University of Alabama, and to individuals near his Poplarville residence. His stated purpose for sending the messages (in part) was to create a reaction.”
University records show that Hart was enrolled at Nicholls for one semester – spring 2008. Rob Bernardi, athletics director, said “Hart attempted to earn a walk-on spot on the football team. He practiced with the team from April 3 through April 19, but failed to meet NCAA clearing house qualifications, and therefore was never a member of the team.”
Hart faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised released. He was booked in the Stone County Jail in Mississippi and will go before the judge Thursday, Nov.13.
“I am pleased at how quickly this matter was resolved,” said Dr. Stephen Hulbert, Nicholls president. “Our university police department worked in complete cooperation with the FBI, Louisiana State Police, the Poplarville Mississippi Police Department and the Assistant US Attorney’s Office to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”
Nicholls has requested the FBI assist the university by offering an Internet safety workshop for students during the spring 2009 semester.

The Office of the FBI, Eastern District, has informed Nicholls State University that the individual responsible for the threatening e-mails sent to at least three Nicholls students has been identified as a 19 year old, African-American male from Poplarville, Miss. The FBI reported that the investigation is continuing and that charges are pending the completion of the investigation. All questions regarding the matter should be directed to the FBI, Eastern District, New Orleans, La.

The Nicholls State University Police Department in conjunction with the Louisiana State Police and the FBI, Eastern District, would like to inform the public that the case involving e-mail messages containing threatening statements that were sent to students at Nicholls State University has been resolved. Authorities also want to make clear that there was no creditable threat to the University or its students. For further information, contact the FBI, Eastern District, New Orleans, La .

On Wednesday, November 5, 2008, several Nicholls students received an e-mail through their Facebook accounts. The e-mail was threatening and included racially based comments. University Police was notified of the matter at 11:40 a.m. and immediately launched an investigation and notified the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Louisiana. As of 4 p.m. sufficient information was secured from the investigation to confirm that the message did not originate from the University, that is, it did not come from a university computer or account. University Police will continue working with Facebook and the Attorney General’s Office until the matter is resolved.

The University Emergency Review and Response Team met at 1 p.m., November 5, 2008, to review the situation. The team concluded that the e-mail was sent to a group of individuals based upon their political views. The target of the message appears to be broad-based and not focused on Nicholls or the surrounding community. The team will continue to monitor the situation as additional information becomes available. If a direct threat is determined appropriate action will be taken by the University and you will be notified.

The University is committed to the ideals stated in the Nicholls Creed, which is included at the end of this message. Debate and the discussion of diverse and differing ideas are certainly welcomed in the University community. Conduct which threatens or results in a hostile environment that thwarts the aims and purposes of the University will not be tolerated. The Nicholls community stands as one against any form of conduct which prevents members of the University community from engaging in teaching, research, service or learning activities

Any threatening or abusive conduct should be immediately reported to University Police at 448-4746. Concerns may also be reported to Student Life (448-4525) or Human Resources (448-4050). Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to engage in collegial discussion of issues which face our campus, state and world. The search for truth and knowledge is paramount to the academy. Our collective voice is necessary as we stand against conduct which is threatening or creates a hostile campus environment.

THE NICHOLLS CREED

Preamble: As a member of the Nicholls community, I believe in the values that promote responsible citizenship, concern for self and others, and the desire to build a better world. To these ends, I pledge myself to the following:

I will value all members of the Nicholls community, respecting and appreciating their differences.

I will hold myself and others to the highest standards of academic, personal and social integrity.

I will conduct myself civilly in all things.

I will think before I act, and will accept responsibility for my words and my actions.

I will challenge what is wrong.

I will respect the rights and the person of all human beings and will avoid all acts of violence and abuse.

I will respect my body by not abusing it.

I will strive to make Nicholls State University a safe and clean educational environment.

I will serve the highest ideals of my community, now and in the future.

I will afford myself the best opportunity to succeed.