Hurricane Ida does not pose a threat to Nicholls at this time. However, due its location in the Gulf of Mexico, the Nicholls Emergency Preparedness Committee has initiated a Standby Alert in accordance with the 2009 Hurricane Emergency Plan posted at http://emergency.nicholls.edu.
Please refer to the Standby Alert paragraph posted online, and initiate the procedures you have in place for your respective departments and offices.
The committee will continue to monitor the storm and will take additional action if necessary. The university community will be notified if Phase I storm preparations are implemented.

Please continue to monitor your Nicholls e-mail account and the university’s Web site, www.nicholls.edu, for updates.

Please refer to the Standby Alert paragraph posted online, and initiate the procedures you have in place for your respective departments and offices.

The Emergency Preparedness Committee will convene at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9 to determine the university’s next course of action.

The MAX Charter School is open Monday, Nov. 9.

CDC Interim Recommendations: Aug. 5, 2009

• CDC is not currently recommending that institutions cancel or dismiss classes or other large gatherings.
• Students, faculty or staff who live either on or off campus and who have influenza like illness (ILI) should self-isolate (i.e., stay away from others) in their dorm room or home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities (their fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). They should keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick.
• If persons with ILI must leave their home or dorm room (for example, to seek medical care or other necessities) they should cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Roommates, household members, or those caring for an ill person should follow guidance developed for caring for sick persons at home.
• Persons who are at high risk of complications from novel influenza A (H1N1) infection (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions, children less than 5 years, persons 65 years or older, and pregnant women) should consider their risk of exposure to novel influenza if they attend public gatherings in communities where novel influenza A virus is circulating.

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. You can also cough or sneeze into your elbow.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners* are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

For additional information about the H1N1 flu and Colleges and Universities please visit the Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/guidelines_colleges.htm

or

Call or visit the Nicholls State University Health Services Office at 985-493-2600

http://www.nicholls.edu/health.

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.

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.

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 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.