Collegiate Times

Schiffert to stop verifying absences

Schiffert Health Center and the Dean of Students Office will no longer issue absence verification notes for students who miss class for the H1N1 influenza virus, also known as swine flu.

An e-mail sent to faculty and staff Friday morning stated that this change of policy is because of the overwhelming volume of flu cases on campus.

Ed Spencer, vice president for student affairs, said the volume of students seen for flu-like symptoms is "so high. They just couldn't keep up."

While the health center is generally able to issue absence verification notes, the e-mail stated that they are currently too busy seeing and treating patients to take the time to write a note for every student.

Additionally, many students who think they are sick self-isolate themselves and seek verification notes via telephone. The health center, however, cannot write notes without having face-to-face contact with sick students.

"If students think they are sick, it may be best not to come to the center," Spencer said.

The Dean of Students Office writes non-medical-related absence notes as well as verification notes for long-term medical situations, such as hospitalization, and it will continue to assist students in those areas. However, the email stated that "Dean of Students staff members are not medically trained" and are therefore unable to provide short-term absence verification notes associated with contracting the flu.

The statement went on to say that "reliance on the honor system is the logical alternative" and that "the final decision as to whether an absence is legitimate remains the prerogative of the faculty member."

Spencer said the health center has seen around 1,000 students with flu-like symptoms so far this semester. This estimate does not include students who have called to be triaged via telephone. An estimate on confirmed cases was not available.

The Schiffert Health Center encourages students to self-isolate until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. Students with more severe symptoms should call the health center for guidance rather than going to the health center in person.

The first flu vaccine clinic will be held Oct. 27 in Squires Student Center.

by liana bayne

Dining hoping to hear student opinion 

Students can give feedback about Virginia Tech dining services today during Table Talk Live.

Throughout the day, students will be able to give their opinions in person to members of Housing and Dining Services. Students who participate also have a chance of winning a football signed by Frank Beamer.

The purpose of the event is to get as many student opinions as possible about how dining services is doing its job. The feedback that it receives will potentially make changes in what is served and how it is done.

"It's something that we do annually, and it's a way for us to reach out to the students," said Ted Faulkner, associate director of dining services. "Some changes can be implemented immediately and will be seen in a matter of days, and others may take weeks or months."

For breakfast, Table Talk Live will be in D2, Deet's Place, Shultz Express and Squires Food Court. During lunch and dinner, it will be at all dining services locations. There is also a late night session, which will be in both Deet's Place and DXpress.

Table Talk Live will consist of special tables set up so that students can walk up and talk with Dining Services management.

"We'll have tables manned with management and we'll have chairs so that students can come over and sit down and talk with us," Faulkner said. "Each case is individual, and we'll take the time to speak with all of them for as long as it takes."

Students who cannot attend any of these sessions can make an appointment with a manager to give their feedback.

by claire sanderson