Screenings to provide hearing aides to students
Courtney Gillett
Asst. Campus News Editor
www.apple.com
Exposure to loud noises, even through MP3 players, can harm the eardrums.
“...Yeah, what was the last thing that you said?”
“…What? I still can’t hear you, and my phone has five bars.”
“…Uh, look man, I’ll have to call you back because I’m not hearing a word that you’re saying.”
For some students, this is becoming a growing example of a typical cell phone conversation. Or, they may find themselves straining to hear what is being said in class, even though they are sitting right under the professor’s nose.
On Monday, March 26, the hearing specialists at the Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati will be on campus to hold free auditory screening sessions and may provide answers as to why an increasing number of students are discovering that they are slowly losing their “20/20” level of hearing.
With the increase in the use of iPods and other MP3 players, students need to be aware of which noise levels are appropriate so that they can prevent auditory damage.
Gina M. Hounman, the Director of Clinical Services at the Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati, explains that individuals should “eliminate unwanted noise when you can. When noise cannot be eliminated, keep it as low as possible.” Exposure to noises at 85 dB or louder (lawnmowers, snowmobiles, ambulance sirens, etc.), even after 15 minutes, are particularly conducive to hearing loss, while the recorded noise levels in MP3 players are around 105 dB.
During their 10-15 minute session on Monday, students will meet with the Hearing Conservation Specialist, Tamar Shimala, B.S., who will screen them for possible hearing loss.
According to Hounman, Shimala will ask students about their experience and history with exposure to loud noise and if they are familiar with certain hearing loss symptoms. Among other procedures, Shimala will also utilize the use of an audiometer which will test the student’s auditory reaction to set frequencies and decibel levels through headphones.
Hounman notes that these sessions should not be seen as a complete evaluation. “[Screenings] simply present good evidence of whether a person is at risk of having hearing loss warranting further evaluation,” she said. “They are a quick and effective way to reach large populations at once to educate and raise awareness about important health topics such as Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).”
However, Hounman indicated that if a more serious hearing problem is identified, students will be referred to one of the Center’s licensed and board certified audiologists at their one of their locations in Clifton, Eastgate or West Chester. There would also be recommendations to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist if the individual’s case is severe.
All students are encouraged to attend and to browse the Center’s website at www.hearingspeechdeaf.com for more information.
Susan Rodenberg, another member of the Hearing Center, also stated that if students are around in June, they could attend “Downtown Drums,” an event that promotes hearing conservation. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 1 at the Paul Brown Stadium Club East. Tickets will be available for $75.
Hounman wishes to remind students and participants that NIHL “is permanent, yet preventable!”
Students can schedule appointments at the Health and Counselling Center at x3022. For further information, call the center at 513-221-0527 x149.
Professor Profile: Dr. Steven Cobb
Tyler Burgei
Contributing Writer
xavier.edu
Dr. Cobb believes it is useful for everyone to have a background in economics.
Dr. Steven Cobb of the economics department moved to the Midwest and began teaching at Xavier University in 1984. He has taught freshman introductory classes, honors program classes, MBA programs and everything in between.
He says that when he left his job of 10 years at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, D.C. for a teaching career away from the east coast with little job security, his former colleagues told him he was making a bad decision. As soon as he flew into Cincinnati, he called his wife and told her they would not be moving to the Midwest.
However, after meeting the faculty and students during his first day as a professor, he was sold; twenty-three years later, he says becoming a teacher at Xavier was the best decision he ever made.
Dr. Cobb is active inside and outside the classroom. Like most other teachers, he has a vigorous research agenda. He says his favorite part of teaching is his interaction with the students; surprisingly, his least favorite part is giving exams, but he sees the importance of the “necessary evil,” as he calls them.
Dr. Cobb identifies the advantages of the average person having a strong background in economics. He says that there is a misconception about the economics courses. Most people think that in business, economics is all about money and running businesses; however, he points out that economics is potentially more focused on policies and man’s relation to his resources.
Economics can prompt someone to ask if we are doing a good job with current policies and how we are using governmental policies.
Also, Dr. Cobb says that economic questions can bear on how one votes. Energy issues, smoking ban laws and even ticket-scalping are a few policies that economics can prompt a person to ask questions about.
When asked if he is bothered by the fact that economics courses are not part of the Xavier general core curriculum, Dr. Cobb says he does not see the issue as a problem. “Xavier’s core curriculum is already heavy enough and the economics department has never fought to incorporate its classes into the general core.”
However, he points out that economics courses are required for the business major’s core and serve as disciplinary classes in the college of business. He says that economics courses are considered social sciences because they prompt students to make decisions and then ask themselves why they made those decisions. Too many people see economics as strictly a sector of business when, in actuality, the economics department is the only department that allows students to be from one of two colleges: business or arts and sciences.
On a more personal note, Dr. Cobb discusses his interests outside the classroom. He enjoys reading and seeing films and is a huge XU basketball fan (“All of my students definitely know that!”). He also likes to travel, particularly out West, with his wife and only child – a son who is a senior in college.
Dr. Cobb is an influential teacher in the economics department who has been enlightening the minds of students for over 20 years.
Recommend yourself
Kelly Shaw
Campus News Editor
After working at Xavier for 20 years, English professor Dr. Trudelle Thomas has realized that the spring semester brings many students asking for letters of recommendation. In response to the many students who do ask for recommendation, Dr. Thomas has created a set of questions that they have to answer for her first.
“When asked to recommend a student, I agree only if she is willing to compose a thorough ‘brag list’—a written list of her most valuable strengths and concrete examples of each,” said Thomas.
Dr. Thomas admits that she does not usually receive the kind of answers she is looking for. She says that many students are too modest.
“But if you don’t sing your praises, who will? In the work world, no one is going to read your mind. You have to put your talents out there and make sure they get noticed!” she said.
Her list is geared to help the students figure out just what they know they are capable of, as well as future teachers or employers.
“Many regard leaving college as a leap across a huge chasm that separates school from work,” said Dr. Thomas. “In fact, it’s more like continuing on a path. All his past relationships, classes and experiences have shaped him into a certain kind of person. He brings all of who he is to his future endeavors and will continue to grow and learn.”
Dr. Thomas keeps her students’ information with her so that when she needs to write the letter or someone calls for a recommendation—she can tell them distinctly about every student.
“A transcript and cover letter will tell a good deal about your work ethic and knowledge base, but many other intangibles are also important,” she said. “Most employers want someone who will work hard, be upbeat and foster harmony on the job. Most gatekeepers want someone who will be a good fit for the position and stick around.”
Because the “gatekeeper” for a future job does not personally know who they are hiring, Dr. Thomas encourages students to include anything about themselves that they consider a strength. She also encourages students to ask their friends and families for an outside opinion on strengths and weaknesses.
“How well you’ve treated family, roommates and service-people reveals much about your level of respect, communication and fairness. The habits and attitudes you’ve already formed will continue into the future,” said Dr. Thomas.
Dr. Thomas warns students not to expect to find they have strengths in every category, just that they definately have strengths.
“At the end of the exercise, you’ll have a list you can hand to your professor or anyone else writing a letter of recommendation,” she said. “Once you learn to point confidently to your own strengths, you’re on your way.”
Dr. Trudelle Thomas’ questionnaire for students making the jump from school to work or grad school
Information courtesy of Dr. Trudelle Thomas
1) Self-management. Can you organize your time, money and physical space to accomplish a task, even when you have several projects pending? Can you follow through with minimal guidance? Are you accustomed to working hard, even without rewards or encouragement? Do you have tenacity—that old-fashioned virtue of “stick-to-it-ive-ness”? Can you monitor your own performance on your own and make adjustments when needed?
2) Articulate expression. Can you express yourself clearly in person and in writing? How large and precise is your vocabulary? Can you complete a major writing project without stressing out? How comfortable are you meeting strangers or speaking in public? How carefully do you listen to others?
3) Creative problem solving. What adversity or problems have you overcome already? Are you able to take a complicated situation and see it from a new perspective? Can you approach problems as potential opportunities? Are you able to take a complex problem and break it down into different parts? Can you apply what you already know?
4) People smarts. Can you relate respectfully to people at different levels of an organization such as peers, supervisors and clients? Do you know how to impress a supervisor without offending your peers? Can you work on a team with others without slacking or being bossy? Can you balance your needs and priorities with those of others? Do you have political savvy? Are you discreet—able to keep confidences easily?
5) Emotional intelligence. Are you able to convey warmth and confidence when first talking to someone on the phone and in person? Have you interacted well with people who are very different from you because of gender, race or age? Can you easily put yourself in another’s shoes? How do you handle conflict and frustration? Can you leave your personal problems at home? Can you maintain a positive attitude in rough times?
6) Good judgment. When faced with an overwhelming array of options, can you sort them out? Rather than being impulsive or procrastinating, can you make good decisions in a timely manner? How good is your judgment when choosing people to trust? Do you think about how your choices will play out several years into the future?
Police Notes
March 12, 2:30 p.m.—An employee reported the theft of textbooks from an office in Schott Hall.
March 12, 7:28 p.m.—Campus Police and Physical Plant extinguished a small fire that started in a cigarette urn near the entrance to Brockman Hall.
March 13, 11:55 p.m.—A student reported the theft of a bicycle from a bike rack near Hailstones Hall.
March 15, 3:25 p.m.—A student reported a minor auto accident in the C-2 lot.
March 16, 9:01 p.m.—Three juveniles skateboarding near Cintas Center were cited and escorted off campus.
March 17, 1:50 p.m.—Cincinnati Fire and Rescue transported several intoxicated underage students to the hospital for possible alcohol poisoning.
March 17, 12:10 p.m.—Campus Police and Cincinnati Police investigated a loud house party on the 900 block of Dana Avenue. The residents were warned and afterwards agreed to keep the noise down.
March 17, 9:51 p.m.—Campus Police assisted Norwood Police with a house party on the 1900 block of Hudson Avenue. Several arrests were made for furnishing of alcohol, the illegal sale of alcohol to minors and underage consumption.
March 17, 1:00 p.m.—An underage student was cited for taking a beer from Ryan’s Pub and for underage possession of alcohol.
Police Note of the Week
March 18, 7:30 p.m.—Campus Police responded to the banquet room in Cintas Center where a group of “Neo-Nazis” were creating a disturbance during the Holocaust lecture. The organizer of the event asked the subject creating the disturbance to leave. There were no further problems.
Katie Rosenbaum
Campus News Editor
Athenaeum extension
The Athenaeum has extended its deadline for submissions to Friday, March 23. Email any prose, poetry or art to groenta@xavier.edu or drop off submissions at Hinkle’s Faculty Services Desk or in the Athenaeum mailbox in the SGA office located on the second floor of Gallagher Student Center.
Wheelchair football
As part of Disabilities Awareness Week, the Student Occupational Therapy Club is hosting “Wheelchair Football” from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 24 in the O’Connor Sports Center. There will be extra wheelchairs available for those who wish to play but do not have a wheelchair. Contact Mandy Herzog at 419-235-5769 for more information.
Tarek Saab lecture
SGA is hosting Tarek Saab, a contestant from the fifth season of NBC’s “The Apprentice,” on campus at 7 p.m. on Thursday in Kelley Auditorium. Saab will speak about social responsibility in corporate America and his steps for success. For questions, contact Steve Bentley at bentleysp@xavier.edu or at x4249.
International photo contest voting
Voting has ended for the first annual student international photo contest. Voters visited the Faces of the World Lounge (second floor, GSC) or visited the MyXU Portal link to vote online. Voting was open to any student, faculty or staff member and ended on Monday, March 19. Winners will be announced on Friday, March 30. The contest is sponsored by the Romero International Center, Student Development, Marketing and Publications and the Department of Art. For more information, contact the Romero International Center at x2864. A reception to recognize the photographers and to announce the winners will be held on Friday, March 30. Call or email Katherine Hammett at x2864 or hammett@xavier.edu for more information.
Safety Series: Recycling
If you would like to understand and explore Xavier’s recycling program, join us from 12-12:50 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27 in the Flynn Hall training room. You can also find out what to do with “stuff” like old paint, used oil and old prescriptions that you have around the house. Find out why you should recycle, what to recycle and how to do it right. Bring your lunch, and drinks and dessert will be provided. Call Steve Owen at 513-745-1923 for more information.
Robert J. Murray lecture
“Could Socrates Have Been a Jesuit?” The Classics Department invites the Xavier community to attend this year’s Robert J. Murray lecture, which will be delivered by Dr. Connie Rodriguez from Loyola University, New Orleans. The event will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Conaton Board Room A reception will follow the lecture. This event is free and open to the public. Call Ed Cueva at 513-745-1931 for more information.
